ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTERS

MOGADISHU (SOHA) – The Somali government on Monday called on Iraq to launch urgent investigations into a ship carrying 200,000 bags of charcoal smuggled out of the Horn of Africa nation. Somali Ambassador to the United Nations Abukar Osman said the ship, which has docked at the Iraqi port of …

TORONTO (SOHA) – House of Commons Immigration Committee to meet today after increasingly tense month on the issue of asylum claimants Last week a tense meeting between Canada’s federal immigration minister and an Ontario government minister ended in name-calling, an abrupt exit, and demands for an apology. It was all over …

NAIROBI (SOHA) – The UN Security Council has been cautioned against linking peacekeeping troops in Somalia to illegal charcoal and sugar trade without evidence. Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo yesterday told the teams monitoring the peace process against accusing African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) soldier. She said they should …

MOGADISHU (SOHA) – Traders at the main market Mogadishu’s remote Kahda district today woke up to losses after a fire razed down property worth thousands of US dollars. Smoke billowing from the newly established market could be seen covering a section of the city as firefighters fought their way in to …

The Somali group al-Shabaab, known for deadly attacks on thousands of people across east Africa, has banned plastic bags because of the threat they pose to the environment. Al-Shabaab’s radio station, Radio Andalus, broadcast news of the ban was announced on Sunday, saying discarded plastic bags “pose a serious threat …

DADAAB (SOHA) – Newly-arrived refugee children from Somalia pose for a photograph at the Dagahaley refugee camp in Dadaab, near Kenya’s border with Somalia. The United Nations refugees agency is looking for funds to mitigate the environmental degradation caused by refugees. UNHCR’s head of operations in Dadaab Jean Rushatsi said …

In 2017 Somalia elected its first president since the ousting of strongman Siad Barre in 1991, an event which plunged the country into an extended period of civil conflict from which it is only now beginning to emerge. The landmark election marked a turning point for the people of Somalia …

MOGADISHU (SOHA) – At least 21 people have been killed and thousand others affected by floods and storm due to heavy rains pounding parts of the Horn of Africa nation, the UN relief agency said on Friday night. The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said floods and …

MOGADISHU (SOHA) – The East Africa bloc’s weather prediction center has issued a warning of an active tropical cyclone named Mekuku threatening the coast of Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland. The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)’s Center for Climate Prediction and Application Center (ICPAC) said on Friday that its closely …

HARGEISA (SOHA) – Local authorities and humanitarian partners are moving to rapidly mobilize resources to assist affected populations with available resources. Response will be formulated as more information is gathered and communication and access improves in areas hardest hit by the storm. In Somaliland which was worst hit, the government, …