Monday, December 21, 2009
Somali government minister for humanitarian affairs, Mahmoud Ibrahim Garweyne told a press conference in Mogadishu that his government is very concerned over the desperate living conditions of millions of Somalis living in the Al-Shabab-controlled regions where aid agencies have been banned from operating.
“This is a new policy that terrorists are pressuring and imposing a systematic embargo on the vulnerable Somalis who have already been fed up with the long-running civil strife and draughts that affected more regions in Somalia,” the minister said.
“We call on all Somalis to unite against the terrorists whose aim is to cause heavy damages on Somalia and instead make here a safe haven for international terrorists running Iraq, Afghanistan and else where in the world” the minister stated.
This week the militants banned the United Nations Mine action from operating in Somalia, the latest UN organization banned from working in Somalia.
The militants have already banned other agencies including, United Nations development Program (UNDP), United Nations world food program ((WF),the United Nations department for safety and security (UNDSS), the UU political office for Somalia, Care International and International Medical Corps.
Meanwhile, the minister handed 5000 US dollars over to the administration of Mogadishu’s Banadir Medical University to help it recover from the deadly suicide blast that killed ministers, University professors, students and journalists on December 3rd.
“This sum of money was sent by the Somali communities in Sweden and Denmark and on behalf of them I am transferring it to the University authorities,” the minister said.