Aid workers face uphill battle in Somalia

The handful of grain Abiye Omar clutches in her skinny hand has travelled a long way from the fertile fields of America's Midwest to this desolate Somali seaside town.

It has sailed on a relief ship through seas plagued by pirates and sharks, then been carried ashore by porters into the hands of aid workers who have to contend with bandits, arsonists, insurgents and even the Somali government's own forces to get it to the hungry.

"Somalia is without a doubt one of the toughest places for us to work in the world," said World Food Programme spokesperson Marcus Prior.

"Anytime you have to worry about security the cost of delivery goes up. In Somalia, we worry about security all the time."

The United Nations says this Horn of Africa nation faces Africa's worst humanitarian crisis. The harvest has failed in Somalia's Shabelle region, traditionally the breadbasket of the country, after the worst drought in 13 years.

That has put even more pressure on families sheltering some of the 600 000 people who have fled fighting in the capital between Islamic insurgents and Ethiopian troops backing shaky Somali government forces.

Like many of her neighbours, Omar has taken in a relative, her daughter, seeking refuge from the violence in Mogadishu that has claimed thousands of lives this year. Another daughter arrived seeking food after her crops failed in the hinterland.

Omar's reed and wattle compound, fenced by scrawny thorn bushes, is home to five children and 16 grandchildren. When three-month-old Aisha cries with hunger, her wrinkled grandmother rocks her and sings, drip-feeding the baby water in a futile effort to calm her cries.

"A mother cannot sleep when her children are awake with hunger," Omar said. But getting food to families like hers is tough.

Following three attacks by pirates on WFP ships this year, few ship owners are willing to risk their crews and cargo to deliver aid, and those that do demand exorbitant prices. Since last month, the merchant ships that deliver 80% of WFP's aid have been accompanied by French warships, and teams of elite French commandos camp on their decks, machine-guns at the ready.

Of the two ships escorted by the French navy ship Premier Maitre L'Her last week, one managed to evade an attack last May -- although a guard was killed during the fighting -- while the other was held for over a month last year.

"There were three small boats and a big one, which tried to shoot us with a rocket propelled grenade ," recalled Nasser Musa, chief officer of the MV Torgelow. The pirates demanded a $3-million ransom, but backed down after the ship's Somali contractors sent an army of bodyguards to the pirate camp to do battle.

Evading the pirates is only the beginning.

Somalia has had no functioning government since 1991, when rival clan leaders overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each other. When an Islamic group took power in parts of the south and the capital last year, the weakened transitional government invited in Ethiopian troops to dislodge the Islamists. The Islamists regrouped with support from Ethiopia's archenemy, Eritrea, and have been fighting an insurgency against the government ever since.

Several aid workers have been killed by stray bullets and mortars this year, and the years of fighting have devastated Somalia's infrastructure, making aid delivery difficult and dangerous.

Last week, ships coming from Kenya headed not to chaotic Mogadishu but to the nearby port of Merka. All that remains of the disintegrated pier is a series of jagged metal poles biting into the turquoise sea.

The rusty wreck of a cargo ship run aground warns the aid ships not to come too close. Instead, a rickety flotilla of small boats sets out to meet the ships, ferrying sacks of grain through rough seas toward hundreds of porters waiting neck-deep in waters where aggressive bull sharks hunt.

Once the food is piled on the beach, aid workers organise its storage and transport through roadblocks manned by hungry gunmen, their teeth rotten and eyes bloodshot from chewing the mildly narcotic plant called qat. In the chaos of Somalia, the ragged gunmen can be freelance bandits, members of a clan-based militia or even work for the government. The cost of moving a truck through roadblocks along the 39km from Mogadishu to the refuge town of Afgoye has
shot up to $475, and there have been 15 incidents of looting from WFP convoys this year.

Because of the instability, WFP uses local contractors such as Abakr Abdi Shire to move aid. He pays a bond for the value of the food which is only returned once it has been safely delivered. Shire has lost seven employees since he began working for WFP, five of them killed at checkpoints and the others by bandits.

"We knew all of them," he said sadly, recalling a kindhearted friend known for his masculine charm and stylish dressing, who was shot defending an aid shipment earlier this year.

