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               S O M A L I A  N E W S  U P D A T E

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No 24                September 24, 1992.               ISSN 1103-1999

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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.
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	BBC World Service and Somali service reports today (and yesterday) 
on the onset of the autumn rains in Southern Somalia. Aid workers in the
camps surrounding Mogadishu has reported an increased death toll among the
malnourished children. In the hinterland heavy rains have prevented many
airstrips from being used because the rains make them to soft to support
the heavy freight planes. 

	In a simultaneous message it is reported that the EC may cut its
aid budget by 200 million pounds next year. Sweden has already made severe
cuts in its foreign aid budget and many European countries are likely to 
follow.

	Comment: The onset of the hagay rainy season is very early this year.
Normally it starts during the second half of October. While rain generally
is welcome few sotuhern Somali farmers will have any harvest to look forward
to this year, as most of them have eaten the seeds long ago. Although the
UN air drops that started two weeks ago also distributed seeds for planting
it is unlikely that any farmers have had time to prepare their fileds for
planting in this short period of time. It is possible to plant up to as late
as three weeks after the rains, however with the slow-down of distribtuion of 
relief foods caused by the rains it is unlikely that farmers will take the 
chance to put valuable food in the soil. 
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