blank

Voice of America ®

Trusted Source of News & Information since 1942

About VOA | Contact VOA News

  • Tuesday, 24 November 2009
  • Latest News:

News RSS Feeds RSS Feed

Somalia Tsunami Death Toll At Least 114, About 30,000 Displaced

Share This

The death toll in Somalia now stands at 114, with about 30 thousand people displaced.  However, the figures are based on a partial assessment of the country, following Sunday's tsunami. 

El Balla Hagona, the UNDP country director and acting humanitarian director for Somalia, says it'll be a few more days more before the full extent of the wave's impact is known.  For instance, he says interim Somali government officials have told him that they do not know the fate of inhabitants on 16 small coastal islands. 

Mr. Hagona says Somalia differs from many of the other countries affected because it has no working government within the country, and that UN and other agencies are "filling the vacuum."  He also says also says there is "an absolute lack of any indigenous capacity for assessment and response." 

Mr. Hagona spoke from Nairobi to English to Africa reporter Joe De Capua. 

Welcome to the new VOANews.com


We'd like to hear what you think of the site - please e-mail us: NewDesign@VOANews.com

Video Features

From the Newsroom

From the Newsroom

Afghan Politics - Analysis by Gary Thomas

More »

GoingGreen

Going Green

Watch: The United States debates cutting its carbon dioxide emissions.

More »

Money in Motion

Money in Motion

Watch: Will the declining dollar remain the world's reserve currency?

More »

Now You Know

Now You Know

Watch: A look at the origin and history of the Internet.

More »

The Link

The Link

Have you discovered a Web link you'd like to share with the world?

More »

Most Popular Articles

Special Reports

VOA Blogs

Most E-mailed Articles