This page remains under construction. Stay updated for links on news and articles about SAACID programmes, and for human interest stories on SAACID's programme participants.
Featured Human Interest Story
Every month SAACID will be featuring a different human interest story. In addition, links to human interest stories, especially of those participating in SAACID's various programmes, can be found on the various programme pages.
Incidents
* On 2 February 2010,
Guleed Abukar Mohamed, a student at one of SAACID's schools in Mogadishu City,
was hit in the thigh by stray gunfire from ongoing conflict between the TFG and
an umbrella of opposition factions. Guleed was on his way to Monopolyo Market in Shibis District to get some maize ground for his mother. He was
immediately taken to a private clinic, where he was stabilised, and then he was
taken home. Twelve hours after becoming wounded, Guleed died of blood loss. He
was in Form 8; and was 16 years of age. Guleed's classmates and teachers morn
his loss; as does the staff of SAACID.
* In the early hours of 15 January 2010 a contingent of militia entered SAACID's abandoned Abdul-aziz
administrative compound and took 2 unarmed SAACID security staff captive; as
well as 2 other men that were protecting a nearby warehouse, and a neighbour,
who had decided to sleep with the guys that night for some company (5 total).
All men were bound and blindfolded as
soon as they were detained. Through
the remainder of that night, SAACID's longest serving, and most trusted
security officer, Nur Hassan Barre (nickname: "policeman" -
"Boolis" in Somali) - a former policeman in the Barre regime - and a
strong grassroots presence in the district of Abdul-aziz - was interrogated and
then executed. His body was recovered by his family the next morning with his
hands still bound, in the San'na area. Nur (52 years of age) left behind a wife and 9 children - the
youngest of which was only a week old. The
neighbour and one of the warehouse guards were released on the morning of the
16th of January. The
other
SAACID security officer and the remaining
warehouse
security guard, remained detained, and were tortured until 18 January;
at which time, SAACID was able to secure their release. Both
men were badly tortured, but are recovering steadily. SAACID morns the
loss of Nur - who is the 5th SAACID staff member to be murdered in the
past 2 years.
New Programming
* SAACID has now signed a new cooperation agreement with UN-HABITAT to deliver public infrastructure to all 16 districts in Mogadishu City. This builds on previous phases of infrastructure development and grassroots leadership and management training for Mogadishu City and central Somalia. Activities began in February 2010; and will run through November 2010. The programme will also deliver conflict resolution traiing to grassroots leaders in each dstrict; and will also entail a comprehensive audit of all public infrastructure in each district.
* In September
2009, SAACID began a new nutritional programme for under 5s at 8 sites
in Mogadishu City. SAACID is being funded by Oxfam Novib, World Food Programme and
UNICEF in this initiative. As at January 2010, SAACID is expanding the nutritional programme to 16 sites throughout Mogadishu City.
* SAACID is now operating in a Phase V 1-year contract with Danish Refugee Council, World
Food Programme, Swedish Government, ECHO, Norwegian Government, and
the Danish Government, to provide food kitchen services to 80,000
people per day at 16 sites in Mogadishu City. Phase V began in
December 2009. As at 21 February 2010, some 44,235,957 hot lifesaving meals had been delivered through the programme.
* SAACID is currently conducting a national survey on a variety of topics - including attitudes to piracy and security - the survey is in 3-phases, the survey began in August 2009, and will continue into 2010
* SAACID has signed a 1-year extension contract with Oxfam Novib to deliver free fresh water to some 47,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in the Lafole area of the Afgoye Corridor, Lower Shabelle Region. This new contract began in September 2009.