UNICEF Somalia Monthly Review

Transcription

1 UNICEF Somalia Monthly Review September 2003 Somalia marks International Peace Day UNICEF Somalia Representative Jesper Morch joined on September 21 with Somaliland administration officials to celebrate the International Day of Peace in Hargeisa, Somaliland. The main festivities were held at Hargeisa stadium, which had previously been rehabilitated through a joint effort by UNICEF, the Somaliland administration, and community members who made financial contributions. To mark the Day sports tournaments were held and among activities were a regional football tournament, marathon and sprint races. Peace Day trophies were presented to the winners. support to the youth, saying they should be given a hearing and opportunities to realise their dreams, since they provide energy, direction, purpose and idealism for society. During his visit Mr Morch had meetings with Somaliland President Dahir Rayale Kahin and members of his cabinet. Contents Somalia marks Peace Day 1 Peace talks continue 2 Political Developments and Security 3 Programme Updates Health 5 Nutrition 6 Water and Environmental Sanitation. 7 Education 8 An evening reception was held at the Somaliland House of Elders at which Mr Morch, staff of UN partner agencies and donor representatives were present. The Hargeisa Voluntary Youth Committee (HAVOYOCO) circus group presented songs, poems, and Somali folklore dances and performed an acrobatic show. Morch addressed the gathering and praised the people of Somaliland for their efforts in maintaining peace and stability. He said the challenge now was for Somaliland to ensure that children and women benefited from better education, water and health services, and that protection rights of vulnerable community members were recognized and respected. He called for more Youth 9 HIV/AIDS 9 UNICEF Representative Jesper Morch speaks at the Somaliland House of Elders Credit: J. Spry-Leverton. UNICEF Somalia Elsewhere in Somalia, the Day was commemorated in Garowe and Bossaso, Puntland and Jowhar and Mogadishu in Central/Southern Somalia. UNICEF collaborated with other UN agencies, local authorities and communities in these locations to organize sports competitions and provided uniforms to competing teams. In Bossaso, the Puntland Youth Association, with students, women and teachers participating, organized a 1 Child Protection 10 Special Interest Economy 3 Emergency 4

2 2 peace march. Other activities in Bossaso included the performance of dramas and songs highlighting the theme of peace. In Garowe, local authorities and WHO organized a sports tournament with football for boys and volleyball for girls. A peace march by youth groups and school children drew some 500 people and later, local leaders addressed the gathering. In Central/Southern Somalia UNICEF, in collaboration with the Somali Olympic Committee (SOC), local authorities and communities, had organized an interdistrict football competition in Jowhar. The competition had teams from seven districts of Middle Shabelle and the final took place on September 21 in the presence of more than 2000 spectators. It was played between Jowhar and Bal ad football teams. Fans from Bal ad had rented buses to come to Jowhar to cheer their team. During the gamel, supporters of both teams performed traditional dances and songs as they encouraged their teams, a scene which to observers was reminiscent of the atmosphere prevailing in the period prior to the civil war, the singing evoking evident nostalgia amongst the older people present. In Mogadishu the finals of a football tournament that started on Saturday September 13 were held on the Day. This had drawn teams from the 16 districts of Banadir region. Also featured was a one-day athletic competition for 100 competitors. A cultural and arts exhibition during the day attracted a huge number of spectators. The football finals in Mogadishu were held between Abdiaziz and Daynile teams. Peace Day was covered by local and national media including by BBC TV which featured a story on the how the Day was marked in Mogadishu. Peace talks continue The Somali National Reconciliation and Peace Conference continues in Kenya. During September, traditional and political leaders started the process of selecting members of parliament. However the President of the Transitional National Government, (TNG) Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, and a Mogadishu-based faction leader Muse Sudi Yalahow continued their boycott of the talks. The President and political allies subsequently held a series of meetings in Mogadishu to strategize on the way ahead following the decision to pull out. Meanwhile, President Abdullahi Yusuf of Northeast Somalia ('Puntland'), an autonomous state within Somalia, has reaffirmed that, irrespective of the outcome of the Somali National Reconciliation and Peace talks, Puntland will not seek to break away from the rest of Somalia so long as he is head of state. Abdullahi said this in a BBC interview. The Chairman of the Somali National Alliance (SNA), Hussein Mohamed UNICEF Operational Areas Northwest Zone Hargeisa Office Awdal West Galbeed Togdheer Sahil Sool Sanaag Northeast Zone Bossaso Office Bari Nugal Mudug Central and Southern Zone Baidoa, Jowhar, Mogadishu and Kismayo Offices Galgaduud Hiran Middle Shabelle Lower Shabelle Benadir Lower Juba Middle Juba Gedo Bay Bakool 2

