By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Chief of the Uganda People’s Land Defense Forces has called for urgent and immediate assistance for the Somalia Transitional Federal Government to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the war torn country. Lt General Katumba Wamala said that urgent support needs to be given to the government to improve the besieged government’s capacity and to deliver badly needed services to its people.
Wamala’s statements were made following heavy clashes Monday which left at least 3 people dead and 4 others wounded in Mogadishu. The most recent fighting occurred between the AMISON backed transitional government and Islamist fighters.
Uganda is one of two countries that have responded to an AU request for AMISOM troops to Somalia. Since responding, AMISON troops have come under constant attack by Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam insurgents fighting to oust the Western backed government of President Sheikh Ahmed Sharrif.
“Normalcy can only return to Somalia if the government is able to provide basic services to the people and this can be made possible if there is a public service that is equipped with the necessary knowledge and is committed to service delivery,” said Deputy Special Representative of the African Union Commission for Somalia Wafula Wamunyinyi.
Clashes in Mogadishu have displaced more than 55,000 people from Mogadishu since the beginning of February, with many of them heading out of Somalia to neighboring Kenya, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
Hawo Sheiikh Ali, a refugee who left Mogadishu at the end of February after a mortar shell killed 15 people in her neighborhood said, “Staying in Mogadishu now is like a death sentence: you are not safe; your neighbour is not safe.”
“I was selling tea when it hit and all of a sudden I could not see anything. By the time the dust settled 10 young boys were dead,” Ali said. “I don’t know how I survived but I did and I left. I also lost two of my sons, aged 10 and 11; we got separated and up to now I don’t know where they are.”
Ali said she had never considered becoming a refugee, but now felt she had no choice. He said many families are continuing to arrive “almost daily”.
For more information, please see:
Daily Nation – Uganda Urges Immediate Help for Somali Regime – 24 March 2010
Shabelle Media Network- Heavy Clashes Restarts, Kills 3, Injuries 4 in Mogadishu – 23 March 2010
IRIN – Kenya – Somalia – Thousands Flee Mogadishu ‘Death Trap’ – 22 March 2010
