Statement of the Minister of Health and Humanitarian Action, Bernard KOUCHNER, back from Somalia where a terrible famine is raging because of the civil war: "We must not establish a hit parade of horror. One misfortune must not hide another. We need action in Yugoslavia and Somalia. In Somalia it is much easier. What I saw was indescribable. We risk not moving from indignation to action... We must not be content to be voyeurs (via television)".
A dramatic famine is raging in Somalia, where the civil war has prevented sowing and consequently harvesting. In addition, the two leaders of the rival rebel gangs oppose the delivery of humanitarian aid and its distribution, which was to be provided by the UN. The journalists travelled to Baidoa, in the south of the country, where hungry people flock. François GRUNEWALD of the ICRC explains the attempts to help the population, the problems of logistics and supply. Bernard KOUCHNER, French Minister of Health and Humanitarian Aid, went on site to set up emergency humanitarian aid. Four million Somalis are at risk of starvation and 500 children die every day. Scenes of daily violence, armed militiamen patrolling and food distribution are commented by journalists.
Rony BRAUMAN, president of Médecins sans frontiére, denounces the brutality of the peacekeepers during the clashes between supporters of General Farah Aidid and the peacekeepers in Mogadishu. He violently questions the UN mission in Somalia: "Initially, it is a military-human commitment. It has become less and less humanitarian and more and more military. Today it has become unacceptable, troops are shooting at demonstrators, civilians, hospitals and they even manage to attack humanitarian teams and journalists." In protest against this mix of military intervention and humanitarian aid, MSF left the country. While the famine has largely been alleviated, the fighting is still killing many. The staff of the NGOs are risking their lives, much more than before, because the Somali armed troops confuse them with the soldiers of the international force considered as an invading army.
After months of negotiations, the UN began sending peacekeepers to Somalia. Mohammed SAHNOUN, the United Nations ambassador inspects the camp of 500 Pakistani peacekeepers installed on the edge of Mogadishu. Their mission is limited to securing humanitarian convoys in the port, in order to avoid looting. Special Envoy John Paul LEPERS specifies that the UN mission is not to restore order in the Somali capital. He explains: "like us journalists, like non-governmental organizations, the United Nations must appeal for their protection to the very ones who are reigning chaos in Magadiscio". The UN observers, who have been in place for two months, are tasked with monitoring the ceasefire along the demarcation line and negotiating with the population. A resident of Mogadishu concluded: "The United Nations can bring peace, if, and only if, it collaborates with all the leaders of the different factions."
In Mogadishu, angry men cry terrorism against UN forces. In recent days, UN airstrikes have claimed civilian casualties. At his press conference at UN headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin MC GOVERN, Chief of Military Intelligence, explains the destruction of a rocket launcher. This is a lie confirmed by the journalist, which parallels the propaganda of the American army during the Gulf War. Special Envoy Dominique DERDA explains that the UN operation in Somalia is controlled by the Americans. However, among the foreign soldiers engaged, Pakistani soldiers have "distinguished themselves" recently by shooting a crowd of demonstrators.
This is the end of the operation "Restore Hope" for the American soldiers, who are replaced by the UN peacekeepers. Military intervention stopped the famine, but not the civil war. Mogadishu is under siege, rival gangs are still fighting and the population seems to want the military to leave. The Somalis interviewed unfold the blunders and violence of international soldiers against the civilian population. The journalist concludes by saying that the UN intervention is a complete failure to date.