3 3 Farah Aideed, who is based in Mogadishu also expressed support for the talks and asked Somalis to support the agreement that will come out of them. Hussein Aideed is one of the candidates for the Presidency. In other developments, traditional leaders, intellectuals and businessmen of the Digil and Mirifle communities welcomed a peace agreement signed in Nairobi by the leaders of the two rival Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) factions that have been fighting for control of the central town of Baidoa. The leaders of the two groups - Mohamed Nur Shatigaduud and Sheikh Aden Madoobe, signed the agreement. Both are participating in the Somali peace talks. However, Colonel Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade, a deputy to Sheikh Aden, rejected the peace deal. In Southern Somalia, a peace agreement was reached in Bu ale by two rival clans in the Middle Jubba region. The clans have been involved in intermittent feuding since the beginning of the year.. Political Developments and Security A Round Table meeting of international aid and humanitarian agencies working in Somaliland was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and was attended by among others, a 12 member Northwest Somalia ('Somaliland') delegation including several key ministers. The Somaliland Foreign Minister, Edna Aden Ismail, noted the political significance of the welcome interaction between the UN partner agencies and donor representatives and the Somaliland delegation. Among organizations represented were UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR, WFP and the World Bank. It was the first time the authorities of Somalland had such an opportunity to hold talks with the international donor community. Somaliland is a selfdeclared republic Somaliland and Puntland were stable during the reporting period with no major conflict or hostilities reported. On 3 September, Puntland police arrested 52 people waiting to be smuggled into Yemen and The Gulf. The arrests took place at the coastal village of Marera, 10 km east of Bossaso. Those arrested including 20 Ethiopians, with the rest of the group originating from southern Somalia. Some 10 people suspected to be members of the smuggling ring were arrested in Bossaso. In Central/Southern Somalia, at least eight people were killed and five others wounded, and their property looted, when passengers travelling along the road between Jowhar and Mogadishu were attacked. The attack took place in Bal ad district. In another incident, seven people died when a convoy of six vehicles travelling to Bulo Hawa from Mogadishu was ambushed in Bulo Berte district. Some seven other people were wounded. Economy A fishing boat factory has been established in Bossaso the commercial capital of Puntland. The factory is owned by Somali entrepreneurs and its establishment is a significant step in the process of boosting the local economy. In Mogadishu, the price of fuel has substantially gone up affecting the prices of goods and services. Especially hardhit are the transport, water and electricity sectors. This has impacted negatively on the urban poor and those who depend on casual work to earn a living. 3

4 4 Members of the Islamic Court in the area later captured three of the attackers. In another incident, five men were killed in a clash between members of rival clans in El- Bur district over access to water sources. The security and political situation in Mogadishu remains fluid and unstable. Looting of property, organized killings and abduction of people, including of children for ransom payment, continues to take place. In North Mogadishu, three people were killed in the San a area of Berhani district on September 4 after they were caught in an exchange of fire between rival militia who were fighting over the split of a fee collected from a civilian transport vehicle. In another incident, an Iraqi citizen known as 'Mr. Fu 'ad' was abducted in Mogadishu South on Monday September 8. Mr. Fu'ad has been a small business trader and has lived in Somalia for some time. The reasons for his kidnapping are not known. In an attempt to curb criminal acts and bring order into the chaos, in parts of Mogadishu South local communities have started community policing initiatives This entails the deployment of armed groups to provide security in neighbourhoods at a fee. Since the start of the initiative, a number of kidnap attempts have been foiled, captives released and some freelance militia arrested. In Baidoa, Central Somalia, two people were wounded on September 3 in Baidoa market after they were caught in crossfire as they attempted to stop a fight between two militiamen. In another incident also in the market place on September 6 one person was killed after a friend's gun accidentally went off. On September 4, one person was killed and a woman wounded in Rahole village, Dinsor district, after an attack on their village by militia on a 'technical' (pick-up truck mounted with heavy gun). The attackers also looted shops and stole an HF radio. In another incident, a vehicle hired by an International NGO was stolen in Baidoa town. The looters reportedly took the vehicle to Manas village, about 40kms from Baidoa town on the road to Dinsore. Local authorities in Baidoa are making efforts to recover the vehicle. On September 22 reports from Baidoa town indicated that another vehicle was looted by militia, who later released it after two days of negotiations between elders and the militia. On the same day three people were killed by militia, apparently in a retaliatory attack. Emergency The Sool and Sanag regions of northern Somalia are facing a serious famine and require urgent humanitarian aid. Residents of the two regions have appealed to both local and international NGOs for help. In Bossaso, a fire broke out at an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp on September 6. No injuries or loss of life were reported. However, seven families had their shelters and property destroyed. This is the third IDP camp fire outbreak in Bossaso since July. The cause of the fire has not yet been established. UNICEF distributed some relief supplies to the affected families. As part of relief measures, a hand pump in the camp area is being repaired to enhance access to water. 4

