MOGADISHU, Somalia – Authorities in the troubled Gedo region have reported two starvation-related deaths, mainly caused by al-Shabaab blockades, making it impossible for humanitarian groups as most supply routes remain closed.
Those who died of hunger and thirst are mainly children, and there is the possibility of more losses in the coming weeks if residents do not get quick help from benevolent people, authorities said in a statement coming amid political chaos.
Al-Shabaab, local authorities said, has used the current standoff between Jubaland security forces and the Somali National Army [SNA] over control of Gedo and further expand their territories in an area almost liberated from the group following operations by the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF].
While the Kenyan troops continue to serve in Sector II, whose headquarters are in Dhobley, they have not successfully contained the militants due to internal wrangles set by the federal government in Somalia and the local Jubaland administration.
The federal government has been under pressure to withdraw troops from Gedo, but in return they have refused, leading to constant strife with Jubaland’s security forces. The Mogadishu-based government accuses Kenya of interfering in its internal affairs, a claim disputed by Nairobi.
And standoff has given Al-Shabaab a highway to terrorize residents and thus cause the current humanitarian crisis in the region. The Gedo region falls under the state of Jubaland, which borders Kenya and has worked closely with Nairobi.
In addition to the Al-Shabaab militant-constructed threat, the region is also struggling with acute food shortages caused by ravaging desert jumpers and bad rains in the region. Authorities say the situation could be serious in the coming weeks if it is not contained.
AXADLETM
