UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator condemns murders of women and children in Somalia

NAIROBI (26 January 2004) - The (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mr. Maxwell Gaylard, today condemned the recent murders of innocent women and children in clan-related conflicts in southern Somalia.
"This is a very disturbing trend and one that has shocked the communities themselves, for both the unusual brutality of the killings and the intentional targeting of women and children," said Mr. Gaylard.

During a visit last week to Xudur and Waajid villages in the Bakool region of southwestern Somalia, several incidents were confirmed to the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, including the horrific killing in December 2003 of ten women in the vicinity of Baydhaba (Baidoa) town in Bay region. It was reported that the atrocity was committed by a militia group of one of the two major sub-clans of the area, apparently in revenge for earlier killings. Other incidents of the abduction and rape of women and children have also been reported to the UN and local human rights organizations.

At a Waajid assembly of elders pursuing peace negotiations, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator called on Somali leaders to take all possible steps to end the cycle of violence, in particular to safeguard the security and welfare of unarmed civilians, including women and children, and to bring to justice those who have committed crimes against unarmed civilians.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator welcomed a ceasefire that has been negotiated by elders in the region, and expressed his hope that this would lead to more sustained peace and security.

For further information, please contact:

Kelly David-Toweh, UN Coordination Unit/ UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Tel: +254 2 4448433