US charters flight for evacuation of citizens from Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The US has partnered with Ethiopian Airlines for the evacuation of its citizens from Somalia, officials said in a statement on Thursday, but all interested parties will fully pay for their airlifting to Virginia.

The embassy in Mogadishu termed evacuation as "health alert" perhaps signifying that the emergency is prompted by the raging Coronavirus pandemic, which has since spiked in recent weeks within Somalia, a country struggling with basic healthcare.

As of Friday, a whopping 928 people had tested positive for COVID-19, further raising questions about Somalia's ability to tackle the pandemic. Of these numbers, 106 had recovered but 44 have since succumbed to the disease, the health department said.

Even with the significantly impoverished healthcare system, Somalia has, however, boldly confronted the challenges, following critical aid from friendly partners like the US, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Chinese entrepreneur Jack Ma.

But on Friday, Washington chartered a plane for citizens living across Somalia, many of them who are either aid workers or embassy staff, urging them to book for a flight which will commence on Thursday, May 14 from Mogadishu.

However, the embassy added, those interested ought to first book the first ticket for s stopover in Addis Ababa, before securing the final phase of the flight from the Ethiopian capital to Dulles airport in Virginia.

"The U.S. Embassy has collaborated with Ethiopian Airlines to establish a charter flight from Mogadishu to Dulles, Virginia, departing on Thursday, May 14 with a stop in Addis Ababa. Tickets can be purchased online on a first-come, first-serve basis in two steps," reads the statement in part.

The US citizens, the embassy said, should consider using the flight, since it intends to shelter them from the escalating Coronavirus pandemic in the Horn of Africa nation. There is no guarantee that another flight will be secured in the future, the embassy noted.

"The Embassy strongly urges all U.S. citizens considering a departure from Somalia to book seats on this flight immediately," the US said, without making the intended flight compulsory for all its citizens.

"A decision to pass on this flight is, for all intents and purposes, a decision to shelter in place for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no guarantee that future flights will be available," added the statement, also without elaborating if ordinary travelers from other countries destined to the US will be allowed to use it.

Already, a number of countries have evacuated their citizens from Somalia, which is also struggling with persistent Al-Shabaab attacks and inter-clan conflicts. Turkey, a key development partner with Mogadishu, was among the first to airlift its citizens back to Ankara.

To curb the further spread, Somalia has among others, suspended domestic and international flights safe for cargo planes, imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Mogadishu, stopped learning activities besides emphasizing basics such as the washing of hands and keeping social distancing.

Martini Hospital, the main isolation, and treatment facility in Somalia have been overwhelmed by surging cases of COVID-19, due to its limited bed capacity, officials said. But the situation may have gotten a temporary reprieve after Turkey dispatched additional beds last week.

Fundamentally, the AU forces in Somalia along with their American counterparts have been helping in the treatment and cushioning of the vulnerable population. Halane Base Camp is not used as a special isolation center, AMISOM noted.

But insecurity is yet again another elephant in the room given the unending Al-Shabaab raids which target both the civilians and security forces. Throughout the pandemic, the militants have launched several unprecedented attacks.

Last week, a Kenyan cargo plane was downed in the outskirts of Bardale airport, Southwest state, where it was scheduled to drop medical supplies. The incident has attracted condemnation, forcing Somalia to ask both Kenya and Ethiopia to join the probing team.

GAROWE ONLINE