Posted on 08/13/2005 2:36:14 AM PDT by Our_Man_In_Gough_Island
A mayor in breakaway Somaliland is trying to cut down on the problems caused by khat, a mild stimulant, by moving dealers to the outskirts of the city.
"Out of sight, out of mind," the mayor hopes
Hussein Mohamud Jiir, mayor of the capital Hargeisa, has set aside tracts of land where he hopes to install the khat merchants.
Dealers, however, say there is no point trying to restrict their activities.
Khat is a natural amphetamine derived from the leaves of the catha edilus plant.
The problem of addiction in Somaliland - which has broken away from Somalia - is huge.
Addicts - mostly men - will spend all their money on the drug, while their children have nothing to eat.
And khat is also blamed for the small plastic bags which litter the city.
Pink, blue and red bags, used to hold khat, block drains, hang on trees and fences, stick to telegraph and electricity poles, or are even eaten by goats.
The mayor's plan would give each of the city's five districts its own khat "areas".
Bursts into life
He was confident that the plan would work.
"The same thing that happens here today, used to happen in Mogadishu. Sinai market was a similar initiative. People will go to wherever there is khat," he said.
It has become so cumbersome to declare every Thursday as a general clean- up exercise
Abdiwahab Nakruma Hargeisa health officer The drug is grown in Ethiopia's highlands. Every day, dozens of trucks loaded with tonnes of it arrive in Hargeisa, flooding the streets by mid-morning.
The city bursts into life with their arrival. People run after the trucks, some pushing carts and wheelbarrows.
There are the khat sellers, bystanders, the jobless, pilferers and pickpockets, all wanting to make something out of the excitement.
Khat dealer Ali Omar says there is no point trying to control the trade.
"It is a silly question asking why I sell khat. Can you just walk over to the opposite store and ask why he sells foodstuffs? What a laughing matter," he said before resuming his shouts to attract customers.
Single mother-of-three Amina Derie has been selling khat for three years and is unrepentant.
She says the trade allows her to buy food for her children.
"I even pay their school fees through it. Thanks to God, I am comfortable," she said with a knowing smile.
Environmental problems
The drug has a huge impact on the economy of Somaliland - whose independence from the rest of Somalia has not been internationally recognised.
Hargeisa's former mayor Mohamed Hashi was once quoted as saying that $60m was spent annually importing the drug from Ethiopia.
Somaliland is one of the poorest places on earth.
The thousands of small polythene bags scattered all over the city's streets are a clear sign of the scale of the problem.
It appears that this huge mess is one reason why local leaders have taken action.
Hargeisa Regional Public Health Officer Abdiwahab Nakruma says khat has led to a fall in hygiene and sanitation standards.
"It has become so cumbersome to declare every Thursday as a general clean- up exercise."
Rangeland Development Director in Pastoral and Environmental Ministry Abdikarim Adan Omar says khat is also contributing to the degradation of the natural environment.
He says that unemployed young people in rural areas have resorted to burning charcoal in order to buy khat.
"The common saying in the rural areas amongst the charcoal burners is: 'Cut a tree to chew a twig'," he said.
Hargeisa residents are hoping that some of these problems can be solved by moving the khat markets out of the city centre.
Don't see a problem.
A mild stimulant?? Compared to what? Men spend all there money for this c--p while their children go w/o food, and its considered a mild stimulant? Oh for pete's sake, caffeine is a mild stimulant.
"... by moving dealers to the outskirts of the city Hussein Mohamud Jiir, mayor of the capital Hargeisa, has set aside tracts of land where he hopes to install the khat merchants.
I'll bet you two boxes of donuts this is the real reason why his Honor wants to set up a "Khattown" on the outskirts of town -- to regulate (the word, of course, open to interpretation) and tax (ditto) them.
This is largely a barter economy and Khat is not an export crop.
A few somalis in Maine had been arrested for possession of Khat. The liberal lawyers got them off on the basis that "they did not know it was illegal in the USA"
On the subject of the Somalis here in the US. I have learnt that many of the Somalis here in the US did NOT come from Somalia (directly). As you know, the US had agreed to accept a certain number of Somali refugees and Europe also had agreed to accept their share of Somali refugees. Well, I learnt that not only is our share of Somali refugees here but many of Europe's share as well. They came here from France, UK, Italy...etc but they come here under telling our government that they came directly from Somalia.
Back in 2001 I wrote Senator Snowe about this. Never received a reply.
The Somali that fled to Italy from the UK after the London bombings...it was found out that he was not from the UK but from Italy.
The article states that Ethiopia exports the crop to Somaliland.
Yes it does and article implies that the Khat grown in those plots would be for local consumption.
LOL @ diversity
You know why they left Georgia and Ohio to come to the cold State of Maine where 99% of the people are white?
Several Somalis told me they don't like black Americans. "Can't understand them when they speak like 'wassup' 'wad dat'..." and as they imitate the ebonics they make faces of discust. You will also see that Black Americans are not so fond of them either.
that diversity is our strength. >>
there is strength in unity.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.