Ethiopian troops will continue their occupation of Somalian territory. The current government is closely allied with the United States., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
2500 displaced in South Somalia as security forces pullout
Abdulaziz Billow, Press TV, Mogadishu
Tue Apr 16, 2013 2:41AM GMT
UN and international humanitarian aid agencies in Somalia say thousands of families have been displaced in the southern town of Hudur massive pullout of security forces.
In its latest humanitarian bulletin on Somalia, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said that in the month of March, 2,500 people fled Hudur in Bakool region after Ethiopian and Somali troops withdrew on the 17th of March.
SB
Kassim Mooge Abdullah
UN Humanitarian Officer
“We have recorded 2700 displaced families so far. The figure is bound to rise as the situation worsens. All these families fled from Hudur following the massive pullout of Ethiopian and Somali forces”.
The report says that aid agencies have only been able to distribute limited humanitarian supplies, mostly by air. Now the UN says it’s unable to reach out the needy families due to an economic blockade imposed by al-Shabaab fighters.
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Kassim Mooge Abdullah
UN Humanitarian Officer
"Now with the pullout there is absolutely no way these people can receive aid from agencies. The al-Shabaab will not allow UN agencies access to these poor families and therefore we forecast a possible humanitarian crisis for many families in South Somalia and especially those in Bay & Bakool region".
Humanitarian partners report that the livelihood programs in Bakool and Bay may be harmed by insecurity. Bay is one of the regions considered as a breadbasket for Somalia but humanitarian experts fear the planting and harvest season could be affected if the situation deteriorates.
The reports also noted that malnutrition levels are also of concern following a rapid assessment conducted in early April. The assessment showed high malnutrition rates among the assessed children, both among residents in Eel Barde and the newly displaced people.
PTC
“Ethiopia, the strongest military power in the southwest region of Somalia, since the November 2011 invasion, has repeatedly said it wishes to withdraw its forces from Somalia. This as the African Union Mission in Mogadishu says that they are fully aware of the challenges posed by the recent pullout and that the AU has taken measures to prevent a vacuum.
Colonel Ali Aden Humed
AMISOM Spokesman
"We as AMISOM are fully aware of the Ethiopian pullout. We have already set out plans on how to fill the vacuum that will be left as Ethiopian troops pull out from Somalia. AMISOM will work with the newly trained Somali forces to retake more regions in Bay&Bakool".
Hudur's capture has been viewed as Al-Shabaab's most important territorial victory for over a year, as the group has lost all its major towns in south and central regions to allied forces.
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