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    Russia says ready to supply weapons to Somalia

    Russia says ready to supply weapons to Somalia

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    US airstrikes fail to weaken Al-Shabaab’s grip on Somalia

    AFRICOM fires airstrike against Al-Shabaab in Jilib, no casualties confirmed

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    Two men executed for murder in south-western Somalia

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    Senate passes National ID and Registration bill

    REVEALED: Al-Shabaab mass destruction ahead of Sabiib fall

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    Somalia’s Upper House approved National Audit Bill

    The Upper House postpones a critical bill

    Somalia’s Upper House approved National Audit Bill

    The power bill got the OKay from the Senate.

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    Somalia parliament debated on NISA and Immigration bills

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    OP-ED: The journey of a book

    OP-ED: The journey of a book

    National Education Conference: Expanding access and quality education in Somalia

    National Education Conference: Expanding access and quality education in Somalia

    Education stakeholders call for reforms, standardisation and resource allocation

    Education stakeholders call for reforms, standardisation and resource allocation

    Somali students arrive in Serbia for scholarship programme

    Somali students arrive in Serbia for scholarship programme

    Five-day National Education Conference opens today in Mogadishu

    Five-day National Education Conference opens today in Mogadishu

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    Somalia could plunge into famine by June-FAO

    UN, major donors to mobilise drought response for Horn of Africa in New York

    FAO, HirShabelle appeal for urgent aid as floods wreak havoc in Hiiraan region

    FAO, HirShabelle appeal for urgent aid as floods wreak havoc in Hiiraan region

    Thousands at risk as floods wreak havoc across Somalia

    UN warns of looming floods in Bulo Burte in Hiiraan region

    Floods kill 22 people in Somalia-UN

    Floods kill 22 people in Somalia-UN

    Flooding In Somalia Displaces 200,000 People

    Flooding In Somalia Displaces 200,000 People

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    Saudi government donates food aid to thousands of families in Somalia

    Saudi government donates food aid to Somalia

    Mogadishu Port Remains Closed Over Tariff Dispute

    Former Somali lawmaker involved in Mogadishu twin explosions

    World expresses solidarity with Somalia after attack

    Somali soldiers allegedly tortured former MP

    Somali soldiers allegedly tortured former MP

    NUSOJ impasse deepens as ILO recognises Farouk as Secretary General

    NUSOJ impasse deepens as ILO recognises Farouk as Secretary General

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    Boost for Somalia as EU approves €20.5m budget support

    Boost for Somalia as EU approves €20.5m budget support

    African pharmaceutical technology foundation receives endorsement

    African pharmaceutical technology foundation receives endorsement

    Prime Minister Barre in Egypt for the AfDB annual meeting

    Prime Minister Barre in Egypt for the AfDB annual meeting

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    US pledges to support East Africa’s private sector

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    Somalia meteorite: Joy as scientists find two new minerals

    Somalia meteorite: Joy as scientists find two new minerals

    Uganda successfully launches its first satellite into space

    Uganda successfully launches its first satellite into space

    Banaadir Hospital gets major upgrade from Chinese government

    Banaadir Hospital gets major upgrade from Chinese government

    Opinion: Could Somalia become the next Texas?

    PSA CONUNDRUM: Roble, Farmaajo were ‘supportive’, Coastline Exploration ‘perplexed’

    Controvery in Somalia as gov’t COVID-19 Twitter handle used to spread political messages

    Controvery in Somalia as gov’t COVID-19 Twitter handle used to spread political messages

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    Somalia- Analysis: Could this be Somalia’s best chance to defeat Al-Shabab

    Somalia- Analysis: Could this be Somalia’s best chance to defeat Al-Shabab

    Somalia set to attend this year’s Africa Oil Week

    The exploration of oil and gas in Somalia

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    Climate change; a shared global concern

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    Somalia and the human rights debate in Central Asia

    African nations demand climate change financing ahead of COP27

    African nations can’t ‘adapt’ to the climate crisis. Here’s what rich countries must do

    A deadly decade for Somalia’s journalists

    A deadly decade for Somalia’s journalists

    President Mohamud: There is no turning back. We must finish off Al-Shabaab

    President Mohamud: There is no turning back. We must finish off Al-Shabaab

    Left behind: Deeply broken Somalia

    Left behind: Deeply broken Somalia

    OP-ED: Terrorism has no nationality, ethnicity nor religion. FETO threatens humanity as a whole”

    OP-ED: Terrorism has no nationality, ethnicity nor religion. FETO threatens humanity as a whole”

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    • Home
    • News
      • National
      • International
    • Security
      Russia says ready to supply weapons to Somalia

      Russia says ready to supply weapons to Somalia

      Al-Shabaab kidnapped two chiefs in Gedo region

      U.S designates 26 individus for terrorism, charcoal smuggling in Somalia

      US airstrikes fail to weaken Al-Shabaab’s grip on Somalia

      AFRICOM fires airstrike against Al-Shabaab in Jilib, no casualties confirmed

      Two men executed for murder in south-western Somalia

      Two men executed for murder in south-western Somalia

      Puntland forces retake Af-Urur village in Puntland region

      Three soldiers reportedly killed in clash over elections in Puntland

    • Parliament
      Senate passes National ID and Registration bill

      Senate passes National ID and Registration bill

      REVEALED: Al-Shabaab mass destruction ahead of Sabiib fall

      ANTI-TERRORISM BILL: Somali gov’t to seize property of convicted terrorists

      Somalia’s Upper House approved National Audit Bill

      The Upper House postpones a critical bill

      Somalia’s Upper House approved National Audit Bill

      The power bill got the OKay from the Senate.

