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SAFETY
& SECURITY ISSUES
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Date
of Completion: April 2002
Who it was completed by:
(BBC stringer)
Contact Tel Numbers:
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Airports
· Getting through the airport terminals security checks /
bribery that may exist in certain airports.
· Process time taken when checking in.
·
Facilities and condition of the airport lounges.
·
Safety issues to watch out for
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Getting
through the airports is not too difficult because you will be
received by the hotel staff you have booked in with. Sometimes
bribery can exist with some airport officials. But they can be
paid off by hotel staff.
The
checking in process is not too long and in some airports in Mogadishu
there is no checking in process. In Puntland and Somaliland there
is some checking which doesn't take long.
Facilities
and conditions at the airport are good. For your own safety the
hotel staff who are collecting you from the airport will be responsible
for you. As well as they are well armed, and the airport's have
there own militias who keep security.
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Border
Crossings -
· Safety issues associated with all areas.
·
Bribes expected (the going rate).
Visas
/ special permissions / inoculation.
·
Certificates required - who to clear it with in country
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Within
the country there are some regions which you can't cross easily
and you will need to consult with your hotel administration, which
can manage your crossings easily, as they have the contacts in
many places.
Bribes are expected to be given to the militiamen at the crossing
borders within the country. Most bribes cost around 100 -200 USD.
You will require a visa when going to Puntland and Somaliland,
but not Mogadishu and other areas.
You
may sometime be asked for inoculation certificates but not often.
You will need to have on you your passport, and any other identification
documents at all times.
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Car
Hire -
· Companies recommended / Companies to avoid.
·
The going rate to hire a car / availability of 4x4 vehicles /
Insurance issues.
·
Availability of local armoured vehicle - what rates they are charged
out ?
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Companies recommended are supplied at the hotels which you stay
in. As they will also provide security personnel to you.
Don't try to hire a car without informing the hotel.
Rates per day as as follows: 100 - 170USD for a 4x4 vehicle (with
security personnel)
Note: there are NO insurance services
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Communications
-
· What works in country what doesn’t work, / mobile
coverage.
·
Special permissions required top use sat phones. Who to clear
it with / when and how.
·
Pre-fix Dial out numbers needed
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The
telecommunication systems in Somalia is ok. In Mogadishu, Puntland,
no permission is required to use sat phones. However in Somaliland
there maybe some clearance required to use satcomms. Although
many journalists informed me that they have operated successfully
without prior clearance.
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Embassy
contacts :
· British (and any other useful embassies. Incl. addressees.
And tel. numbers. Where possible also incl. embassy security contacts
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You
can register with, and obtain information from the following Embassies.
Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, and Djibouti. There are other points of contact
for all the above embassies from within Nairobi. There is also an
Italian delegation based in Nairobi |
Fixers
-
· Any recommended names / contact numbers.
·
Translators / linguists - any particular cultural political issues
to be aware of.
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You
can contact Daud Awels BBC Mogadishu on mob 252-1-27057 or Hassan
Barise on 252-1-215271
Translators are available with linguists.
Don't concern your self with whether or not any of the above have
any political or religious bias (this is not necessary)
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Filming
/ Working permits
Special permissions required to operate.
Who to clear this with
(filming restrictions to incl. political and cultural sensitivities).
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No
work permits are required in Mogadishu but in Somaliland and and
Puntland you have to inform the authorities. You have to inform
the "administration dept" there that you intend to work
in the area. Political and cultural issues are always scrutinised
by this dept.
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Hospitals
Places recommended , to incl. addressees and emergency contact names
and numbers.
Places
to avoid
·
Details of ambulance response times if known.
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The
Medina Hospital and Keysaney Hospital in Mogadishu are used by
the population. There are many private hospitals (for more information
on these check with your hotel).
The hotel can also contact the hospitals should an emergency arise.
Always avoid hospitals in areas that your security guard considers
dangerous
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Hotels
· Places to book into / places to avoid. Places that maybe
bugged / insecure/surveilled, etc. |
The
following hotels are recommended:
Shamo, Sahafi,Global, Nasahablod & the Amira Castle in Mogadishu.
Mansour in Hargeysa & Puntland. Make sure that you contact
any of the fixers named above before booking in rooms in any of
the above hotels
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Internal
Airlines
Recommended / airlines and airports to avoid at all costs.
· Average price of chartering aircraft
incl.
company contacts and tel. numbers
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The
following are recommended: Dallo Airlines,& Juba airways.
There are also some UN flights which can assist you.
Average flight prices are:
Nairobi - Mogadishu 200 USD
Contacts at Dallo Airlines are 252-1-215301 (Mogadishu)
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Local
customs & practices
Politics
Markets
National
affiliations
|
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Money
Couriering
Banking / security of cash withdrawal / transfers.
What
cash (currency) is accepted in the country.
Are
there any upper limits of taking cash in.
Are
there any proformas to complete when moving cash in and out of
the country.
Credit
cards
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There
are some Somali local money transactors which operate even in
several other countries. There is also MONEYGRAM Intern Money
transfers in Mogadishu.
USD mostly used, with NO upper limits.
Most
hotels can deal with money exchanges. It is advised to conduct
money transactions at the hotels
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Police
Stations
Contact names and numbers - response times.
·
Fairness (or corruption) in dealing within any case
|
If
there is an incident whilst your in Somalia contact Mohed Medele,
or Col Abdi Geybdid.
To avoid corruption at the lower ranks, always deal with the top
officials. |
Taxis
-
· who to trust / who not to trust -
·
The going rate for any given area
|
Always
book taxis through your hotel. Consult fixer (outlined above) if
unsure |
Transport
systems
· What’s best to use Bus / taxi /Ferry/ Tuk Tuk etc
etc
|
Always
take a taxi, as busses are unreliable, and very dangerous and they
tend to be grossly overloaded with people and possessions |
Visas
· what is required ? / how long is the visa valid for ?
·
Can the visa be bought at the airport (or one of the government
buildings "in country".?
·
How much are visas to purchase?
What
are the consequences of not having a visa, how will you be dealt
with ?
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Mogadishu
- No Visa is required.
In Puntland & Somaliland - you can always obtain a VIsa at
the airports.
If you have any problems with the visa alert your hotel staff
representative, they should be able to smooth the way.
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Additional
Notes:
Further information:
Documentation:
Health:
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IMPORTANT
NOTE:
(See Threat assessment in main page)
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