5 5 Health programme highlights A workshop was held in Hargeisa to train health workers in how to utilize information, education and communication materials. The trainees are based in maternal and child health (MCH) centres and health posts. UNICEF repaired nine refrigerators for use in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Togdheer and Sool regions. Also provided were spare parts and on-the-job training in basic maintenance to health workers in six maternal and child health and outpatient dispensaries in the two regions. In Central/Southern Somalia UNICEF, in collaboration with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Belgium and World Vision, completed EPI acceleration activities in Tieglow in late August with about 2,760 children vaccinated against the childhood killer diseases. 'EPI acceleration' is the approach used for immunization in Somalia. In the past, routine EPI activities in which children were brought to health facilities proved inadequate in preventing recurrent epidemics of vaccine-preventable diseases throughout the country. Consequently, UNICEF and partner health agencies in Somalia agreed in late 2000 that, given the current instability and breakdown in health services in the country, a different approach was required to ensure the vaccination of children at high risk of contracting preventable diseases. This led to the concept of 'EPI acceleration'. It involves organizing EPI immunization activities in select towns. Here, teams of vaccinators go to specific locations where children can be brought. A social mobilizer alerts the community about the presence of the teams and the mothers/guardians bring the children. The exercise takes place in each town for five days in a month, over a period of three months. UNICEF supplied drugs and EPI supplies to its partners in Puntland and helped Puntland local authorities organize the first health coordination meeting of the year in Garowe the administrative capital of Puntland. Some 35 participants from International NGOs - CARE International, Africa Action Hilfe, Norwegian Peoples Aid, Adventist Development and Relief Agency and Somali Red Crescent Society - WHO, UNICEF and the Puntland Ministry of Health participated. The meeting provided participants with an opportunity to share latest information on progress, constraints and lessons learned in the health sector. UNICEF also organized a workshop in Bossaso to sensitize religious leaders, elders and representatives of local authorities on EPI issues and clarify misconceptions. Some 33 participants mainly Imams and Sheikhs from mosques in Bossaso and Qardho participated. 5

6 6 Registration continues for children who have not received the oral polio vaccine or who have not received the appropriate dose. The registration is going on in all districts of Puntland. UNICEF, in collaboration with health authorities in Togdheer region, screened the eyesight of 7,654 school children aged between six and 18 years in 10 schools of Burao town. Some 95 children were found to have impaired vision and require glasses. Some 11 children had congenital and traumatic cataracts that needed to be operated on. Some 270 children were treated for various eye diseases. Nutrition programme update UNICEF in collaboration with the Somaliland administration Ministry of Health started a de-worming programme for school children in Borama and Burao towns. The exercise aims to target some 20,000 children and to reduce malnutrition and infections among school children. During the eyescreening exercise in Burao, some 5,212 children were provided with deworming tablets. UNICEF supported growth monitoring and promotion activities for about 5,700 children aged under five years in the Awdal and Togdheer regions, and in the internally displaced person camps in Hargeisa. UNICEF, in collaboration with the Somaliland Ministry of Health and Labour, started the second round of integrated malnutrition intervention activities in Eil Afwein and Hudun districts, while the first round commenced in Dhahar district. All the three districts are located in the drought-hit Sool Plateau of northern Somalia. About 2,000 children aged under five years are expected to benefit from the intervention activities which include immunization, nutrition screening, supplementary feeding, treatment of the major childhood killer diseases, distribution of vitamin A and Iron-cum-folic acid as well as nutrition education. In Hargeisa, UNICEF supported Edna Maternity Hospital in organizing a breastfeeding management and promotion training for 130 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and 42 hospital staff. In Puntland, UNICEF and the Puntland Ministry of Health organized an awareness-raising session for the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and the International Code on Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes for 20 Health workers. It was held in Garowe Hospital on September 2. The aim was to help participants promote breastfeeding. 6

