SOMALIA: Puntland Government obstructs humanitarian services

[Southie4life]

http://horseedmedia.net/2013/01/01/soma ... -the-poor/

SOMALIA: Puntland Government obstructs humanitarian services for the poor

In a desperate attempt to keep his government afloat amid strong opposition to the planned one-year extension of his term, the President of Puntland State of Somalia, Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole), imposited of taxes on all essential humanitarian services. Instead of the government paying or contributing to the basic services for the poor, as should be the case, Farole has levied taxes on activities meant to support the poor.

HORSEED contacted the affected aid agencies and government ministries in Puntland. Although no one was willing to be officially quoted, HORSEED has learned that Ministries of Education and Health, and the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) have been ordered to levy 5-15% taxes on humanitarian donated funds that has been supported by the EU, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, Save the Children and World Vision.

In the case of Ministry of Health and SRCS the taxed funds include essential life saving activities such as operating cost for poor pregnant mothers requiring complicated obstetric care and essential child health services such as nutrition for malnourished children.

Senior officials in SRCS could not believe what the Government was asking to be taxed and said they have never encountered such levy in their entire operation in Somalia. The Ministry of Education taxed money includes meagre scholarships for hundreds of disadvantaged girls to attend school.

The Ministry of Education is reported to have paid $78,000 donated by aid agencies to the Ministry of Finance in November 2012 while the Ministry of Health has paid over $120,000 in the last quarter of 2012.

One senior official called the confiscation of aid for the poor “ highly immoral and ignorant” action by the President.

Others have already drawn the parallels of this scandal with Al-shabab’s demand for aid agencies to pay such taxes in Southern and Central Somalia.

With Puntland civil servants and soldiers not paid in the last four months of 2012, it is yet unclear where the taxes on humanitarian services along with other revenues are going. Under the constitution, which Farole was sworn in, the government’s term expires on the 8th of January 2013.

Khaalid Yusuf
Horseed Media

[original dervish]

Do you think Somali politicians care about the poor?

[mikexamar]

5 more days till puntland has a civil war

[original dervish]

Typical f****ing HAG

[mikexamar]

Typical f****ing HAG

blame faroole not HAG his time is up jan.8.2013 i cant wait

[original dervish]

F***ing roaches.

[mikexamar]

F***ing roaches.

general cadde muse in mudug now

[Southie4life]

No war will take place in Puntland: it should be noted that Puntland was the safest place in Somalia since 91.

Despite faroles repeated arrests of elders and other prominent people, many puntlanders are showing maximum restraint and are trying to be as diplomatic as possible. More importantly, many do not recognize his constitution, which was passed with an unbelievable corrupt 98% approval rating. This number alone is indicative of the last 4 years of farole as president. All resources are used to pay off certain people and the rest is put in his families pockets.

The worst that will happen is that he and all his government officials will be officially banned from entering certain parts of Puntland. As well, there will be competing individuals claiming to be President.

With that being said! The most concerning question is what will happen after January 8, 2013 if farole continues to arrest and use his authority as President. Because, for many he will not be President after January 8, and thus if he tries to flex any muscle, it will be the equivalent of any other citizen doing so, and people will not accept this.