Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – SOMALIA

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Statement attributable to Mark Bowden, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian

Coordinator for Somalia

Monday, July 07, 2008

Osman Ali Ahmed, a Somali national, was shot by unidentified gunmen as he, together with his son and brother, left the mosque after prayers. He died on his way to the hospital. His brother was also shot and seriously wounded in the attack.

“Osman Ali Ahmed was a highly respected UNDP staff member who had performed his duties with great courage and commitment over the past 14 years. Our condolences and profound sympathy goes to the family and loved ones of Osman Ali Ahmed and our thoughts and prayers to the family of his brother”, said the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden. He added: “If this is indeed another example of a targeted killing of UN and non-UN humanitarian and development workers in Somalia, it is particularly outrageous and worrying at this critical time, when the need for humanitarian assistance is rapidly increasing.”

The United Nations is urgently taking measures to ensure the protection of staff working in Somalia and minimize their exposure to risk while at the same time maximizing the effectiveness of vital humanitarian work. These measures would involve prioritization of essential operations. “The humanitarian situation in Somalia is such that we must continue our work to save lives and alleviate human suffering. While we explore various ways of ensuring staff security, it is clear that the ultimate protection comes from the Somali people and communities themselves”, said Mark Bowden.

“We depend on the Somali people to assist us in getting the humanitarian assistance through. We know that the Somali communities have been very supportive of our work in the past. We now ask them to redouble their efforts to provide an environment in which aid and services can be delivered”.

For further information, please contact:

Jens Laerke, Public Information Officer Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA-Somalia) Tel: +254 (0)722 513 503 Email: laerke@un.org

abdullahmuslim1 @ 7/9/2008 1:02 AM EST  Bismilaah Qofkii qirta inuu yahay kufaar sibareer ah waxaan umaleynayaa mugdi kuma jiro basle waxaa kale oo jira dad badan oo ku kufriya wixii lagu soo dajiyay nabi MUXAMED scw taasina waa kufri cad haduu rabo wuxuu rabab hashegtee. Qofna kuma qasbana waxa aan qabo oo rayi ah, basle waxaa qofwalba oo muslim ah ku qasban yahay wax walba oo EEBE iyo  RASULKIISU scw na amreen, taasna waa waajib.

somalipeace10 @ 7/8/2008 2:43 PM EST  Another disgraceful attempt to distort the facts, the fact is that Somalia is under Ethiopian illegal occupation and Somali people are legitimately and successfully resisting. The other undisputed fact is that resistance fighters have never harmed aid workers, foreign or local. The resistance have told everyone that they welcome the aid workers who help Somali people. To demonstrate their point they brought three foreign aid workers to safety from Hudur. It is also a fact that the office of UB WFP was raided by TFG warlords. In addition the Mayor of Mogadishu , his deputies, the head of TFG warlords Abdulahi Yusuf and many other warlords have threatened the aid workers and accused them of imaginary crimes. The bottom line is that warlords want to steal the food donated to the hungry people and this brother was honest enought and brave enough to refuse to succumb to their pressure that is why warlord TFG eliminated him. The UN and other international countries must launch independent investigation and punish those responsible.

somalipeace10 @ 7/8/2008 2:31 PM EST  The time to spread false propaganda in defense of the warlords is over, could you mention one religious man that the resistance killed? We all know that TFG war dogs and the occupation are out there to kill Somali intellectuals, religious people and anyone who could oppose the sinister plan of the occupation. Luckily Somali people successfully defended themselves from the occupation and its warlord stooges.

somalipeace10 @ 7/8/2008 2:23 PM EST  The resistance fighters have never advocated for harming aid workers.However , they hunt down the occupation forces and whoever works with them No one can conceal the obvious crimes of the warlords. As I have repeated many times, the resistance fighters who a very good working relation wit the everyone who helps Somali people and will fight the occupation.

shanta @ 7/8/2008 11:00 AM EST  So my fellow country men, you can’t deny the facts as they are! One day calling anyone who disagrees with you a traitor/kufar, and the very next day distancing yourselves from the early remarks that seemed to have encouraged many serial assassins to perform their rituals. I wonder what the Quran says about Personal Accountability and Conduct.