Burma

OB Provides Relief to War Torn Somalia

By George Thomas
CBN News

January 26, 2007

CWNews.com – El Waq, SOMALIA - The year was 1993 and it began as a mission of mercy, to feed the starving in war-torn Somalia. But within 12 months American soldiers would be killing and killed by those they came to save.

Fourteen years later, the United States returns to Somalia looking to stop the country from turning into a breeding ground for international terrorists. U.S. forces have launched a series of air attacks on suspected al-Qaeda positions inside the country. Some fear a full scale war could erupt and turn Somalia into a new field for jihad.

But the threat of terrorism isn't stopping CBN's Operation Blessing from doing relief work in Somalia. Earlier this week Operation Blessing, in partnership with Humedica, a German-based humanitarian organization, distributed some much-needed mosquito nets in the village of El Waq.
OB's West Africa representative was on hand to assist in the relief effort.

"For the people here in Somalia, something as simple as a mosquito net can be the difference between life and death. It prevents horrible diseases like Malaria and is really saving lives," said David Darg of Operation Blessing.

Unseasonably heavy rains saw an explosion in Malaria cases. And since most of the people living in El Waq earn less than one $100 a month, spending money to buy a mosquito net was out of the question.

"I use all my money to feed my children or else they would die," said Shuri, an El Waq resident.
For Shuri and her three children, lining-up to get a free mosquito net from Operation Blessing meant that her family could be spared from getting sick this rainy season.

"This means so much to my family. I know the mosquitoes can't bite me now," said Abdi, another resident.

In some ways, the village of El Waq is a microcosm of Somalia. For years, it has been torn apart by warring clans and their militia.

Drought and poverty killed so many people, leaving a sense of hopelessness.

"I feel so sad sometimes because our life here is so difficult," said Aiyasha Abdul.

Somalia is the world's only country without a functioning government. There is no proper access to education or health care.

Darg said, "There's no infrastructure in Somalia, no healthcare infrastructure, no nothing and it is because of the insecurity it is very difficult for foreign aid organizations to get here and fortunately we are here bringing hope and life to these people."

With help from Operation Blessing, Humedica is in the early stages of creating a stable health
care infrastructure in El Waq. The main clinic in the village has reopened.
Operation Blessing is also helping to send doctors from around the world to care for the medical needs of the community.

"It really is a blessing to work with Operation Blessing. I've been in Indonesia with you guys, I've been with Operation Blessing in Niger and it is always a blessing to people because sometimes we can use your infrastructure and in other parts you can use our infrastructure," said Markus Kohler of Humedica.

Operation Blessing plans to distribute more than 2,000 mosquito nets in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, the residents of El Waq are thankful that, despite the on-going tensions in their country, people from America and other parts of the world care enough to come and meet their needs.

Abdi said, "All these years no one ever bothered about us. We are very thankful that you came to give us these nets and to provide for our well-being."

Translate Page