The Somali Civil War

Описание: “Three Decades of Loss, Survival, and Unbroken Resilience”
For more than thirty years, Somalia has endured one of the longest and most devastating conflicts in modern history. From the fall of Siad Barre in 1991 to the rise of warlords, the emergence of Al-Shabaab, repeated famines, and waves of displacement—the human cost has been staggering.
In this documentary episode, we explore the true impact of the Somali Civil War, moving beyond battles and politics to focus on what the war took from ordinary people.

What This Episode Covers (With Sources)
• The estimated 500,000+ lives lost since the late 1980s
Studies by the African Rights Organization, Human Rights Watch, and field estimates by the UN OHCHR suggest that between 350,000 and 550,000 Somalis were killed from 1988 onward during the Isaaq genocide, civil war, militia battles, and later insurgency periods.
• The destruction of Hargeisa and mass killings in the north (1988–1989)
Reports by Amnesty International, Africa Watch, and UN investigations document that 70–90% of Hargeisa was destroyed and tens of thousands of civilians were killed during anti-Isaaq campaigns by the Barre regime.
• The 1992 and 2011 famines that claimed hundreds of thousands
• 1992 Famine: UNICEF and USAID estimate 220,000–300,000 deaths during the famine fueled by conflict and blockade.
• 2011 Famine: The FSNAU and FEWSNET report 260,000 deaths, half of them children under five.
• The struggle of over 2 million displaced Somalis
The UNHCR notes that 2–2.6 million Somalis have been internally displaced over different periods, with more than 1 million refugees abroad, creating one of Africa’s largest diasporas.
• The rise of piracy, terrorism, and global repercussions
Somali piracy (2005–2012), documented by the IMB and World Bank, cost global trade billions of dollars. Al-Shabaab’s insurgency has been tracked extensively by UN Monitoring Groups and AMISOM.
• The collapse—and slow rebuilding—of Somali institutions
The UNDP Human Development Reports list Somalia in the lowest global development category for decades due to state collapse, with gradual institutional recovery starting in the 2010s.
• The psychological trauma carried by an entire generation
Studies by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) highlight staggering PTSD rates among Somali youth and refugees.
🌍 Why This Story Matters
The war in Somalia reshaped global security, created one of Africa’s largest diasporas, and rewrote the future of an entire region. Understanding its human cost helps us understand the long road to peace still ahead.

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