UNHCR flies aid to Mogadishu for first time in five
years.
All photos: UNHCR / S. Modola
For the first time in five years, UNHCR has been able to airlift
vital humanitarian aid to the conflict-ravaged Somalia capital of
Mogadishu. Tens of thousands of Somalis, fleeing drought and
famine, have descended on the city in recent weeks searching for
food, water, medicine and other assistance.
Three UNHCR-chartered aircraft have brought around 100 tonnes of
aid to Mogadishu since August 8. The aircraft carried relief items
from the agency's emergency stockpile in Dubai. The latest shipment
includes high energy protein biscuits, plastic sheeting for
shelter, sleeping mats, blankets, jerry cans for water and kitchen
utensils.
The UN refugee agency usually delivers relief items to Mogadishu
by sea and land for security reasons, but - due to the
unprecedented rise in the number of uprooted civilians - UNHCR
decided to airlift supplies in order to save time. There are now
around half-a-million internally displaced people in
Mogadishu.
For the first time in five years, UNHCR has been
able to airlift vital humanitarian aid to the conflict-ravaged
Somalia capital of Mogadishu. Tens of thousands of Somalis, fleeing
drought and famine, have descended on the city in recent weeks
searching for food, water, medicine and other
assistance.
Three UNHCR-chartered aircraft have brought
around 100 tonnes of aid to Mogadishu since August 8. The aircraft
carried relief items from the agency's emergency stockpile in
Dubai. The latest shipment includes high energy protein biscuits,
plastic sheeting for shelter, sleeping mats, blankets, jerry cans
for water and kitchen utensils.
The UN refugee agency usually delivers relief items
to Mogadishu by sea and land for security reasons, but - due to the
unprecedented rise in the number of uprooted civilians - UNHCR
decided to airlift supplies in order to save time. There are now
around half-a-million internally displaced
people in Mogadishu.
