The fragmented country of Somalia is no stranger to conflict and the last two years of fighting are beginning to take a toll on the lives of the countries children. Somalia is quite literally a raging battle ground, as fighting in the country continues, as insurgents exchange fire with the Somali government, Ethiopian troops and African Union peacekeepers.
While there are no true figures available, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates there are some 75,000 displaced people who have fled Somalia, mainly from the capital Mogadishu residing in Somaliland (an autonomous region, which is part of the Somali republic, however it remains unrecognized by any country or international organization since its inception in 1991).
Currently security forces are investigating three suicide car-bomb attacks on October 29th in Hargeisa, the capital of the self-declared republic of Somaliland, which targeted a UN compound the presidential residence and Ethiopian embassy. In Mogadishu death tolls continue to rise as Ethiopian shelling killed over 80 in recent weeks. Women and young girls have been especially vulnerable in the city as looting and rapes are prevalent. Additionally aid workers remain targets. In response the growing issue of piracy off the country's coast NATO and India are both to send warships in patrol. In addition the naval force will attempt to eliminate ship seizures and escort World Food Program deliveries, which will significantly aid children and families in dire need.
Conflict, drought force more children onto Hargeisa streets, many of which often spend the day on the streets in an effort to support their families, others spend day and night alone even more susceptible to violence and exploitation.
Saleebaan Ismail Bulale, chairman of Hornwatch, a local human rights group, estimated there were 3,000-5,000 children on the streets of Hargeisa. “There are no exact figures but that is our estimate and numbers seem to be increasing”.
From begging, shoe shinning, washing cars and cleaning, children quite literally run the streets day and night in an effort to survive. With the continued violence and influx of refugees into Hargeisa, the numbers of children on the streets only looks to increase.
UNICEF has given Somalia the not so glorious title as 'the worst place in the world for children’, and estimates that one in seven children under the age of five is acutely malnourished. While peace talks are to take place in Djibouti later this month, the country's future state looks to remain a volatile hotbed for violence.
