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(Nairobi,
KENYA) 20 July 2009 – Two UN compounds were looted today in Baidoa and
Wajid, Somalia. Al Shabaab men entered both compounds and took UN
equipment and vehicles.
In Baidoa, the looting of all emergency communication equipment and the
lack of security officers makes it impossible for the UN as a whole to
continue its operations. We deeply regret having to relocate staff and
temporarily suspend our operations in Baidoa. We are expecting
authorities to reconsider these decisions and allow us to address the
critical humanitarian situation in Baidoa and its region.
In Wajid, where the minimum security conditions are unchanged,
operations will continue. Al Shabab members visited the WFP compound in
Wajid for a meeting. They took away two cars and some furniture that
were not WFP property.
These two events happened as Al shabaab broadcast today a message on
local Somali radio calling for the closing of the offices of UNDP, UNPOS
and UNDSS in Somalia.
The UN is re-assessing the situation on the ground and is optimistic
that the minimal conditions on the ground will be restored to allow the
critical humanitarian work to resume in Baidoa and continue elsewhere in
Somalia.
For more information, contact Bénédicte Walter, UN spokesperson, Mobile:
+254-73-76-71-714
Email: benedicte.walter@undp.org
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