STORY: UN BEGINS SUPPORT TO SOMALI NATIONAL ARMY TRT: 2:59 SOURCE: AU/UN IST RESTRICTIONS: This media asset

is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on and is restricted for other purposes. All enquiries to news@auunist.org CREDIT REQUIRED: AU/UN IST LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALI/NATS DATELINE: 8th MARCH 2014, BAIDOA, SOMALIA SHOTLIST: 1. Wide shot, UN helicopter in flight with supplies for the Somali National Army (SNA) 2. Wide shot, food items inside the helicopter 3. Med shot, boxes of food items in the helicopter 4. Close up, boxes of tuna fish 5. Wide shot, UN helicopter landing 6. Wide shot, UN airport ground staff directing the helicopter 7. Wide shot, UN and AMISON personnel walking towards the helicopter 8. Wide shot, soldier removing items from the helicopter 9. Med shot, AMISOM soldiers removing items from the UN helicopter 10. Wide shot, AMISOM soldier moving items from the aircraft 11. Med shot, food items being moved 12. Wide shot, helicopter being off loaded 13. Med shot, items being loaded onto a forklift 14. Close up, boxes on the forklift 15. SOUNDBITE (Somalia) General Ibrahim Yarow, (Sector 3) Somali National Army Commander: This is our first time receiving anything like this, but we are thankful for the food, as we need it. 16. Med shot, boxes of tuna being loading 17. Close up, UN official at the loading site 18. Wide shot, various food items being loaded onto a military trucks 19. Med shot, bags of rice being loading 20. Med shot, items in the truck 21. Close up, packets of sugar 22. Wide shot, pan of items in the truck 23. SOUNDBITE (Somalia) General Ibrahim Yarow, (Sector 3) Somali National Army Commander: The government, the UN and the civilians have all supported us. We need to liberate our people and rid the country of these insurgents, these people wh o dont want to follow law and order. We will liberate the rest of the country the same way we have done in Bakool, thanks to our Somali National Forces and AMISOM soldiers. 24. Wide shot, soldiers loading item onto a truck 25. Med shot, soldier-loading boxes of tomatoes and canned beef stew

26. Close up, canned beef stew 27.Wide shot, truck being loaded with helicopters in the background 28. Wide shot, truck driving off with food items.

STORY
The United Nations through the UN Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) has made good on its promise to provide non- lethal support to members of the Somali National Army (SNA) operating alongside the troops from the AU Mission in Somalia, as they fight against the Al Qaeda linked extremist group al Shabaab. As part of UN Security Council Resolution 2124, UNSOA will provide specific sustenance which includes items such as food rations, water, transport, fuel, tents and in theater medical evacuations for personnel injured in battle to the Somali Army operating with AMISOM. The SNA has been struggling to maintain its troops battling the insurgence and the UN support financed from a trust fund of voluntary contributions could not come at a better time. The SNA commander in Baidoa, General Ibrahim Yarow welcomed the UN support to the National army saying this will go along way in boosting the troops morale. This is the first time we are receiving anything like this, and we are thankful for the food, as we need it. The first consignment of food items to the soldiers included bags of rice, Sugar, pasta, dried beans, tomato paste, tuna fish and canned beef stew. The Somali National Army supported by AMSOM partners have renewed their operations to liberate areas under the control of Islamic extremist al Shabaab.
In the last one week, renewed joint operations between SNA and AU forces saw the capturing Wajid, Buudhubow and Weel Dheyn in the Gedo region as well as secured the towns Rabdhure, Ted and Hudur in the Bakool region from the control of the Al Shabaab terrorist group.

The Government, the UN and the Somali people have all supported us. We need to liberate our people and rid the country of these insurgents, Al shabaab dont want to follow law and order. Says General Ibrahim Yarow. We will liberate the rest of the country the same way we have done in Bakool, thanks to our Somali National Forces and AMISOM soldiers. The renewed operations by the Somali and AU allied forces have already seen the al shabaab militants on the back-foot. As a sign of desperations, the radical fighters have in some areas burnt buildings and looted property belonging to civilians as they flee the area the once occupied.

The new support to the SNA from the United Nations will run for an initial two years period after which it will be reviewed. UN Resolution 2124 also provides for an extended AU force that has seen the joining of the Ethiopian National Defense Force into the ranks of AMISOM.

END.