___________________________________________________________________ S O M A L I A N E W S U P D A T E ____________________________________________________________________ No 21 September 21, 1992. ISSN 1103-1999 ____________________________________________________________________ Somalia News Update is published irregularly via electronic mail and fax. Questions can be directed to antbh@strix.udac.uu.se or to fax number +46-18-151160. All material is free to quote as long as the source is stated. ____________________________________________________________________ Unfortunately the copyright rules of the IPS means that all reports will be delayed by one week. This implies that this service will have to rely on other sources for its newsfeed, only background reports of general interest from IPS will be forwarded. Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved. Permission to re- print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'. Title: SOMALIA: FEARS AND HOPES OVER ARRIVAL OF U.N. TROOPS an inter press service feature by horace awori mogadishu, sep 14 (ips) -- as the violence-ridden somali capital of mogadishu awaited the arrival of 60 pakistani troops monday, there were mixed reactions to their deployment. the 60 are the first lot of 500 expected to arrive in the country this month to try and prevent the looting and internecine violence that has hampered food distribution in the famine-striken horn of africa country. depending on their effectiveness in guarding the ports and escorting food supplies to remote inland areas these troops may be the harbingers of three thousand more, in line with a u.n. descision late july, to send troops to secure relief supplies. presently, 9000 tonnes of cereals are held up in the port of mogadishu for security reasons, following an aug. 28 incident when, according to world food programme (wfp) chief of operations, thomas lecato, bandits attacked the port, wounding two u.n. guards and putting a stop to distribution. but some non-governmental organisations and relief agencies working in the country have expressed fears that large numbers of blue berets may threaten not only the food distribution process but also their own lives. ''unless the u.n. deployment of guards is very well coordinated with the actual and increased supply of food we fear that what the relief agencies have been doing will be seriously jeopardised'', romy brauman of the french relief agency medecins sans frontiers (msf) told ips here monday. according to msf the very delicate arrengements which the agencies have put in place may be upset by the u.n.'s over emphasis on security. ''security is a problem but it is not the major or only problem. the international committee demonstrated that relief operations could be done in somalia even when the u.n. itself dared not step into somalia''. but the u.n. childrens fund (unicef) representative in mogadishu, david bassouin, told ips that although there were general fears in the ngo community ''this is the expected fear of the unknown''. he added that the issue had been discussed with the ngo's and assurances given that the u.n. effort would be properly handled. ''the agencies need the security of the umbrella of the u.n. and needs their distribution role and network'', the u.n. special envoy to somalia mohammed sahnoun said. he said since the arrival of the first 50 guards a few weeks ago, the situation in the capital had improved. ''but this does not mean that all incidents of banditry have stopped. and if we are to bring in more food, we must also have more guards so the food reaches those who need it most''. but the united somali congress faction of general mohamed farah aideed which occupies the southern half of mogadishu is very cautious about the issue: ''we were not consulted over this move we are just hearing it over the radio'', said abdulkarim ali ahmed, the factions secretary general. be carried out to establish whether or not more troops would be needed. the secretary for rehabilitation and reconstruction, mohamed ahmed noor told ips that in a country where virtually every other somali had a gun the presence of u.n. troops could be explosive. ''thousands of u.n. troops could create the impression of an invasion of the country.'' said noor. he believes a better option would be to give somalia both funds and technical help to reconstitute its shattered police force: ''this would be less costly and of more long-term value for the country''. although somalia's interim president ali mahdi mohamed, gen aideed's biggest rival who occupies northern mogadishu, agrees with the idea of reconstituting the police force, he is not opposed to a large u.n. presence: ''somalia needs more than 3,000 u.n. troops if it is to be rehabilitated quickly'', he told ips. it is widely believed aideed's faction, which also occupies much of the south west of the country is opposed to the presence of u.n. troops on the grounds that it may constitute an occupying force, recognising ali mahdis claim to the presidency. according to unicef executive director james grant: ''the international community has mobilised to supply a lot of food from mombasa and djibouti and it would be a pity for local leaders to let this opportunity go down the drain''. the u.n. estimates 1.5 million somali's are in danger of dying from starvation while 4.5 million others are in need of food and other emergency supplies.