      Somalia parliament debated on NISA and Immigration bills

      Somalia parliament debated on NISA and Immigration bills

    • Education
      OP-ED: The journey of a book

      OP-ED: The journey of a book

      National Education Conference: Expanding access and quality education in Somalia

      National Education Conference: Expanding access and quality education in Somalia

      Education stakeholders call for reforms, standardisation and resource allocation

      Education stakeholders call for reforms, standardisation and resource allocation

      Somali students arrive in Serbia for scholarship programme

      Somali students arrive in Serbia for scholarship programme

      Five-day National Education Conference opens today in Mogadishu

      Five-day National Education Conference opens today in Mogadishu

    • Humanitarian Affairs
      Somalia could plunge into famine by June-FAO

      UN, major donors to mobilise drought response for Horn of Africa in New York

      FAO, HirShabelle appeal for urgent aid as floods wreak havoc in Hiiraan region

      FAO, HirShabelle appeal for urgent aid as floods wreak havoc in Hiiraan region

      Thousands at risk as floods wreak havoc across Somalia

      UN warns of looming floods in Bulo Burte in Hiiraan region

      Floods kill 22 people in Somalia-UN

      Floods kill 22 people in Somalia-UN

      Flooding In Somalia Displaces 200,000 People

      Flooding In Somalia Displaces 200,000 People

    • Diaspora Voices
      Saudi government donates food aid to thousands of families in Somalia

      Saudi government donates food aid to Somalia

      Mogadishu Port Remains Closed Over Tariff Dispute

      Former Somali lawmaker involved in Mogadishu twin explosions

      World expresses solidarity with Somalia after attack

      Somali soldiers allegedly tortured former MP

      Somali soldiers allegedly tortured former MP

      NUSOJ impasse deepens as ILO recognises Farouk as Secretary General

      NUSOJ impasse deepens as ILO recognises Farouk as Secretary General

    • Business
      Boost for Somalia as EU approves €20.5m budget support

      Boost for Somalia as EU approves €20.5m budget support

      African pharmaceutical technology foundation receives endorsement

      African pharmaceutical technology foundation receives endorsement

      Prime Minister Barre in Egypt for the AfDB annual meeting

      Prime Minister Barre in Egypt for the AfDB annual meeting

      US pledges to support East Africa’s private sector

      US pledges to support East Africa’s private sector

      Somalia inches closer to debt relief-IMF

      IMF to release $9.4m to Somalia, warns of degraded economic growth

    • Science & Tech
      Somalia meteorite: Joy as scientists find two new minerals

      Somalia meteorite: Joy as scientists find two new minerals

      Uganda successfully launches its first satellite into space

      Uganda successfully launches its first satellite into space

      Banaadir Hospital gets major upgrade from Chinese government

      Banaadir Hospital gets major upgrade from Chinese government

      Opinion: Could Somalia become the next Texas?

      PSA CONUNDRUM: Roble, Farmaajo were ‘supportive’, Coastline Exploration ‘perplexed’

      Controvery in Somalia as gov’t COVID-19 Twitter handle used to spread political messages

      Controvery in Somalia as gov’t COVID-19 Twitter handle used to spread political messages

    • Opinion
      Somalia- Analysis: Could this be Somalia’s best chance to defeat Al-Shabab

      Somalia- Analysis: Could this be Somalia’s best chance to defeat Al-Shabab

      Somalia set to attend this year’s Africa Oil Week

      The exploration of oil and gas in Somalia

      Climate change; a shared global concern

      Climate change; a shared global concern

      Somalia and the human rights debate in Central Asia

      Somalia and the human rights debate in Central Asia

      African nations demand climate change financing ahead of COP27

      African nations can’t ‘adapt’ to the climate crisis. Here’s what rich countries must do

      A deadly decade for Somalia’s journalists

      A deadly decade for Somalia’s journalists

      President Mohamud: There is no turning back. We must finish off Al-Shabaab

      President Mohamud: There is no turning back. We must finish off Al-Shabaab

      Left behind: Deeply broken Somalia

      Left behind: Deeply broken Somalia

      OP-ED: Terrorism has no nationality, ethnicity nor religion. FETO threatens humanity as a whole”

      OP-ED: Terrorism has no nationality, ethnicity nor religion. FETO threatens humanity as a whole”

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      The misery of glue sniffing among streets children in Mogadishu

      Thursday April 12, 2018
      in Featured, featured, Humanitarian Affairs, National News, Science & Tech
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      The writer with two boys sniffing glue in KM4 area in Mogadishu. There is an increasing number of street children resorting to glue but there is no intervention either from government or non state actors. Photo: Isak Abdi Abdullahi

      By Isak Abdi Abdullahi

      As you walk along the streets of Mogadishu particularly Kilometer 4 area, you are struck by a sickening sight you only wish you could step in and offer a hand of help. The misery that now defines these streets leave you with only two options-either you graciously step in to help or you walk away making sure your mobile phone is out of their sight.

