The Effects of Conflict and Famine - Somalia Part 1

A great war leaves the country with three armies - an army of cripples, an army of mourners, and an army of thieves. ~German Proverb 

All images are subject to copyright and must not be re-published without direct permission of the photographer

Somalia – a country with a displaced population of 1.3 million out of 7.5 million, not only has to endure the effects of the most severe famine in Africa for 60 years, but tries to live through conflict that has ravaged the country since elections in 1991.

Kate Holt spends time with the AMISOM forces that are suppressing the Al-Shabab militants whose culturally oppressive regime has changed the face of Somalia for now and perhaps for a long time to come.

First we bring to you some incredible photographs that picture the fighting in Mogadishu and the scars that the fighting will leave behind for a long time. In the second part we will focus on the humanitarian mission that is happening in Somalia; an accumulation of famine and conflict that Somalia begs to be freed from.

Kate Holt is a British photographer whose work speaks for itself, please take a moment to visit her website: www.kateholt.com. Kate also trained AMISOM soldiers as photographers and some of their work is featured in the photography series below.

An AMISOM soldier mans a gun position on the frontline in the Sigaale District of Mogadishu.

BY: Jean-Claude Mbayisenga – Sergeant - Burundian Army

 

THE BATTLE FOR MOGADISHU

AMISOM and TFG forces fought a series of decisive engagements to free key points in the city from al-Shabaab and bring stability to the city.  Soon after these photographs were taken, al-Shabaab abandoned virtually all of its positions in Mogadishu and either retreated to strongholds to the south or melted into the population with the intention of conducting an Iraq- or Afghanistan-style campaign of roadside bombs, suicide attacks and assassinations.

 

Burundian soldiers provide fire support from a rooftop position at the old Military Academy, in Mogadishu, Somalia. AMISOM forces were providing fire support to the soldiers of Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and other Burundian soldiers as they seized control of key positions from al-Shabaab control. The fighting was part of a major push in Mogadishu by TFG and AMISOM force against the militants after the discovery of a trench network used by militants to move supplies and fighters around the capital.

An AMISOM soldier reloads a machinegun belt on a rooftop during a firefight near the old Military Academy in Mogadishu. AMISOM forces were providing fire support to the soldiers of Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and other Burundian soldiers as they seized control of key positions from al-Shabaab control.

These photographs capture the period when AMISOM and TFG forces were pushing further and further into al-Shabaab controlled territory, street by street, house by house, and sometimes room by room. In the intervening period, al-Shabaab has, with the exception of a few strongholds, abandoned direction confrontation and either fled south towards Kismayo or melted into the populace to wage a low-level guerrilla campaign.

 

AMISOM soldiers on patrol in the Sigaale District of Mogadishu, an area they have just seized from the control of al Shabaab.

AMISOM soldiers advance through ruined buildings (recently seized from al-Shabaab control) in the Sigaale District of Mogadishu. The then commander of the AMISOM forces, Major General Mugisha, accompanied by Colonel Ondoga, the commander of the Ugandan Contingent, were making a tour of the frontline following heavy fighting the previous evening.

An AMISOM soldier helps carry a civilian casualty to a nearby aid post in the aftermath of a bomb blast in Mogadishu.

BY:Stephen Mugabi – Sergeant Major- Ugandan Army

Burundian soldiers provide fire support from a rooftop position at the old Military Academy, in Mogadishu, Somalia. AMISOM forces were providing fire support to the soldiers of Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and other Burundian soldiers as they seized control of key positions from al-Shabaab control. The fighting was part of a major push in Mogadishu by TFG and AMISOM force against the militants after the discovery of a trench network used by militants to move supplies and fighters around the capital.

Many thanks to Kate Holt for the permitted use of her images and insightful captions we look forward to bringing you part 2 focusing on the current Humanitarian crisis in Somalia. 

As always if you wish to contribute to NGOinsider.com, please send an email to tom@ngoinsider.com

For those who want to find out more about the situation in Somalia, here are some useful links:

http://amnesty.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_22362.pdf

http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/interview/2012/somalia-interview-2012-06-29.htm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/jul/20/al-shabaab-hunger-displacement-somalis

'Caged' (Belfast, Northern Ireland 2010-2012)

'In inhabited areas, people organize space around themselves and this, in turn, organizes their thoughts, as a noted anthropologist Edward T. Hall maintained.

