Fresh hostilities putting Somali women and children at risk, warns UNICEF

A new wave of aggression and hostilities against humanitarian operations in Somalia is putting at risk the lives of the strife-torn nation’s children and women, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned today.

The agency cited in particular the take-over and month-long occupation of its compound in the Central Somali town of Jowhar by militiamen after the town came under the control of the Al-Shabaab group last month.

The Jowhar compound is the biggest operational hub for UNICEF’s support to about 200 feeding centres, and the subsequent looting and destruction of vital humanitarian items during the attack on 17 May have seriously affected its ability to assist the most vulnerable children and women.

“Perpetrators of these unacceptable and irresponsible actions must understand that their actions have serious consequences on their own children and women, their own communities and people,” said Hannan Suleiman, acting UNICEF Representative to Somalia.

“We are talking about over a million children under five years of age. We’re talking about 40,000 children under three years old who are malnourished that will not be provided with feeding products. We are talking about over 700,000 women that will not be provided with tetanus shots, vaccinations and other services,” she said in an interview with UN Radio.

UNICEF is demanding that its facilities in Jowhar town be vacated by the militiamen and that all of its looted supplies and equipment be returned.

Fighting broke out in early May between Government troops and the opposition Al-Shabaab and Hisb-ul-Islam groups, driving around 100,000 people from their homes in the capital, Mogadishu.

In a related development, the head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has condemned an attack in Mogadishu that left one journalist dead and another seriously injured.

Two unidentified men opened fire on Muktar Mohamed Hirabe, the director of Radio Shabelle, and Ahmed Omar Hashi, Radio Shabelle’s news editor, as they were walking in Bakara Market on 7 June.

UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said the killing of Mr. Hirabe and the wounding of Mr. Hashi constitute “an intolerable breach” of the basic human right of freedom of expression and of citizens’ right to be informed.

“It is essential for the return of peace and democracy to Somalia that those in positions of authority do all they can to end these unacceptable attacks on media personnel. It is also essential that measures be taken to punish the culprits of these crimes,” he stated.

The 48-year-old radio director is the fifth journalist assassinated in Somalia this year, according to UNESCO.