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Journalist
Wounded in Mine blast in Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan Radio Journalist
flown to Nairobi for further Treatment
Mogadishu, June 18, 2012
The National Union of Somali Journalists is concerned about
the increasing journalists' casualties in Somalia after a broadcast
journalist was wounded in a landmine blast in Mogadishu on Sunday
17 June, 2012 around 7:00pm, while the union hopes quick recovery
for another wounded journalist who was flown to Nairobi for
further medical treatment
The journalist, Abdifatah Ibrahim Hassan, a newscaster of SIMBA
radio, a privately owned radio station, was wounded by a shrapnel
from a landmine blast on Sunday evening, June 17, 2012 around
7:00pm local time, as he left the radio station at Bakaro market
and heading his home at Hamar-Bile neighborhood. The sharpenel
hit the tight close the testicles of the right leg. Two people
were killed in the blast and three additional people were wounded.
He was rushed to Madina Hospital where he went under two successful
surgeries, according to the Director of the Hospital, Dr. Mohamed
Yusuf who spoke with NUSOJ, "He was under two surgeries
and now we hope he will recover."
The director of SIMBA Radio, Abdullahi Ali Farah (Atosh) who
spoke with NUSOJ said that, It was unfortunate incident that
one of his journalists were wounded, noting that the journalist
was not only servicing the radio but the public as well.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) called the
incident worrisome trend that everyday the journalists are on
the line of fire. "It is intolerable to witness that our
members are either killed or wounded in Mogadishu," Mohamed
Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, "We call on the
all sides of the conflict to respect the journalists who are
tirelessly feeding them updated news information and urge the
Transitional Federal Government to carry out full investigations
into the previous cases of murders and wounds and end the culture
of impunity reaching its peak."
Meanwhile, officials from the National Union of Somali Journalists
visited Mohamed
Nur Mohamed "Sharif" of Bar-Kulan Radio at The
Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi after he was flown to Nairobi after
the journalist's health condition has deteriorated, after
surviving an assassination attempt. Mohamed Sharif was wounded
by two unknown armed men after he left a local television offices
in Hamarjajab neighborhood for home on June 8, 2012.
"I had a problem of breathing and I was taken to Nairobi
and receiving treatment at Aga Khan Hospital." Mohamed
Sharif who was speaking to Mohamed Garane, the Union's training
secretary who visited him at the hospital said, "I am feeling
good now."
"I had the damaged areas of my stomach scanned and I have
gone under care and treatment, for Allah's mercy I can breathe
now" Mohamed Sharif added, thanking Bar-Kulan radio administrators
- a UN funded radio -, Albany Associates, NUSOJ and Somali journalists
for their sympathy and care.
NUSOJ sent urgent medical assistance to Doha
Center for Media Freedom (DCMF) and had kindly responded.
DCMF has helped at least 10 either wounded or sick journalists
including the journalists wounded at the theatre blast this
year alone.
Prior of 18 days, a journalist was killed, two journalists
were wounded and two others were arrested in Somalia.
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