Thursday
Jan282010
UN Addresses War, Piracy In Somalia
Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 5:54PM
New York---The security council adopted a resolution today supporting the extension of the African Union peacekeeping operation in Somalia (AMASOM) for another year. US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice stated that the resolution underscored the importance of support for the transitional federal government and expressed concern about the country’s deteriorating humanitarian situation.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees, over 100 000 Somali’s have been forced out of Mogadishu in the past month due to an escalation in fighting between armed groups, many of which have increasingly targeted civilians and humanitarian organizations. The World Food Program (WFP) was forced to suspend its food distribution earlier this month, and will remain unable to resume service until security conditions are stabilized.
A report released in Geneva earlier today by Dr Shamsul Bari, the UN’s independent expert on human rights in Somalia, highlighted the devastating consequences of the conflict on civilian populations and called on the international community to strengthen its engagement to the country. “ The Islamist forces fighting to topple the TGF (Transitional Government Forces ) are reported to have carried out extrajudicial executions, planted mines, bombs and other explosive devices in civilian areas, and used civilians as human shields.” said Bari, who also warned that the growth of piracy along the Somali coast was an important security threat to the region. The UN Contact Group on piracy off the coast of Somalia also convened today to discuss possible initiatives and solutions to counter the dangers posed by pirates.
In an attempt to set up safe transport corridors for commercial vessels and protect WFP food shipments into Mogadishu, the European Union has been conducting naval operations (EUNAVFOR) along the Somali coast since late 2008. According to EUNAVFOR Chief of Staff Captain Paul Chivers, the total number of attacks has continued to increase, although the number of successful ones has diminished. There are currently 9 ships being held by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees, over 100 000 Somali’s have been forced out of Mogadishu in the past month due to an escalation in fighting between armed groups, many of which have increasingly targeted civilians and humanitarian organizations. The World Food Program (WFP) was forced to suspend its food distribution earlier this month, and will remain unable to resume service until security conditions are stabilized.
A report released in Geneva earlier today by Dr Shamsul Bari, the UN’s independent expert on human rights in Somalia, highlighted the devastating consequences of the conflict on civilian populations and called on the international community to strengthen its engagement to the country. “ The Islamist forces fighting to topple the TGF (Transitional Government Forces ) are reported to have carried out extrajudicial executions, planted mines, bombs and other explosive devices in civilian areas, and used civilians as human shields.” said Bari, who also warned that the growth of piracy along the Somali coast was an important security threat to the region. The UN Contact Group on piracy off the coast of Somalia also convened today to discuss possible initiatives and solutions to counter the dangers posed by pirates.
In an attempt to set up safe transport corridors for commercial vessels and protect WFP food shipments into Mogadishu, the European Union has been conducting naval operations (EUNAVFOR) along the Somali coast since late 2008. According to EUNAVFOR Chief of Staff Captain Paul Chivers, the total number of attacks has continued to increase, although the number of successful ones has diminished. There are currently 9 ships being held by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
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