The United Nations has declared a famine in two parts of southern Somalia, as the Horn of Africa suffers its worst drought in decades. The world body on Wednesday said a famine exists in the Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions, and U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon warned it could spread if immediate action is not taken […]
UN Declares Famine in Parts of Somalia
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations has declared a famine in two parts of southern Somalia, as the Horn of Africa suffers its worst drought in decades. Speaking in Nairobi Wednesday, U.N. official Mark Bowden said famine exists in Somalia’s Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions and warned it could spread if action is not taken to address the […]
Somali Pirates Hijack Oil Tanker
Posted July 18th, 2011 at 5:45 am (UTC-5)
The European Union’s anti-piracy force says suspected Somali pirates have hijacked an oil tanker in the northern Indian Ocean. The task force said in a statement Monday the MV JUBBA XX was seized Saturday and has been spotted traveling towards the northern Somali coast. The task force said nine pirates have been reported on board. […]
Somali Pirates Demand Compensation from South Korea
Posted July 15th, 2011 at 12:15 pm (UTC-5)
A South Korean captain who is being held by Somali pirates says his captors are demanding that the South Korean government pay them compensation for pirates killed by its navy. Captain Pak Hyeon contacted VOA by phone Friday, saying the pirates want Seoul to pay compensation for eight dead comrades and release another five held […]
Somali Pirates Demand Compensation from South Korea
Posted July 15th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
A band of Somali pirates are demanding that the South Korean government pay them compensation for pirates killed by its navy. The pirates made its demand Friday to media outlets. As a bargaining chip, they are holding four South Korean hostages taken during the hijacking of the MV Gemini off the Kenyan coast several months […]
Pirate Attacks off Somalia Hit Record High
Posted July 14th, 2011 at 9:20 am (UTC-5)
A maritime watchdog says the number of pirate attacks off Somalia’s coast rose to a record high during the first half of this year. The London-based International Maritime Bureau says the raids have also grown increasingly bold and violent. In a report released Thursday, the group said piracy worldwide jumped 36 percent the first half […]
UNICEF Resumes Airlifts Into South-Central Somalia
Posted July 13th, 2011 at 8:30 pm (UTC-5)
For the first time in two years, the United Nations has airlifted aid to a part of Somalia controlled by the militant group al-Shabab. A spokeswoman for the U.N. Children’s Fund has told VOA that the agency flew five tons of aid into the town of Baidoa on Wednesday. She says the shipment included medicines […]
UNICEF Resumes Airlifts into South-Central Somalia
Posted July 13th, 2011 at 7:25 pm (UTC-5)
For the first time in two years, the United Nations has airlifted aid to a part of Somalia controlled by the militant group al-Shabab. A spokeswoman for the U.N. Children’s Fund has told VOA that the agency flew 5 tons of aid into the town of Baidoa on Wednesday. She says the shipment included medicines […]
UNICEF Resumes Airlifts into South-Central Somalia
Posted July 13th, 2011 at 2:05 pm (UTC-5)
For the first time in two years, the United Nations has airlifted aid to a part of Somalia controlled by the militant group al-Shabab. A spokeswoman for the U.N. Children’s Fund has told VOA that the agency flew five metric tons of aid into the town of Baidoa on Wednesday. She says the shipment included […]
World Food Program Exploring Return to Southern Somalia
Posted July 13th, 2011 at 4:30 am (UTC-5)
The World Food Program says it is exploring “every possibility” to resume working in southern Somalia, after the Islamist militant group al-Shabab said it would welcome aid groups to areas under its control. In a statement Wednesday, the World Food Program said it is consulting with the United Nations as well as donor countries, and […]
