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FROM THE FIELD

Armed Robbers Steal Money Intended for Somalia Relief
21 Sep 2009 18:09:00 GMT
 Source: World Concern - USA
Derek Sciba

Website: Website: http://www.worldconcern.org

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Children from villages around Kismayo, Somalia, benefit from World Concern programs. A robbery puts local programs at risk.
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Children from villages around Kismayo, Somalia, benefit from World Concern programs. A robbery puts local programs at risk.
World Concern

Background

•  Somalia in turmoil

•  Disaster risk reduction

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Two armed robbers wearing hoods ransacked the home of a World Concern employee in Somalia, stealing a bag containing an undisclosed amount of cash intended for a community development program. The employee was physically attacked, but suffered no serious injury.

It is unclear at this time the impact this loss will have to this humanitarian program, which was to build fresh water systems on islands off the coast of Southern Somalia. World Concern has been working in the isolated region to improve availability of basic needs to the poor after a tsunami.

"By what we look at, this is probably the most impoverished place on the earth," said World Concern President David Eller. "Our mission is to reach people living in poverty that are unreached by others."

Local authorities arrested between six and eight people in relation to the robbery and questioned them. After authorities determined there was no evidence linking them to the crime, they had the men and women swear on the Koran to swear they were not involved. Then the authorities released them.

After a review of the robbery, which took place Sept. 11, World Concern has learned that the employee who was attacked had earlier purchased 600 bags of cement and other materials. The employee also had some personal items stolen during the robbery.

"It's quite concerning any time a staff member is attacked and violence occurs," said Eller. "They are people we know and care about, and we don't want to see harm come to them."

All program activities for the project are on hold as an investigation continues about how this happened, and regarding the safety of World Concern staff.

World Concern is the only humanitarian agency working in this area, and has had a presence in Somalia since 1981. The organization has an ongoing program to treat those with leprosy and provide education. People living in this region not only face government instability, but an extremely harsh natural environment.

World Concern responds to disasters when needed and provides sustainable programs to help people break the cycle of poverty. World Concern reached 6.5 million vulnerable people in 2008 in 24 countries.

Contact: Derek Sciba Marketing and Communication Manager 206-713-5564 dereks@worldconcern.org


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Topics

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

Background information

Briefings
Somalia troubles - [Who works where]

Topics
Working in Relief Disaster risk reduction Media & Humanitarianism
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Somalia

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