The fragmented country of Somalia is no stranger to conflict and the last two years of fighting has increasingly taken a toll on the lives of everyone in the country, especially the 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.
The spiraling downfall of Somalia began in January 1991, when former President Siad Barre was overthrown, which has since left the country without any form of an operational government. The lawless country has spent the almost two decades locked in endless fighting, between various Islamic insurgent coalitions and government forces, warlords, and the government.
It had seemed like the insurgent attacks against the government were to slowing down in the early part of 2009, however since May the attacks have resumed in the capital, Mogadishu, and other areas. Last month, on June 18th, a suicide bomber killed Somalia’s Security Minister and at least 30 other people 150 miles to the north of Mogadishu, making it the deadliest suicide bomb attack in the countries history. The recent fighting has culminated in the deaths of hundreds of Somalis and the displacement of hundreds of thousands. In June 2009, some 170,000 were displaced from Mogadishu (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). According to local human rights groups, there have been 397 deaths, and some 1,738 injured since 7 May 2007. However the current displacements are not the country’s worst, as in November 2007, the number of refugees hit one million, according to the United Nations. Most of the displaced have fled Somalia, mainly from the capital Mogadishu residing in Somaliland. To see more on the history of the conflict in Somalia see the conflict timeline from 2000 here.
Women and children have been especially vulnerable in the city as looting and rapes are prevalent. The number of orphans continues to rise, and the situation for them and other vulnerable children remains desolate and is increasingly critical with no government support and assistance for them. Additionally aid workers remain targets, and piracy off the country’s coast continues. While addition the naval forces have continued to work to eliminate ship seizures and escort World Food Program and other Aid deliveries, it continues to significantly impact the aid children and families in dire need.
Not only is Somalia a lawless land of conflict, but it is one of the worlds harshest places to live environmentally, and the countries strong culture of pastoralism (nomadic way of life) on increases the impact on a child’s chances of survival. A Somali child has less chance of living to adulthood than a child in any other part of the world. The high child mortality rates are rooted in a number of causes, mainly due to primarily preventable diseases, dehydration, malnutrition, lack of safe water, and poor sanitation. Not only is a child’s future hindered by health, but only one in five children actually receive any form of education. Many children are left the primary or sole caretakers, and with low literacy rates the future is far from hopeful for most. (UNICEF)
Last November, I brought you the piece, Have We Forgotten Somalia?, and it appears that we have as children continue to live in the country dubbed by UNICEF as ‘the worst place in the world for children’. The country’s future state continues to remain a volatile hotbed for violence, and the future of the countries children remains bleak.
