Addis Ababa

Thursday, March 27, 2008

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Somalia Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein is promising to help speed delivery of relief to desperately needy citizens, as humanitarian agencies warn of an impending humanitarian catastrophe in the war-ravaged nation.  VOA's Peter Heinlein reports the Somali leader made the comment in Addis Ababa, where he was discussing security issues with African Union officials.

Prime Minister Hussein says he fully agrees with the assessment of 40 aid agencies that urgent action is needed to avoid a catastrophe in a country where one million people are displaced, two million need daily assistance, and half a million are totally reliant on humanitarian aid.

He gave no details, but pledged to appoint what he called a certain "mechanism" to speed aid deliveries hampered by security failures and coordination breakdowns.

"We definitely agree there are difficulties in relation to access," he said.  "We will appoint focal point for humanitarian contacts, humanitarian assistance.  Operations will be facilitated by a mechanism we will put in place, and agreement with the humanitarian operators."

The Somali prime minister acknowledged news reports that heavily-armed Islamic insurgents briefly seized control of the southern agricultural town of Jowhar in a surprise attack.  The insurgents killed several soldiers before retreating. 

Somalia Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein

"This morning there was a hit and run attack on Jowhar by a group opposing the government admin of Jowhar authority," he added.  "They attacked, hit and run operations.  The administration in Jowhar is there, and law and order was re-established and everything is going smoothly right now."

Prime Minister Hussein was in Addis to discuss security issues with AU officials on the eve of a U.N. Security Council meeting on Somalia.  The African Union has a 2,300-member peacekeeping mission, known as AMISOM, supporting Somalia's transitional government, along with a slightly larger force of Ethiopian troops.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said last week it is unlikely U.N. peacekeepers will be sent to Somalia to support the strained African Union force already in place.

Prime Minister Hussein says he remains hopeful the Security Council will see progress that would bolster the case for establishing a U.N. mission in the near future.

"We are eagerly expecting to have these U.N. peacekeeping forces," he added.  "Definitely.  We are very happy that our AMISOM troops are providing security services, and Ethiopian troops are also helping us.  Somali institutional security forces are being formed, trained and with the support of some friendly countries, Italy, we are trying to re-establish our security institutions and capacity." 

During his visit, the prime minister accepted an Italian contribution of more than $50 million to train and equip Somali security forces.  In presenting the contribution, senior Italian diplomat Armando Sanguini spoke hopefully of "light at the end of the tunnel" in efforts to establish security in Somalia.  But he acknowledged that the transitional government in Mogadishu needs "substantial help" to establish an effective police force.

Source: VOA, March 27, 2008

Arraweelo10 @ 3/27/2008 4:39 PM EST  Gaalo iyo muslinba cid daneenaysa alshabab iwm ma jiraan, shacabka ha laga badbaadiyo laynta joogtada oo ay ku hayaan shuftadaan. Nur Cadde si kasta ayuu ueelay qolodaan wax ka soo baxaayo oo xal ah ma jiro aan ka ahayn bililiqeysi iyo iska hadal.

Aaisha1 @ 3/27/2008 4:20 PM EST   our AMISOM troops are providing security services, and Ethiopian troops are also helping us." this man is loser his looking the hlep of Ethiopian oll the time what time we will see whan lose with the help of Allah(SWT)May Allah(SWT) humiliate al kuffar and muratdiin in this life and the hereafter!!

Arraweelo10 @ 3/27/2008 12:21 PM EST  "We are eagerly expecting to have these U.N. peacekeeping forces," he added.  "Definitely.  We are very happy that our AMISOM troops are providing security services, and Ethiopian troops are also helping us." Nur Cadde spend the 50m to train and equip the police so that you can fight Al haram. The italians are known to finance both sides of the camp, so watch out.

jsoomane @ 3/27/2008 9:10 AM EST  Nimankaan ceebi ma karto!!  Bal nin dhan oo PM isku sheegaya oo haddana aranaya waan ku raacsanahay warbixinta ay hay'ado ajnabi ahi ay ka soo saareer dandarrada dadkiisii ku haysata 15km meel u jirta guriga uu Muqdisho ka deggan yahay.  Waxaa kaaga sii daran waa ninkii la lahaa isagaa ugu roon GUMEYSI-KALKAALKA. ALLAHAYOOW SIDII ROON....

Gaadh-haye @ 3/27/2008 7:27 AM EST  “We are very happy that our AMISOM troops are providing security services, and Ethiopian troops are also helping us,” warlord Nur Cade. This man, Nur Cade, is unwittingly or deliberately –judging from  his impotency to improve or try to change the  status qou- slipping in to the acquisance of  warlords -and by that becoming a warlord him self.

Ado81 @ 3/27/2008 7:25 AM EST  Interesting Our PM addressing the problems of the displaced people while at Addis Ababa. Why not speak such while in Mogadishu? He has the show the masters that he is concerned about their civilians. What can he do to ease the accessibility for the Humanitarian agencies the Government Isbaros and looting of Bakara Market are the only sources of lively hood for the TRANSITIONAL FUNERAL GOVERNMENT