European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 7, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 b the stars and stripes Somalia thursday january 7,1993 factions say yes to Addis Ababa Ethiopia apr somalian factions agreed in principle wednesday to hold a National reconciliation conference in their War shattered capital in the rivals meeting under , auspices also discussed a possible cease fire in Somalia where warfare banditry and drought have killed at least 350,000 peo pie. A the breakthrough came on the third Day of a meeting that had been marked by insults and shouting Between the. 14 invited groups. The original conference was supposed to be Only two Days , Secretary general Boutros Boutros Ghali warned the factions tuesday that International forces struggling to feed Somalia a starving people might give up and leave if an agreement was not reached. Boutros Ghali left Early wednesday for ethiopians breakaway Northern Republic Eritrea and then flew on to his native Egypt. On wednesday the group supporting Somalia a most powerful warlord Gen. Mohamed Farrah aided said the factions should reconvene in Addis Ababa in one month conference sources said. Villagers camels on runways give the meeting next month would review conditions before a conference in Mogadishu the somalian capital according to conference sources who declined to be identified. e aided a a group said earlier that it was too Early to discuss a time and place for the proposed National reconciliation conference. A second group the somali democratic salvation front argued for the reconciliation meeting to be held in Washington the sources said., the factions agreed wednesday that a committee should prepare for the april conference but they were unable to agree on the committees composition the sources said. Discussions on the matter continued late wednesday and the conference was to continue today. Boutros Ghali warned tuesday against the conferences failure. A. A this is a purely humanitarian operation. It was not easy to obtain a Boutros Ghali told the delegates. A the International Community could forget it in less than 24 hours. The somalis must preserve this the Secretary general pointed out that Many other countries suffering hunger and other hardship were not receiving As much help As Somalia. A International coalition mfr riled in Somalia of dec. 9 to guard food shipments for the country a starving. At least 2 million Are in danger of starvation and disease. A Somalia disintegrated into clan warfare in Early 1991 after the overthrow of president Mohammed Siad Barre. A Boutros Ghali earlier portrayed the contentious talks in Ethiopia As an important first step in what he said would be a Long and difficult peace process. A a i know in any negotiations you need patience political imagination and time a Boutros Ghali said a what is important is the peace process has been created and the somali leaders Are talking to each representatives of several groups had earlier accused the aided group of blocking Progress. Those leveling the accusation included Gen. Aden Abdullah Noor the Leader of the somali patriotic movement and Mohamed Ali Mahamoud an aide to aided a a chief rival Aii Mahdi Vince Crawley staff writer Mombasa Kenya a military cargo pilots barnstorming across Southern Somalia worry More about camels and wandering herdsmen than gun toting somalian bandits. A a the most important thing for us and i know it sounds silly but we re afraid a Camel or a sheep or a cow will come out on the runway a said capt. Chris Salvucci a c-130 Hercules cargo Pilot who a been flying missions in Somalia for at most three weeks. With Takeoff speeds around 110 Mph and Landing speeds up to 160 Mph air Crews arc continually of the Lookout for stray beasts and herders. Many of the dirt airstrips used for humanitarian and resupply flights Are also used As roads by local villagers said capt. De Youngstrom a c-130 navigator from Dyess fab Texas. A a Road comes in goes Down the runway for a while and goes out the other Side a Youngstrom said. So every time they land the aircrews first make a warning pass Over the runway. A and yes we be had people go out on the runway in front of us a he said adding that some villagers a just done to know any by necessity the airstrips Are near feeding centers. When hungry somalian Farmers and herdsmen a who be been turned into nomads by the anarchy of the civil War a wander near town in search of food they usually bring their cattle with them. A their property is their herds Quot Salvucci said. A a it a logical that they a keep them Salvucci flies with the 23rd Wing out of Pope fab . A recent air Force reshuffle left the Wing with u Squadron a nicknamed the flying tigers a of a-10 Thunderbolt ii Romul attack planes the kind that get Sharks Teeth painted on their noses. All the other aircraft in the Wing including the cargo planes followed suit and painted on the Teeth a Motif usually reserved for warplanes. A dozen or More . Planes Fly daily out of Mombasa spending the next 12 to 18 hours ferrying Between somalian airstrips that Are in varying states of disrepair. Salvucci s closest Call came front a Camel at the far end of one strip in the somalian Outback when a we rolled out and a came was just standing Over there in the Middle of the runway right where we wanted to Park a the Pilot said. A was we got up to him he did no to care one Way or the other. We had a 135,000-Pound air plane coming at him with four engines kicking up a Cloud of dust with Sharks Teeth on the nose and that Camel just did no to seem concerned about the air plane stopped in time and eventually a Herdsman ran out and got the beast to Trot away. Camels can be just As dangerous As the planes reach Takeoff Speed pilots routinely Rev heir engines to maximum releasing the wheel brakes. The ensuing Jolt jostled passengers who arc mostly Dusty marines leaving one desolate part of Somalia Only to land at another. The Quick Takeoff Means that a a we la be Able to hop skip or jump Over the Camel a Salvucci said. Between landings and takeoffs however the mood sometimes becomes almost festive. At some stops villagers a will actually do dances on the Back of the air plane Quot Salvucci said. He recently flew into waa Jid where locals came out to heft the 100-Pound bags of Grain from the Back of the cargo Jet. A the whole time they were offloading they were singing and chanting Quot Salvucci said. After they filled one truck was and were waiting for the next truck to , the villagers Sang clapped and danced. A one Guy stood on his head almost like break dancing a said Salvucci who hails from Bossier City la. He compared the somalian rhythms to those of american rap performers. At other stops villagers a actually push themselves in front of someone else because they want to be the one who takes the next bag off a the Pilot said. However Sah Icci had one grim Stop where Dometu Torgi to Tell the villagers to show up. Ifo he and other Crew members along with eight marines heaved the food off the plane under the equatorial Sun and the hot oily engine exhaust. Tired and covered with sweat they looked up and Down the runway for stray camels before taking off for their next Dusty Mission. In a Pinch steal food donated by the International Community. Pubis him detained away from the while trying to it it
