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Ethiopia Pushes for Somalia Pullout

UN calls refugee crisis worse than Darfur's; skirmishes continue

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted May 15, 2007 7:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – Ethiopia wants its troops out of Somalia, where the UN says the refugee crisis is now worse than the situation in Darfur, the BBC reports. But a pullout now could spell disaster for the estimated 300,000 Somalis displaced by recent fighting between the Ethiopia-backed government and the Islamist resistance, which troops from the neighboring country helped put down last year.

African Union peacekeepers are not yet in place, and Ethiopia is struggling with the cost of continuing intervention. Recent fighting in Mogadishu was the worst since the country last had an effective government, 16 years ago; up to a third of the population fled the capital. And relief workers now accuse local authorities of preventing aid from getting through.

Ethiopian troops rest under a tree on the outskirts of the Somali capital Mogadishu , Tuesday, May 1, 2007. The Security Council on Monday asked the U.N. chief to begin contingency planning to send U.N.... (Associated Press)

Ugandan AU peacekeepers stand post along a street in Mogadishu... (Getty Images)

UN special envoy to Somalia Francois Fall [R] greets 11 May 2007... (Getty Images (by Event))

Africa Union troops from Uganda are seen through a shooting hole in a window of an armored personal carrier as they guard Mogadishu airport in Somalia during a visit by John Holmes, the highest ranking... (Associated Press)

U.N. top humanitarian official John Holmes visits a cholera center in Mogadishu, Somalia Saturday May 12, 2007. The United Nations' top aid official urged Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf to allow relief... (Associated Press)

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Ethiopia Pushes for Somalia Pullout

UN calls refugee crisis worse than Darfur's; skirmishes continue

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Somalia • Africa • United Nations • Ethiopia • aid • resistance • African Union • Mogadishu • refugee

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Hit Pirates With Somalia Blockade

Policing them where they hold their prey is more effective than ocean patrols

UN Food Aid Restored in Somalia

Mysterious obstacles disappear as help is allowed again to devastated region

US Flying Armed Drones Out of Ethiopia Base

Ethiopia denies US presence, Air Force doesn't

Somali Militants Launch Ramadan Offensive

Despite deadly famine, al-Shabab forces attack Mogadishu

Ethiopia: 4.5M Need Food Aid

$400M, or 380 tons of food, needed in Eastern Africa

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Ethiopia Pushes for Somalia Pullout

UN calls refugee crisis worse than Darfur's; skirmishes continue

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Somalia • Africa • United Nations • Ethiopia • aid • resistance • African Union • Mogadishu • refugee

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Hit Pirates With Somalia Blockade

Policing them where they hold their prey is more effective than ocean patrols

UN Food Aid Restored in Somalia

Mysterious obstacles disappear as help is allowed again to devastated region

US Flying Armed Drones Out of Ethiopia Base

Ethiopia denies US presence, Air Force doesn't

Somali Militants Launch Ramadan Offensive

Despite deadly famine, al-Shabab forces attack Mogadishu

Ethiopia: 4.5M Need Food Aid

$400M, or 380 tons of food, needed in Eastern Africa

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?