Somalilandsun: Nine aid workers were killed in violence in Somalia between January and September, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Friday.
In its October bulletin, the OCHA says over 100 violent incidents resulted in the deaths. Eleven aid workers were injuried and three others were abducted during the nine months.
The OCHA says the volatile security situation in Somalia continues to impact on civilian lives and create a challenging environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
“Access constraints continue to impede humanitarian partners’ ability to reach people in need in a timely manner. Staff safety and security remain a major concern,” it says.
Somalia is trying to rebound from two decades of civil conflict but the Islamist group Al-Shabab still controls some areas in the south.
Al-Shabaab has been targeting humanitarian workers for political gain, sometimes demanding ransoms to free hostages.
In addition to security concerns, the OCHA says humanitarian groups continue to face administrative and bureaucratic impediments.
“These include demands for registration and involvement in staff recruitment processes among other activities. This has in certain cases threatened the operational independence of humanitarian partners,” it says. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