7 7 Guidelines from UNICEF and WHO on infant and young child feeding were distributed during the event. UNICEF, in collaboration with the Puntland Ministry of Health, conducted a nutrition survey in the four districts of Bari region (Qandala, Allula, Bargal and Iskushuban) in the second and third week of September The survey covered children aged between six months and five years. During the survey, mothers and caretakers were interviewed as to whether their eligible children had suffered from diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections and malaria in the two weeks prior to the survey. They were also asked whether the children had contracted measles in the past one month; received vitamin A supplementation in past 6 months; and their measles and polio immunization status was ascertained. Those with children aged less than two years were interviewed on their feeding practices. Data entry and analysis is underway. Water and Environmental Sanitation update In Somaliland, the Mayor of Borama and the Awdal Utility Company which has been formed to run the Borama Water Supply System signed a lease agreement for the management of the company. It will take over the system from October 1. A USAID mission visited the project on September 24. Meanwhile, construction works for the Gabiley Water Supply and Geed Ballaadh Water Project continued in September. In Puntland, a delegation from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) visited the Galkaio water project. The water supply project, which was coordinated by UNICEF, is managed and operated by Galkaio Water Company, a local private company. Work is also continuing on the Garowe water project which is expected to serve some 45,000 beneficiaries. Procurement of equipment and furniture for the office to be used in managing the water system has been done and construction of the foundation for raised steel tank and erection of columns completed. Already 15 kilometres of water piping have been laid. Construction of kiosks for water distribution is underway. Another private water management group will manage another project, the Gardo Water Project. It already has a management agreement with the Puntland authorities. The company is already managing the Qawane borewell and water kiosks. To enhance supply of water in rural areas rehabilitation of Jingadda bore well was completed and a local management group formed with assistance from the Puntland State Agency for Water and Environment (PSAWEN). Installation of equipment and a 2550 metre long pipeline with five public kiosks for the Armo borewell 7

8 8 has been completed. Hygiene and Sanitation and Education training was conducted in Borama, Somaliland for about 1000 women. A similar session was also conducted in a remote rural village called Boon, and a clean-up exercise held as a follow-up. UNICEF also trained some 230 religious leaders and scholars in Islamic Sanitation and Hygiene practices in Bay and Middle Shabelle regions. In Mogadishu, UNICEF supplied chlorine to MSF for treatment of drinking water. Supplies were also made to two Italian NGOs operational in Galgaduud region, Comitato Internazanionale Per I Svilupp Deo Populi (CISP), and the Coordinating Committee of the Organization for Voluntary Service (COSV).. Education highlights A five-day training workshop for 15 community mobilizers was held in Somaliland during the month. The workshop aimed to improve the capacity and skills of community mobilizers so that they are able to train community education committees (CECs) to support the education sector. The mobilizers aim to turn CECs into organized, effective and efficient entities. The CECs' roles include rehabilitation, enrolment and school management, and even dealing with disciplinary problems. A similar workshop was held in Garowe, Puntland, from August 28 to September 3, Some 18 people participated. A Non-Formal Education (NFE) workshop started at the Family Life Education Centre in Burao for 62 NFE teachers from Youth and other CBOs from Sool, Sahil and Togdheer regions. In Puntland, a 20-day Non-Formal Education (NFE) course was held for 53 teachers from Mudug region. These trainees were the second group to be trained this year, and only one group (from Nugal region) remains to be trained for the three regions that make up Puntland. During the training, findings of the recently-completed UNICEF child protection study were presented to participants. Construction of three schools in Puntland: White Towen in Bossaso, Nawawi in Gardo, and New Waberi in Garowe, is in the final stages. UNICEF has also recently started construction/rehabilitation of nine more schools in Middle Jubba. Abaqbeyda, Yowkoyow and Wardhujley primary schools in Bakool region are nearing completion. schools to serve Qalwo, Lower Ambar, Hubabays, El-buh, Humbays, Dudhoyo, Timirshe, Sayn and Karimo communities. Schools in Central/Southern Somalia re-opened for the 2003/04 academic year. School enrolment is expected to 8

