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A large
convoy carrying commercial supplies and food aid from the
World Food Program of the United Nations has reached Baidoa
town, in southern Somalia, Thursday morning through the dangerous
and closed Mogadishu-Baidoa road.
According
to officials from the local food aid delivery contractors,
the WFP stock on 26 heavy trucks carrying maize for the famine
and flood stricken people of the region has warmly been welcomed
in Baidoa town.
More than
40 heavy-duty trucks carrying miscellaneous business items
have also been accompanying the food aid convoy.
It has
been the first time for the business convoy to cross to Baidoa
via direct road since the town has fallen for the Rahanwein
Resistance Army (RRA) in mid last year.
The officials
from Al-Islah and Towfiq companies who delivered the food
said much of the credit could be given to the administration
of the RRA which facilitated them the smooth movement in the
areas under their control.
But it
has been the second time for the food aid convoy to reach
Baidoa on the same road since April 23 when more than 50 trucks
from WFP and CARE-International have broken the record by
passing through the long closed road between Mogadishu and
Baidoa.
The convoy
which was also accompanied by more than 30 battle wagons and
over 250 heavily armed militiamen was first collected at Jameo
village, some eight kilometers south of Bur Hakaba district
controlled by the RRA forces.
The road
between Mogadishu and Baidoa was once known to be the best
in southern Somalia.
But it
has been closed because of political animosity between the
RRA and militiamen loyal to Hussein Mohamed Aidid battling
for control of the region.
This business
convoy which accompanied the aid convoy is seen to be opening
a new page for the commercial activities between Mogadishu
and Baidoa where the people at both ends needed each other
very badly.
The Bay
and Bakol regions mainly depend much of their business on
Mogadishu.
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