Sex violence 'part of the game'
07/12/2007 14:38  - (SA)  

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Nairobi - Sexual violence against women in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, has reached an unprecedented level, with women raped at checkpoints and during the day in front of bystanders by all parties to the vicious conflict, says the United Nations.

The UN children's agency, Unicef, said rape was becoming an "instrument" used by Ethiopian-backed government troops and insurgents, a new trend in the 17-year conflict, which had worsened dramatically since the New Year.

Christian Balslev-Olesen, the Unicef representative for Somalia, said: "Sexual violence and rape are part of conflicts in most parts of the world, but we have not seen it on the level as we are seeing it now in Mogadishu.

"Sexual violence and rape is part of the game."

An aid worker based in the bullet-scarred capital said Ethiopian troops, in Mogadishu since the New Year and so embroiled in the conflict they couldn't withdraw, cordoned off areas after an attack, loot whatever they could and raped women left behind.

Humanitarian principles

Women attempting to flee the violent capital, part of the exodus of 400 000 since the start of the year, were being raped at checkpoints and roadblocks run by the government or pro-government militias.

"The lack of respect for basic humanitarian principles is alarming and horrific," said Balslev-Olesen, adding that wounded women and children were often left to die in the streets.

Balslev-Olesen said gathering figures on the number of rapes in the capital was difficult, with few international staff based there and many local aid agencies fearing repercussions from the government should they report such numbers.

He said figures collated from different relief agencies showed at least 50 women were raped in the last month.

Meanwhile, children were being recruited into militias, with 80% of schools in Mogadishu closed down because of the violence. At least 31 children had been killed on their way to school this year.

Ethiopian-backed government troops swooped into Mogadishu at the New Year, ousting a popular Islamist group and sparking a persistent insurgency that had killed thousands.

Somalia was plunged into anarchy after the 1991 toppling of dictator Mohammed Siad Barre by warlords.

Sapa-dpa

 

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