Hiiraan Online
Saturday, May 28, 2016
BELEDWEYNE (HOL) – For the Djiboutian peacekeeping forces in central Somalia, delivering basic services for residents in their areas under their control can bring a real change and help them to provide a better security than the guns.
In the face of challenges posed by militants, making an impact on the lives of the people are proving inspirational for the mission, with unarmed soldiers moved to interact with residents in Beledweyne town cut off by horrendous floods this week, providing free medicine, water, mosquito nets, clothing and foodstuff to hundreds of people.
“This is just the beginning – more aid is coming.” An army general said, standing among villagers standing in a flooded area in the town.
Unlike their counterpart, locals often credit Djiboutian-AU troops with the provision of basic aid and social services, winning the hearts and minds of the residents in the region which still faces attacks by the Al-Qaeda linked militants in Somalia.
“This is a much needed assistance which came at a time we were in need of it.” said Sokorey Ahmed, a mother of six, upon receiving mosquito nets and clothing from soldiers.
In Somalia where militants’ war propaganda that portrays the 22000-strong force as ‘rapists’ and ‘brutal enemy’, showing faces more to people and get into helping them is a crucial job which officials say makes their war of words more realistic.
In Addition, the contingent came to the aid of civilians in Beletweyne, helping to organize evacuations after heavy rains caused massive flooding in the region, using woody boats to evacuate residents trapped in the flooded areas.
Last week, thousands of residents fled their homes in Beledweyne town after the Shabelle river burst its banks, leaving the town under waters.
Floodwaters have reportedly destroyed large farmlands in the region and swept away drinking water wells despite concerns of mosquitos breed in the stagnant waters that could exacerbate the spread of diseases such as malaria.
The tiny horn of African nation Tiny Djibouti which is sandwiched between Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia became the third country to contribute to AMISOM in 2011 and deployed a contingent of 960 troops into Somalia to fight Al-Shabab fighters.
Despite losing most its key strongholds to the Djiboutian peacekeepers, Al Shabab aims to maintain its grip on the rural areas in Hiiraan region launching guerilla attacks on the African Union and Somali troops.