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Dozens killed in Mogadishu fighting
[Mail and Globe] At least 50 people were killed and dozens more injured over the week in intense fighting between government troops and rebels in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, the United Nations said Tuesday.

If fighting were to continue at current intensity, Somalia's humanitarian situation could further deteriorate, said Elisabeth Byrs, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, noting that half of the country's population already needs aid.
Elisabeth must be a rookie Euro apparatchik. Half the country has needed aid forever, and that's only because the other half are stealing the aid the first half are supposed to get. The humanitarian situation can't possibly deteriorate further.
"Some 75% of the people in need are concentrated in south and central Somalia, where most of the fighting is taking place, causing loss of life and livelihoods and impeding humanitarian access," she said.

North Somalia, meanwhile, is beset by an "alarming deterioration" in the food and nutrition situation due to a drought.

The International Committee of the Red Cross underlined the suffering of children in the country.

"Somalia's children have never known what it is like to live in peace; armed violence has ravaged the country ever since they were born," said Ahmed Hassan, who heads the Somali Red Crescent. "Although they have adapted their short lives to the situation, they deserve all the support they can get."
Posted by: Fred 2009-09-02
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=278026