If the trucks haven't broken down, the route hasn't been blocked by fighting or the food has escaped looters, the most dangerous part of the operation begins: distribution. At least 20 people have been killed at food distribution sites this year. The perpetrators and their motives have not always been clear.

Aid workers say the Somali government has inflamed tensions by describing its displaced citizens as terrorists and questioning why humanitarian agencies feed them. The agencies acknowledge that a few armed insurgents may be in the camps, but say it is impossible to individually screen the 1,5-million Somalis who need aid.

In October, the head of WFP in Somalia, Idris Osman, was dragged from his compound by scores of heavily armed government security forces and kept for almost a week without explanation. WFP suspended its operations until he was freed.

Despite all the difficulties, last week's food shipment at least reached the hungry.

It meant 40-year-old Faduma Hassan needn't spend her husband's weekly earnings -- equal to about 50 US cents -- on food and instead could buy medicine for her sick four-year-old son.

For Nurto Ahmed, it meant her 17-year-old son could re-enroll in Qur'anic school. He had dropped out, too hungry to concentrate.

And for Abiye Osman, the sack of grain at her feet meant a long stretch of quiet nights.

"Tonight it's not necessary to go without food," she said. "Tonight it will be peaceful.

I drinking history

(Maggier 2007/5/11)

Remember, I did not Shangxiaohuashi, father James often use chopsticks Liquor let me point Tiantian, was only think spicy. By 15-16 years old, began to drink the Dakoudaikou. Jiuliang was great, never Zuiguo, father Jiu You all know that he has a son to drink. Of course, the official history of drinking from the first day of work began.n

I also drink a lot for him. I Laizhebuju, as in blackmail solve problems and help him drink a lot. Then how I would not remember to drink, and when I return to consciousness again the body, I have been lying on the parking township government-run hotels, the quilt was vomit in a Tahuchu. Now consider that there are an estimated drank two about the burden of two high concentration of liquor.n

Early advice, just before people go to work in the rumor, the township government work must be Jiuliang, not to drink will not stem the rural work, we can not open up the situation. Later, the practice has proved that this is indeed an irrefutable truth. In the township government work for seven years, during which the number of liquor drink is not calculated. General work in the morning to noon and then to the hotel, go home to sleep after Jiujufanbao, non-special situation is not working. Therefore, if the afternoon to find people to act in the village government is basically Chibimengeng. At that time, only general Hebaijiu rarely drink beer, and other basic do not drink wine.n

Jiuqian is naturally not get to their own. Sometimes the higher authorities on hospitality to guide the work of the leadership, we However, Liu Shutian. Sometimes acceptable area of the village and township enterprises dinner. Some circumstances, as we drink our peasant brothers client money to buy the wine. Now think really ashamed ah. But then (estimate now is) everyone agreed that, as long as no money, drank a snack is okay, not corruption. Clearly recall that there was a Linshuji staff at the meeting openly said that the Spring Festival gifts to his people, but send things (mainly tobacco and alcohol) Most of these bills are gifts to the people, thus frankly. In fact, what he said there is a certain logic, and even by the standards of criminal law, if the act is not only money, is also like to bribery. Of course, if building of a clean government in strict accordance with the requirements of the standards, then it is a serious wrong. One day at noon, in the vicinity of the village government to eat at a restaurant, of course, is to drink, get a push door. At that time Jiurenchu higher-level secretary of the party committee of discipline inspection, is devoted to investigations of feasting and drinking and indulge. I certainly did not speak of, at the time, the highest leadership table wine to stand up, it is embarrassing to Peizhaoxiao asked that the secretary is also not a cup. Secretary left, we arguments, how to work hard, drank dead to eat their own pockets equipment, etc. What is the big deal. Later in unknown, since not heard of anyone being criticized and dealt with.n

