THE INCREASE IN THE PLIGHT OF SOMALI REFUGEES
Kanini Evans Kariuki
September 08, 2009
SOMALI refugees are noticed in nearly over 30 countries in the world.
As the West Monson season ended on the first days of the current September month, the Somali boat commenced crossing to Yemen and other Gulf States, and already, more than 120 people died in the course of swimming near the coast of Yemen.
Those who were unable to swim-particularly innocent children and women drowned, while some of them were rescued by the Yemeni Coastal Guards.
Still, Somalis are in the move in the Sub-Saharan desert on the way to Libya to cross to the European countries.
Over 1000 refugee boats mostly Somalis, were returned to Libya composed of pockets of men, women and children.
Yesterday, 18 people on board in the boat were rescued by the Maltase Coastal Guards.
THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT
The Italian government violates the Geneva Convention of 1951 for Refugees of which it is signatory to, while Libya is not a member of the Geneva Refugee convention of 1951, nor a signatory to stateless Convention.
This clearly demonstrates that the Italian Government has not respected the International Conventions for Refugees and stateless people.
MISTREATED
The return of the Somali refugees was both sad and pathetic.
They ended up in Libyan jails or prisons where they are reported to have been mistreated.
MORAL RESPONSIBILITY BY THE ITALIANS
The Italians have the moral responsibility and legal obligations to safeguard and provide protection to the Somali asylum seekers.
In addition, the Southern Somalia was colonized by the Italians, and the Somalis inherited the maladministration from them.
The areas where the civil war is flaring and generating most of the refugees, are thformer Italian colony.
Hence, as the British intervened in Sierra Leone, the Italians were supposed to do the same.
But fortunately or unfortunately, they did the contrary during the Store Hope Mission in which they opposed the Americans to run the mission, and instead supported the Somali warlords who were opposed to this Mission.
EXCRUCIATING AGONY
The Somali refugees who have fled the ugly civil strife are now undergoing excruciating suffering in the Central and Southern America, in the detention Centres of Panama and Equador, and some of them are living as stateless people in Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Salvador, Columbia, Argentina, Guatemala and etcetera.
The Somalia Refugee plight needs to be addressed globally.
PHOTOGRAPHER ABDI ROBLE
The Somali documentary project on the Somali Diaspora conducted by seasoned photographer Abdi Roble and his team of researchers, were having presentations at Weisman and Museum from June 20 to September 27 2009.
This is an opportunity of understanding the Somali Diaspora and the movement of the Somali refugees, those who have acquired settlement and the difficulties enveloping the Somali refugees during their movements or travels.
This group of researchers are non-political and non-governmental.
INFORMATION AND DATA
The Somali parliament also collected information and data on the plight of Somali refugees, and will call upon the competent ministers to urgently contact UNHCR and other International agencies, as well as governmental organizations engaged in Refugee and stateless people affairs.
The Transitional Federal Government should also take these issues to the individual states, regional and sub-regional organizations to safeguard the dignity and life of the Somali refugees.
Human rights groups are also requested to coo-perate with the Somali institutions in order to provide the necessary information that can contribute to offering a solution to the Somalia plight of refugees. Thank you.
As the West Monson season ended on the first days of the current September month, the Somali boat commenced crossing to Yemen and other Gulf States, and already, more than 120 people died in the course of swimming near the coast of Yemen.
Those who were unable to swim-particularly innocent children and women drowned, while some of them were rescued by the Yemeni Coastal Guards.
Still, Somalis are in the move in the Sub-Saharan desert on the way to Libya to cross to the European countries.
Over 1000 refugee boats mostly Somalis, were returned to Libya composed of pockets of men, women and children.
Yesterday, 18 people on board in the boat were rescued by the Maltase Coastal Guards.
THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT
The Italian government violates the Geneva Convention of 1951 for Refugees of which it is signatory to, while Libya is not a member of the Geneva Refugee convention of 1951, nor a signatory to stateless Convention.
This clearly demonstrates that the Italian Government has not respected the International Conventions for Refugees and stateless people.
MISTREATED
The return of the Somali refugees was both sad and pathetic.
They ended up in Libyan jails or prisons where they are reported to have been mistreated.
MORAL RESPONSIBILITY BY THE ITALIANS
The Italians have the moral responsibility and legal obligations to safeguard and provide protection to the Somali asylum seekers.
In addition, the Southern Somalia was colonized by the Italians, and the Somalis inherited the maladministration from them.
The areas where the civil war is flaring and generating most of the refugees, are thformer Italian colony.
Hence, as the British intervened in Sierra Leone, the Italians were supposed to do the same.
But fortunately or unfortunately, they did the contrary during the Store Hope Mission in which they opposed the Americans to run the mission, and instead supported the Somali warlords who were opposed to this Mission.
EXCRUCIATING AGONY
The Somali refugees who have fled the ugly civil strife are now undergoing excruciating suffering in the Central and Southern America, in the detention Centres of Panama and Equador, and some of them are living as stateless people in Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Salvador, Columbia, Argentina, Guatemala and etcetera.
The Somalia Refugee plight needs to be addressed globally.
PHOTOGRAPHER ABDI ROBLE
The Somali documentary project on the Somali Diaspora conducted by seasoned photographer Abdi Roble and his team of researchers, were having presentations at Weisman and Museum from June 20 to September 27 2009.
This is an opportunity of understanding the Somali Diaspora and the movement of the Somali refugees, those who have acquired settlement and the difficulties enveloping the Somali refugees during their movements or travels.
This group of researchers are non-political and non-governmental.
INFORMATION AND DATA
The Somali parliament also collected information and data on the plight of Somali refugees, and will call upon the competent ministers to urgently contact UNHCR and other International agencies, as well as governmental organizations engaged in Refugee and stateless people affairs.
The Transitional Federal Government should also take these issues to the individual states, regional and sub-regional organizations to safeguard the dignity and life of the Somali refugees.
Human rights groups are also requested to coo-perate with the Somali institutions in order to provide the necessary information that can contribute to offering a solution to the Somalia plight of refugees. Thank you.
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