**MOGADISHU (Xinhua)** — In an update shared Thursday, a UN relief group noted a drop in humanitarian access issues, falling by 18.6% from the second to the third quarter, landing at 57 compared to the previous count of 70.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) added that three aid workers lost their lives during this timeframe. Interestingly, while these unfortunate deaths coincided with their humanitarian roles, they were not directly tied to their work but were rather outcomes of broader conflicts.
“These incidents highlight the intricate clan systems and the perils aid workers encounter in Somalia,” OCHA remarked in a report issued in Mogadishu, the bustling hub of Somalia.
The UN body mentioned that although the frequency of incidents has largely plateaued, the dip is mostly due to fewer access hindrances, partly thanks to seasonal barriers like rain and a decline in “barriers to or hindrances of aid access to conflict-affected communities,” which shrank from 17 in the second quarter to only five in the third.
Yet, the biggest thorn this quarter was meddling in the execution of humanitarian missions, with interference issues still prevalent at 22, holding steady from the prior quarter.
OCHA flagged violence targeting humanitarian staff and resources as another troubling issue, comprising 15 incidents.
A steady 14 incidents involved movement restrictions of relief teams or goods inside the embattled nation and military actions disturbing relief efforts.
Tragically, two aid workers found themselves at the center of intensifying clan skirmishes in Luuq, southern Somalia, on July 6. Chaos erupted in a displaced persons settlement, later set ablaze, spreading further conflict.
OCHA informed, “One worker met his end amidst gunfire, and another succumbed to wounds during a rescue attempt to Doolow.”
The third casualty occurred in Qoryooley while on duty. Although the fallen was a humanitarian worker, OCHA noted the motive lay rooted in local clan disputes, not strictly due to his professional role.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