As the saying goes, and often there is no follow in the river wet feet. Jiuliang much more work in the township government will have drunk it. Besides, I am the Jiuliang (normal in about two 8) is not big. At that time, the region out of the township hotshots times what King Kong eight, four Jinhua, are ultra-jin Jiuliang are eligible for the talents of Honor. Drunkenness are common, everyone drunk and therefore do not think after losing only to endure the stomach. Drink is often not remember how to return home, as is a kind of instinctive, drowsily to remember that the road to go home, sleep on the home Overturn As for the road conditions are simply not remember. Drink many innocent people were killed wheels is estimated westbound unknowingly set foot on the road. Most distressing, I injured one of the most drunken lifetime will not forget. Young, I often typing to a copy shop printed materials, there are many beautiful girl, because frequented, and they all feel for Kunde. Not long, I fell in love with a clean called the typist. When I love being severely crack down on her, I think of the wine. That is life in the doomed drunk, invited several friends did want a drink, but not a surprise visit. So often in our patrons that the small hotel, I had Jigancai point to a bottle on the wine, depression, and a glass cup. When the bottle Quick-drying, alerted the owner of the hotel, has been bothered by very concerned about my waitresses, they accompany me to drink - usually in the name of the Jiuhe off the bottle. They really want to find now say thank you!n

When they wake up the next day is the afternoon, I felt that there was a minor facial blood clots, a look at the mirror, surprised, or even under the nose of a deep wound. Later, several friends said that I just go out on Toronto s Pearson down, they did not find that I injured, the Kuiyi look. If that means that I injured it must send Hospital. Wrote here, I used finger Molemo nose, small scars that will be with me for life. It is a future injury, ending a second love of my life. Oh, wrote this thought, first love will be accompanied at the end of liquor. It is a love come too early, an immature Puppy Love. Liquor nor later this heroic drinking, but the students have to say that when I heard the body of alcohol only.n

From where one of the motives, including cumbersome work, socialize too much. Sure enough new units have new weather, the number of feasting and drinking and indulge sharp decline of public funds, and occasionally a spare Jiuhe the few, the general is mainly to eat drink supplement. Later, the term for female leadership, neither Hi entertainment will not drink, we naturally follow dipping, significantly reduced the frequency of drinking, drunk is rare. Drink wine from a liquor mainly to the change mainly to beer, wine occasionally to point. A few years ago, the Health and a serious illness, hospitalization during the doctor s advice not Hebaijiu, may more than one bottle of beer. Since then, we can basically do not Hebaijiu gradually prefer to drink beer and wine. Said that the basic means do not drink on certain occasions will occasionally drank liquor, and even drunk, but the number is extremely rare. Over the past three years, only less than 10 times the drink liquor, drunk one. Beer for me that the same water, high spirits, drink four or five bottles of bottles is quite normal. But I do not like to drink, usually only drink a bottle.n

A few months ago to a friend of the small wineries playing into the factory, only to see a warehouse full of a variety of packaged liquor, but I did not imagine the production fermentation workshop, I wonder how wine is produced by . A friend told me that they bought liquor from the field of alcohol blending, and the price of wine is different different packaging, wine is the same. I am greatly surprised. He also said that, even if a certain scale wineries are also buying alcohol blending, and basically do not own fermentation. Buy alcohol for low cost, production speed. Ah also think that there are a lot of wineries, the original passing there, the smell will be very much the flavor of distiller s grain, farmers often buy Alcohol pigs have now gone. Remember as a child, we also offer a village collective Winery, the only son of a room, but they are all buy their own food fermentation. He also advised me, as other Hebaijiu, unhelpful.n

Last year, I let my wife buy two tall glasses, beginning at home Zizhenziyin wine. Certainly not in time to eat drink, but after dinner on inverted cup, Bianhebian watching television or reading. Although in love with wine, but in the gathering of friends occasions, I basically do not drink wine, because I fear the presence of beer they drink wine. Shangshen waste that will be drunk. A few years ago, we hosted a unit, on July 8, a dozen individuals drink bottles dry red wine, such as drinking beer, a glass full of a finish, is a huge waste.

Wine is only a small number of people in the middle pop, we basically do not drink wine here. Father of a child listening to a friend told them their people like to drink wine, but have no idea why of wine. After several drinks occasionally work, there is no particular interest.n

A taste of this year in rural Jiangxi popular rice wine, is a colleague from the home of Jiangxi. This and our local rice wine of the so-called rice wine is not a concept, said alcohol is more than 30% of the people can be completely drunk. A big bottle of Coke I finish a period of two weeks and I feel great. Later, my colleagues and even selling point metres to personally brewing, the end result can not buy liquor and work-life setting more than a trivial matter.

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