Doha Centre for Media Freedom assisted critically wounded Somali journalists by providing medical aid of around $4000 with the help of National Union of Somali Journalists.
Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Suldaan,’ Mohamed Husein ‘Gentleman’ and Abdikarin Gutale were the three journalists who were critically injured in a suicide bombing on 20 September that left seven injured and killed three others.
‘Suldaan’ broke his right limb during the attack and was handed over $2000 for treatment. Journalist ‘Gentleman’ suffered shrapnel wounds and burns on his face whereas Gutale only had shrapnel injuries, said Mohamed Ibrahim, Secretary General of the NUSOJ.
“We have the honour to provide you this valuable assistance for your medical treatment on behalf of Doha Centre for Media Freedom,” said Ibrahim in handover ceremony that took place at the Daaru-Shifa Hospital where the journalists were hospitalized. “On behalf of the Somali Journalists, I thank DCMF for their continued support to the Somali Journalists in distress.”
This was not the first time DCMF provided assistance to Somali journalists. Last year, DCMF provided assistance to more than a dozen journalists in Somalia. Somali journalists work in one of the most dangerous environments in world with 15 journalists and media workers killed this year alone in Somalia, highlighting the dangers of being a journalist in Somalia.
‘Gentleman’ thanked DCMF for their generous support and vowed that they will continue working as journalists if they recover.
Doha Centre for Media Freedom has spoken out against the targeting of journalists, and urged the Somali authorities to investigate the attacks with the aim of reversing the current culture of impunity. In a statement, the centre said:
The centre repeats its calls for the government to do everything within its powers to bring those responsible to justice and ensure that they are not left free to attack others in the future.
The death toll of journalists in Somalia this year has been increasing on an almost monthly basis, and the culture of impunity which abounds in the country poses a significant and dangerous threat to journalism and media freedom.
Since the launch of DCMF, the centre has been involved in providing assistance to journalists in danger. DCMF Emergency Assistance team received 130 urgent requests from 39 countries in the last 12 months, out of which 48 percent have been granted.
Source: DCMF, NUSOJ