      While on the streets you see the smiles on the faces of some that choose to see the light in the darkest of days, but there are many that can’t do the same. Unable to afford the kind of escapes we find, they resort to the only thing that they can afford-glue.

      Young and unable to change the circumstances that they have been born into, street children in Mogadishu spend no less than seven thousand of Somali shillings  which is  equivalent to less than  USD 0.5 Dollar  on koolo and spread it across a piece of cloth, which they then sniff to get ‘high’. Children on the street claim that this disables their bodily functions as they no longer feel vital feelings like pain and hunger. They fall asleep without care only to wake up to another rough day. No one blinks an eye when you buy koolo from any shop in Mogadishu.

      However, my short encounter with these two male teenagers sticks in my mind more than any other, as I had never seen fresh young faces heavily under the influence of such a toxic substance. The glue is locally called koolo and is typically used for shoe repairs. Its harmful constituent is toluene, a substance that is severely restricted in most of the world and yet is still imported into Somalia, despite its widely known effects of brain damage, paralysis, kidney and liver failure, and, eventually, death.

      Glue sniffing is becoming a menace in among street children in Mogadishu. Photo: Isak Abdi Abdullahi

      The two boys each clutching a bottle of koolo represent only a small percentage of the glue-sniffing street children that wander the streets of Mogadishu day and night. The boys I met ranged in age from 10-16 years and yet all displayed a maturity well beyond their age. Through our conversation, they were sniffing dendrite glue put inside plastic bag to get away from hunger, worries, tensions and problems.

      MUGGING

      There has been an upsurge of mugging and snatching incidents in Mogadishu’s KM4 Area. Muggers walk in groups of between two and four people attacking pedestrians during day time. They also snatch even earrings from female pedestrians with impunity leaving some of them with serious injuries. Snatching of mobile phones and handbags has become the order of the day at the busy Maka Almukara roundabout especially during rush hour. The criminals take advantage of traffic build-up to snatch the items. Most of the commuters who fall prey are the ones who sit by the vehicles’ windows.

      While having a cup of coffee with some of my friends one afternoon at a coffee shop near KM4 junction, a young rugged man  approached us, and suddenly a gentleman sitting by me  stood up for the boy as a sign of respect  and hugged him. They exchanged few words and the boy left. With curiosity I asked the gentleman about the boy and the reason behind his respect. To my surprise, the gentleman told me that the man used to be one of the best Mogadishu transport drivers in between 2010 and 2014. But he is now down with koolo.

      SECURITY MEASURES

      Often victims are approached from behind while talking or texting on phones. While most incidents happen between 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM at night, criminals operate during the day as well so always look out for what’s going on around you. Follow these simple steps to help protect your phone:

      –           If you need to call or use your phone on the street particularly KM4 area, look out for anyone near you and make it quick so you don’t become distracted.

      –           Don’t text while you’re walking – you won’t notice what’s going on around you and if that’s not possible, stand away from the roadside close to a building or wall so no one can come up from behind you. Also going hands free can prevent a thief from snatching your phone out of your hand.

      Most of the street children in Somalia are boys but that does not mean girls are not homeless. According to UNICEF, approximately 72% of street children are aged between 6-12 years and 13% are below 6 years of age.“ Almost all the studies and surveys on street children points out that problem of street children is an urban problem and directly linked to poverty, family disintegration, urbanization, inadequacy of resources and growing population.

      SLOW DEATH

      Majority of us are blessed because when we return home from offices, and schools and there is a family waiting for us which takes away our exhaustion. But all are not that fortunate. Many children in Somalia specially those who live in the capital city of Somalia   are deprived off this feeling of family and home.
      What they don’t know is that sniffing glue is a slow death for them. They don’t know that it is slowly killing them by depressing their nervous system to the point their organs fail one by one. A UNICEF study has also indicated 5,000 children in Somalia are suffering from this habit, at this very moment, but sadly there is no law in Somalia preventing glue sniffing.

      In order to support these street children here in Mogadishu, an increase in awareness and prevention programmes is necessary from either the government, private sector or NGOs. Without the right help, we can only imagine how many more young children will be lost to drug abuse and crime in the future in Mogadishu and indeed in other parts of Somalia.

      The author is a writer on social issues and can be reached via: isaaqsom@gmail.com

       

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