European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 6, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday december 6, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 3agency cancels somalian Aid Convoy Mogadishu Somalia apr a Relief Agency tired of waiting for warlords to allow them to deliver food cancelled saturdays departure of two loaded convoys amid squabbling Between the warring clans. The convoys were set to make the treacherous journey from the seaport to the Northern part of the divided capital by afternoon but an agreement Between the sides to let the trucks through broke Down several hours later. Rhodri Wynn Pope the team Leader for care International called the Effort off near Sundown. Crossing the line that divides the City a takes about 10 minutes normally but these Are not Normal conditions. We have got two convoys of 20 trucks each and we re not going to take a Chance a he said. A if we let them go late its possible they could get Wynn Pope said his Agency would try again sunday to move out the convoys loaded with tons of Rice Beans and wheat. Relief agencies trying to feed Somalia a starving have often stood by in frustration while Tood is stolen or left to sit in warehouses. The chaos has prompted Washington to Lead an International armed Rescue Effort expected to begin monday with a first wave of marines. Relief workers say there Are 12,000 metric tons of food at the port a enough to feed 1 million people for a month. None has been distributed since nov. 11 because of feuding Between Gen. Mohamed Farrah aided who controls Southern Mogadishu where the port is located and Ali Mahdi Mohamed who rules the North. Wynn Pope said no one will consider bringing in More food until the supplies sitting in the port Are delivered. The last time a ship tried to enter the port on nov. 24, it was turned Back by mortar fire. The convoys consist of rusted trucks dating from the 1950s. To Cross the line dividing South and North Mogadishu each Convoy must give 20 tons of its 4,000-ton cargo of Aid to aided loyalists. Even then the convoys run the risk of being attacked by gangs of looters. Clans have fought for control of Somalia since the collapse of president Mohamed Siad Barrco a Rule in january 1991, worsening a famine that has killed 300,000 people and put another 2 million at risk of death. Wynn Pope said the decision to move the food was made before president Bush on Friday ordered the launching of operation restore Hope a deployment of 28,150 soldiers sailors and airmen to ensure that food is delivered. Other nations also Are expected to participate. The . Deployment is expected to begin monday with 1,800 marines now aboard ships in the Indian Ocean off the Shore of this East african nation. Somalis see american forces As their salvation. A a they re going to make sure the Security problems in the country Are solved and feed us As Well and Send our children to school a Mohamed Nur Onia said. Nur Omar an unemployed factory worker said Many nights Nis family of 10 has had nothing to cat. Others Friday said they wanted american troops to disarm the thousands of marauding militiamen and to reconcile the warlords whose Battle for Power destroyed much of downtown Mogadishu. But not everyone was looking Forward to the americans muslims preached in mosques on Friday that the troops were part of a . War on marrying updating wills before leaving fort drum . A soldiers in new York and marines in California hustled Friday to update their wills and life insurance policies and in some cases to get married before heading to Somalia to guard famine Relief. . Officials said 28,000 members of the military will deployed to Somalia during the next few weeks. They include 10,500 soldiers from fort drum and 16,000 marines from Camp Pendleton Calif. Hundreds of soldiers in camouflage uniforms lined up in fort Drums gymnasium on Friday completing paperwork getting shots and giving blood and saliva samples for Dan identification. In nearby Watertown soldiers swamped jewelry stores and the City clerks office to snatch up wedding rings and marriage licenses before they leave. A we find out before the papers As far As when they re going and How Many Are going because the soldiers come Here a said Mark Waterbury owner of Waterbury Fine jewellers in Watertown. In an Ordinary week City clerk Donna Dutton issues about 30 marriage licenses. But this week demand has doubled she said. A a we be had couples standing three deep a Dutton said. A when they snipped out to saudi the same thing Back on base which sent troops to Florida after Hurricane Andrew Many soldiers said they had been told Little about the somalian Mission. A they Haven to told us anything a said Lance Godman of Detroit. A i really done to know what to Jeff Burrow a sergeant from Michigan said he increased the amount of his life insurance policy a just in soldiers of the 10th Mountain div Light at fort drum ., listen to instructions on updating their lire insurance policies while waiting for orders to head to Somalia. Case. In California Marine wives Tiffany Cooper and Paula Walklett both 21, fought Back tears Friday As president Bush announced operation restore Hope a Mission he said he hoped would end by Jan. 20, inauguration Day. A a in be been through this before with the persian Gulf a Cooper said. A i know that 90 Days can easily turn into six months which can turn into nine Coopers husband Derek a Corporal in the 3rd Marine airing has been away three of the last four christmases. He was in the persian Gulf for one of the holidays. Cooper warned Walklett about the stress of waiting a i ii Walklett a first such separation and worrying. It la be from her husband Jesse a Lance Corporal in the 1st Marine div. A it makes me sad to see him go but he believes in it and so do i a Walklett said. A we done to want to see people for Many of the fort drum soldiers too this will be the third consecutive Christmas away from families. Last year the 10th Mountain div Light was deployed in Cuba and two years ago it was in the Sinai desert. A a there a no Way of making that up a said Bryon Butler of Sacramento think its a Good Mission. I just done to want to somali from Page 1 to president elect Clinton. A the people of Somalia especially the children need our help. We must help them live. We must give them Hope. America must act a Bush said. He said operation restore Hope was officially under Way although Pentagon officials said a Vanguard Force of 1,800 marines was expected to land in the East african nation no earlier than monday. Bush said he expected forces from a about a dozen other countries to contribute to the operation which was authorized by the . Security Council. Clinton endorsed Bush a action saying in a statement in Little Rock Ark a i share his determination to ensure the Success of this important said Gen. Colin l. Powell chairman of the joint chiefs of staff a i am feeling More and More comfortable that there will be adequate forces available to pick up this peacekeeping Mission and we can see our Way Clear of this operation in a few Powell said . Troops working with smaller contingents from other countries would be the a a peacemakers and that . Forces would become he said that even after the bulk of the Force had returned to the United states a a posse of marines would remain off Somalia a shores in Case the . Peacekeeping Force needs Protection. He did no to say How Many marines that would entail or How Long they would stay. Powell said it was possible some . Troops could Start leaving Somalia in Early january. A i would not be surprised to see that in Early january As we Are reaching our Peak strength the peacekeeping forces already starting to arrive Are ready to take Over certain sections from us and we can Start to withdraw a the military chief said at a news conference with defense Secretary Dick Cheney. A but it is very important not to lie us to a specific Calendar Date for withdrawing he added. Bush said the mercy Mission was one for which the . Military was uniquely qualified. A i understand the United states alone cannot right the worlds wrongs a he said. A but we also know that some crises in the world cannot be resolved without american , Fpo codes slated for Somalia Washington a . Troops in Somalia will be Able to receive and Send mail by the holidays the . Postal service said Friday. Postal codes will be assigned for army and Fleet Post offices As the Pentagon assigns forces to operation restore Hope said Lou Liber Hardt a postal service spokesman. Local Post offices will have the Apo and Fpo codes As they become available. All mail sent to . Military personnel in Somalia must be sent first class Eberhardt said. There is an 11-ounce weight limit
