Monday, June 19, 2006
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (Reuters) — A major conflict in Somalia could trigger a humanitarian disaster, sending hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing to neighboring countries, the head of the United Nations refugee agency said Monday.
Islamist militias have seized a strategic swathe of Somalia and present a major threat to the authority of an interim government in the Horn of Africa country. The fighting has killed 350 people in street battles since February.
“The only thing we really do not need is a major confrontation in Somalia because that could lead to a catastrophic humanitarian situation,” Antonio Guterres, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, told Reuters.
“With a major confrontation … we could have to cope eventually with hundreds of thousands of refugees in the countries around … with a terrible impact on the lives of the Somalis,” he said during a visit to Ivory Coast.
The Islamist militias, who have surrounded the government’s temporary base in the town of Baidoa, said Saturday that 300 troops from neighboring Ethiopia — a strong backer of interim President Abdullahi Yusuf — had crossed into the country.
Addis Ababa, which has not hesitated before to enter Somalia to fight Islamic forces, has denied the charge, but the accusation raised fears that the Islamists have plans to keep seizing new territory.
The militias routed warlords who have presided over much of the anarchy in Somalia over the past decade and a half from the capital, Mogadishu, and other key towns this month.
Despite the government’s international support and legal authority, the Islamists have popular backing for restoring order and military control to the capital and other key points.
Somalia’s government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari has said he fears conflict if the militias do not stop their expansion.
“I really hope the international community and the U.N., the Security Council, the African Union … the countries of the region can really help with all the relevant partners to make sure that there is a political solution to the present difficulties,” Guterres said.
Source: Reuters, June 19, 2006