Your mind is set up differently when you wake up in the morning and have a view up to the horizon and entirely different when you go to the yard and see a block wall ending with barbed wire which separates you from your neighbours.

It is hard to imagine that there are people in Europe who, asked, how they feel being located in the vicinity to such a wall, would say cheerfully: "Well, very nice and safe". They do not complain about the lack of light, an interrupted view and the sense of imprisonment. The wall, the separation to them equals safety.

Northern Irish people gained freedom several years ago- freedom from oppression, from unexpected arrests, bombs on the streets, widespread terror.

But they still live, at least in certain areas of Belfast, in a psychological state of siege that is not necessarily created by them, but by the architecture that still surrounds them.

Northern Ireland is now a thriving place. The post-conflict society does much in order to settle the scores with the past, to create new opportunities for the youth, to move on. Slowly and gradually people of Belfast remove the walls, the separations. But not everywhere, not everybody is ready yet.

And how can one  move on when wherever they turn their head, they see the walls which scream : "Be aware! There is a danger behind us!".

A child grows up knowing that behind the wall there must be something spooky.  The child does not develop a natural willingness to climb it and to see what is behind. It is scared, thus its curiosity is killed straight away. A mental barrier arises. Such barriers are the most difficult to dismantle.

Physically, it may take a day. Mentally - generations.'

-  Aleksandra Lojek

All images are subject to copyright and should not be republished without direct permission of the photographer

 

 

'Belfast, Sunday afternoon, gates are locked. In every district there is a person responsible for opening and closing the gates.'

 

 

'Ardoyne (mainly Catholic) and its ultra Protestant part, Belfast. Preparations for the 12th of July. A wooden impromptu constructed shed which harbors local youth against the rain is raised in front of the peace wall dividing Protestants and Catholics.'

'The Village, South Belfast, will be partly subjected to the regeneration scheme. Some people have already moved out, but some are still waiting for a relocation sponsored by the Housing Executive. They might wait for years.'

'Peace walls were constructed to protect the communities against each other. Regardless of their gloomy looks, dwellers do not think they are in some kind of prison. "It's the safest area to live" they say.'

'East Belfast, one of the interfaces. The windows are protected against stones, bottles  and petrol bombs with steel grills.'

'Irish/Republican area, West Belfast. The Brits are considered occupants and are not welcome there (that includes the representatives of all British institutions).'

'The Village, South Belfast, will be partly subjected to the regeneration scheme.'

'No man`s land - a monument erected in the segregated piece of land between two districts, Protestant Shankill and Catholic Falls, divided by two gates with the no man`s land in between. The peace wall there is several kilometers long.'

'The entrance to a closed PSNI station (Police Service of Northern Ireland) in the East Belfast in a Catholic Short Strand controlled by IRA (Irish Republican Army). KAH - a graffiti means Kill All Huns (protestants)'

'Sandy row, Belfast. Such announcements are not rare in the area- they are issued by paramilitary organisations as a warning towards drug dealers, paedophiles and police informers.'

'The Village, South Belfast, will be partly subjected to the regeneration scheme.'

 'A gate placed in a peace wall. Belfast. KAT - a graffiti means, Kill All Taigs (Taigs - Catholics)'

About the photographer

'My name is Mariusz Smiejek and I'm a freelance photographer based in Belfast. Ever since I remember I have been fascinated by other cultures, people and travel. I feel very fortunate that my dreams have come true. For 10 years now I've been traveling around Europe, the Middle East and Latin America of which I have visited more than 20 countries. I have shot countless travel and editorial features which have been published by some of most leading publications in the world.'

To view more images from Mariusz, please visit his website http://www.mariuszsmiejek.com/

Many thanks to Mariusz for his artistic portrayal of the peace process in Northern Ireland.

If you wish to contribute to NGOinsider.com in any way, please contact tom@ngoinsider.com