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 23 June 2010, 3 SAACID food kitchens (Abdul-aziz, Karaan and Deynile) were closed by opposition militias. The reason for the closures was threats from opposition militias. On 11 July, the Deynile site was reopened. On 19 July, both the Karaan and Abdul-aziz sites were reopened.
* On 22 May 2010, the SAACID food kitchen in Shibis District suspended operations, due to a strategic advance by opposition factions, which has now placed the Shibis food kitchen in noman's land. On 24 May, 14 of the 16 food kitchens suspended operations for 1 day due to heavy rain throughout Mogadishu.
* On 27 March 2010, the District Commissioner of Hamar-jajab District in Mogadshu was killed. Ahmed Sheikh Mohamoud ("Qorleh" [crocked neck]) was a tirless worker for all people residing in Hamar-jajab, and all communities throughout Mogadishu. SAACID can readily attest to his absolute honesty, integrity and unyeilding commitment to help the poorest and most marginalised people. His death is a huge loss to peace in Somalia.
* 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 signed 2 contracts with International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) for an emergency livelihoods programme in Mogadishu City. Over a 12-week period, SAACID will employ 1,700 internally Displaced People (IDPs) and urban poor from all 16 disticts of Mogadishu to collect built-up garbage deposits, and clear sand and detritus from roads. The programme began on 20 June (mobilisation) and will end in mid-October 2010.
* 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 training to grassroots leaders to 595 district leaders throughout the city; and will also entail a comprehensive audit of all public infrastructure in each of Mogadishu's 16 districts.
* In September
2009, SAACID began a new nutritional programme for under 5s at 8 sites
in Mogadishu City. The programme is currently being funded by Oxfam Novib, World Food Programme and
UNICEF. In January 2010, SAACID planned to expand the nutritional programme to 16 sites throughout Mogadishu City. Ths expansion remains on hold due to SAACID being unable secure funds for such an expansion.
* SAACID is now operating in a Phase VI 6-month contract with Danish Refugee Council, World
Food Programme, Swedish Government and ECHO, to provide food kitchen services to 80,000
people per day at 16 sites in Mogadishu City. Phase VI began on
1 June 2010. As at 27 July 2010, some 52,253, 989 hot lifesaving meals had been delivered through the programme.
* SAACID is currently conducting a series of national surveys on a variety of topics. Surveys began in August 2009, and will continue throughout 2010.
* SAACID has signed a 1-year extension contract with Oxfam Novib to deliver free fresh water to up to 47,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in the Lafole area of the Afgoye Corridor, Lower Shabelle Region. This new contract began in September 2009.