From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Jan 29 2010 - 06:41:54 EST
UN Addresses War, Piracy In Somalia
Posted by <http://talkradionews.com/author/interns/> Staff on January 29,
2010 |
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.
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