Ever since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s first visit to Somalia in 2011, when he was Turkey’s prime minister, the relations between Somalia and Turkey has blossomed and strengthened. The two countries started regular high-level discussions, exchange of delegations and cooperation in international forums, including the United Nations. Turkey, no doubt, …

NEW YORK (SoOHA) – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday lamented the lack of civilian protection in armed conflicts across the globe, saying international compliance with the UN’s framework for such conflicts has deteriorated. “Grave human suffering is still being caused by armed conflicts and a lack of compliance with …

DOHA (SoOHA) – Qatar Charity (QC) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, launched the largest humanitarian relief initiative entitled ‘For Humanity (4H)’ to provide emergency assistance to vulnerable refugees across the globe. The 4H campaign aims to reach out to more than 300,000 refugees and displaced persons in Yemen, Syria, …

BAIDOA (SoOHA) – In our continuing series on life in IDP camps across Somalia, Radio Ergo visited a displaced people’s camp in Baidoa. Hanano One camp is one of the oldest camps in the region and has become home to many who have raised their families there and do not …

NAIROBI (SoOHA) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has ruled out ransom negotiations with Al Shabaab militants in Somalia to secure the release of two Cuban doctors abducted from Mandera in April. Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma however said an operation was ongoing to rescue the two doctors. “We believe that …

MOGADISHU (SoOHA) – The United Nations on Monday in a statement called for urgent and sustained resources to avert a major humanitarian crisis caused by severe drought. George Conway, acting deputy special representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), said “the drought situation in Somalia has deteriorated …

MOGADISHU (SoOHA) – Five people among them three secondary school children from the same family survived gunshot attack while travelling in a public transport bus in Darkenley district, in the outskirts of Mogadishu this morning. The three children; a boy and two girls were heading to school (Al-Anwaar) when the …

GAROWE (SoOHA) – Thousands of medicated mosquito nets have been distributed to some of the poorest families in Puntland to prevent the seasonal spread of malaria in this region of northeastern Somalia. More than 10,000 families in IDP camps in the towns of Bosaso, Qardho, Garowe, Burtinle, Galkayo, and those …

NAIROBI (SoOHA) – The move by the government to shut down social media platforms in the country at the end of this month as students retake their final exams has received sharp criticism with Amnesty International terming it ‘ridiculous’. Amnesty International deputy regional director for East Africa Seif Magango said …

MOGADISHU (SoOHA) – A devastating drought in Somalia could leave some 2.2 million people – almost 18% of the population – facing severe hunger in July-September after poor harvests, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said on Wednesday. The UN agency issued a special alert on Somalia, indicating that …