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Somalia: Aid agencies welcome in central Somalia- Islamist group
Tue. October 07, 2008 04:42 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. -
(SomaliNet) International aid agencies can operate in central Somalia where they control, a major Somali Islamist group reiterated on Monday.
A senior Islamist official, Sheik Dahir Addow said that aid agencies can safely work in central Somali regions where Islamic Courts Union (ICU), an insurgent movement that has ruled much of southern and central Somalia since 2006, is in its control.
Islamist-named governor of Middle Shabelle region in central Somalia while speaking to local reporters said that his administration met with officials from three international aid agencies in the Middle Shabelle regional capital of Jawhar and discussed ways of strengthening of security for foreign and local humanitarian staff.
"We had the common understanding with the agencies that we allow them to operate here and help our people and we guarantee the security of their staff," Addow said.
Addow added that a six member delegation from UN aid agencies had arrived from Nairobi for a meeting with Islamist administrators and an agreement was reached that they resume their operations which have been halted because of an escalating security situation.
The development came three days after another faction, Al-shabaab Islamist movement, banned some aid agencies from operating in places under their control in south Somalia including the main port town of Kismayu.
The group accused Care International and International Medical corps of anti-Islamic activities but Care International, the U.S.-based aid agency, said on Monday that the direct threat by the Somali military group has put at risk the lives of 1 million people who need humanitarian aid.
Leaders of ICU, which is in full control of the central Somalia provinces of Middle Shablle, Hiran, Galgadud and Mudug, late last month invited aid agencies to freely operate in the regions under their control.- Xinhua
News Category: Somalia
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