9 9 increase with a few more schools opening including some rehabilitated ones. Two schools rehabilitated in Belet Weyne are Hawo Tako and Bunda Wein schools, where 978 children are enrolled boys and 353 girls. Among other schools rehabilitated by UNICEF are Man Shodoq Primary School in Huddur and Sakow and Salagle primary Youth UNICEF, in collaboration with the Somaliland administration, organized a Leadership for Organizational Development (LOD) workshop for 54 youth leaders at the Family Life Education Centre in Hargeisa. In Mogadishu, orphaned youth at the SOS village in Mogadishu were trained in Leadership for Organizational Development (LOD) in late August. The 71 trainees comprised of both boys and girls ranging in age from 14 to 22 years. Among topics covered included leadership styles, communication, conflict management, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. A Non-Formal Education (NFE) training workshop was held in Mogadishu from August 23 to September 20. Some 70 participants attended it from Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, Banadir, Bakool, Gedo, Middle Jubba, Banadir and Galgudud regions. The participants were trained in aspects of teaching methodology, class management, lesson preparation and gender issues. Follow up meetings on the UNICEF Youth Radio and TV/video production and broadcasting project were held in Hargeisa and Burao. Participating youth groups were presented with equipment for production of radio and video programmes. Each group will produce and air two radio or TV programmes within the coming three months. In Central/Southern Somalia, UNICEF supported the Horyal Youth organisation in Jowhar and five other youth groups in Mogadishu to plan for the production of video and radio programmes covering different subject areas for broadcast through local radio stations and video centres. HIV/AIDS prevention and control UNICEF facilitated the attendance by four youth and two NGO representatives at the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) held from September in Nairobi, Kenya. In Somaliland, UNICEF facilitated a workshop on capacity assessment in readiness for implementation of the HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework Action Plan. The objective of the one-day workshop was to identify individual and institutional capacity building needs. Some 46 people from international NGOs, Somaliland administration, HIV/AIDS technical 9

10 10 committees, local NGOs, youth and women's organizations and health workers participated in the workshop held in Hargeisa. In Puntland, UNICEF undertook fieldtesting of information, education and communication materials. During the training for Non-Formal Education teachers, sensitization on basic facts on HIV/AIDS was undertaken. A oneday meeting on HIV/AIDS awareness capacity building needs was held in Bossaso with some 20 people participating. A meeting on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)/HIV/AIDS and Gender was held in Belet Weyne, Hiran region. Some 33 religious leaders from Hiran and Galgadud regions participated. Discussions centred on misconceptions and basic facts about gender and on HIV/AIDS, and the role religious leaders can play in increasing awareness of the community on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, especially by fighting stigma and discrimination. The meeting also sought to sensitize the leaders on the harmful effects of FGM. Child Protection UNICEF organized a child protection training in Hargeisa, Somaliland, from September for staff, and from September for about 30 participants from partner organizations working in Northwest, Northeast and Central/Southern Somalia. The training offered UNICEF staff dealing with child protection issues an opportunity to share information and experiences. The latter training provided partners with a better understanding and knowledge of international standards of interventions that can be undertaken on behalf of children victims of violence, abuse, discrimination and exploitation. In Mogadishu the second phase of the Elman Child Soldiers Rehabilitation and Integration project is underway. Staff to manage the project were recruited by a joint panel comprising of representatives from UNICEF and the Elman Advisory Board. The child soldiers who will be rehabilitated are aged between 14 and 18 years. Some 50 boys and 10 girls started the rehabilitation training in September. The rehabilitation will include vocational training in electrical skills, conflict resolution, counselling and non-formal education. Among the activities planned alongside the training are outreach activities targeting the families and communities from which the participants originated. UNICEF organized a Child Protection co-ordination and networking meeting at Banadir University, Mogadishu in late August. Organizations involved in protection of children participated. The discussions covered five priority areas of UNICEF's programme up to the year Among these five priority areas are protection of children against violence, exploitation, abuse and discrimination. Other priorities for UNICEF globally include ensuring 10

11 11 children have the best possible start in life through: 1) the provision of adequate health services, nutrition, water and environmental sanitation 2) access to quality primary school education for all children with special emphasis on the girl child; 3) safeguarding children against disease and disability and 4), stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing care for affected children. The participants also discussed major findings of the UNICEF child protection study undertaken recently in Somalia, and implementation of child protection strategies in the country. The participants included representatives of civil society organizations, human rights advocates, education and health institutions, women, youth and religious groups. If you have questions about the UNICEF Somalia Monthly Review please contact: Robert Kihara, Assistant Communication Officer OR Julia Spry-Leverton, Communication Officer Tel: / / / / Fax: /