Life Despite War - Somalia

October 2009

In April, foreign donors pledged $200m in support of Somalias so-called government. In this rare glimpse of the war and anarchy that has torn the countrys heart out, foreign aid is nowhere to be seen.
For 18 years Somalia has been at war with itself. Weve really seen everything: hunger, death, everything, says one Somalian, looking at the ruins of capital Mogadishu. With the city embroiled in a turf war, and civilians constantly caught in the crossfire, 18 000 shell-shocked Somalians have fled. The bullet went in her neck, she cant move says one nurse about a 12-year-old girl in this Somalian hospital. They have space for 80 patients here yet they treat over 200, despite threats from Islamist insurgents accusing the doctors of treating unbelievers. Theres a semblance of organisation amongst Mogadishus ruins. One large building without any windows is the nerve-centre of the Somali army. Even if they are wearing the caps of Spanish football team, Real Madrid and their entire fleet has been stolen by pirates, the Somali Navy are optimistic. Somalias government now controls about 1/3 of the country, their gunmen are armed by the US who fear Al Qaedas arrival. Yet the deputy Prime Minster says that Al Qaeda is already here and that the West has failed them: All of the military of Iraq, of Afghanistan, havent been able to defeat them, so what do you expect from a country, which has never been given the same support? he asks.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• somalia
• mogadishu
• war
• humanitarian
• crisis
• islamist
• rebels
• journeyman
• pictures
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman pictures

[Caanos88]

Can you guys please just forget about the Clan bullshit for a minute?Why are you and me in Europe or other places around the world??Dont we all belong to the same religion?? Why is it that we have to kill our brothers and sisters?Honestly Clan is something ive forgot a long time ago and something that I will never teach my children. 20 years after the war we are still fighting but this time we have new clan called "ALshabab" with new flag,new rules and everything.SOMALIA HA NOLATO insha allah

[somgangsta]

Somalia is gone forever 1960-1991 it existed nearlly for 30 years. Today Somalia splited into Puntland, Somaliland, TFG, Al-Shaydaan. It's our version of disintegration of USSR. USSR at least produced some great developed countries like Estonia. What has the Civil war or secessionists achieve ? I just think we need to move ahead Somalia is failed state it will remain so. Somalis lack Logic and IQ to even think like Human. Siyaad Barre Thanks god bless you

[Cabiira1]

ibi waa tuugii dhulka iyo bada iib saday ibi adiga iyo inta dawlada kugula jirta ee wadanka iib sadayba umada soomaali yeed waa ku neceb yihiin intii aqli leh sababtoo ah ma tihid wadani dhulkiisa jecel

[samana1fromsomalia]

Why are they all speaking Italian? speak Somali

[HerroHerrar]

@somgangsta filthy ape

[herointoast]

@meyima this is just all the more reason Somalia doesn't deserve help. the citizens OBVIOUSLY don't want any help, so don't give them any. With that attitude, they don't deserve it. I say let them finish falling on their own. People have tried to step in and help and its not proving anything or helping, so just leave it be...just going to kill more people in the long run..

[herointoast]

@fergus247 tell me, would you go to Mogadishu without a weapon? Didn't think so...

[herointoast]

@fergus247 you really have no idea what you are talking about. Taxes? lol...

[herointoast]

where can i buy that shirt?

[LLMood]

May allah bring peace to those innocent people

[oldblubblub]

@CushiticSomalianMale You're from Somalia? I feel sorry for you. Has there been some serious violence in your neighborhood?