Intro
Puntland, in the Horn of Africa, sounds like a fictional setting for an Evelyn Waugh novel, but it does exist. And its the backdrop to a very moving Foreign Correspondent story. Mark Corcoran follows two expatriate Somalis on their journey home to a country ravaged by a decade of civil war and famine. Issa Farah is a relentlessly optimistic and charismatic character whos made the same journey already seven times, evacuating 17 seriously ill children to Australia for medical treatment. His travelling companion is a slightly apprehensive orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Aidarus Farah, who fled Mogadishu at the height of the civil war and now lives with his family in New Zealand.
Dr. Aidarus Farah at local airport
MARK CORCORAN: Dr. Aidarus Farah is on the last leg of a long journey home.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: I think I left Somalia in 1990 when the war broke out and this is the first time I come back.
MARK CORCORAN: As a desperate young medical student, Aidarus fled Somalias capital Mogadishu during the height of a civil war, thats claimed up to a million lives.
Archival. Militia in Somalia
Dissolve to: MusicSince the collapse of central Government in 1990, Somalia has become a byword for anarchy and Mogadishu reduced to a wasteland carved up by competing warlords.
Dr. Aidarus Farah boarding airport Now Aidarus is returning as an orthopaedic surgeon, leaving his Somali wife and children and the comforts of a new life in New Zealand.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: My wife was really upset initially she was very upset she said Are you mad? Are you out of your mind? People will kill you.
Archival. Somalian fighters
Dissolve to: Not only that a bullet can hit you, but when they know that you are a doctor, you know, they can kidnap you.Music
MARK CORCORAN: The warlords are now talking about a peace deal, but nobodys holding their breath.
Cockpit of aeroplane and passengers
Fade to black Somalia remains a no go zone for international airlines. This beat up old Russian charter plane provides the only air link with the outside world.Aidarus is torn between apprehension, fear and an urge to help his people.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: The reason that I am going there is to help Somalis and to try to do as much as I can and whats in my mind is to make sure that those things happen.Music
Bosaso International Airport
MARK CORCORAN: Aidarus destination is the town of Bosaso, on Somalias northern Red Sea coast.His companion on this trek is Issa Farah, another Somali expatriate from Melbourne who has made this journey seven times in the past year.Issa has evacuated 17 sick children to Australia for medical treatment, but this is the first time hes managed to convince a doctor to fly in with him.
Interview with Issa FarahSuper: Issa FarahSomali community worker
ISSA FARAH: A great example of someone actually doing a great sacrifice of leaving a colleagues, friends, family, great environment and coming to harsh, hot, dry and sometimes very difficult situation.
Bosaso International Airport
MARK CORCORAN: This is part of Puntland a self-styled state that declared its autonomy from the rest of Somalia six years ago.Its relatively peaceful there hasnt been any serious fighting here for more than a year.The first surprise is the joy of unexpected reunion Aidarus has spotted his brother who has survived the perils of war.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: I havent seen him since 1990
Dr. Aidarus Farah with brother at airport so its almost 13 14 years.
MARK CORCORAN: Has he changed?
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Yeah, a lot, a lot. He didnt have all these grey hairs here hes balding but when he smiled, I recognised his smile that was the first thing I recognised of him. But yeah, its been over 14 years Im very excited. Theres a lot of catching up to do.
Dr. Aidarus Farah travelling in car looking out at local people in streets
MARK CORCORAN: Theres also a huge task ahead. Aidarus is here for only one month to work at the local hospital.The Bosaso he left behind is unrecognisable, now teeming with refugees from the fighting in the distant capital Mogadishu some 1,500 kilometres to the south.MusicTheres no real administration here, no planning, few facilities. What attracts people to Bosaso is Somalias most precious commodity - peace.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Of course this was a city of five thousand before, and now its really become a city of 400 thousand because of the refugees who came from Mogadishu to Bosaso and everybody is trying to build a new house, and the infrastructure of the city really cannot cope with the huge population. Thats what well also see in the hospital
Bosaso hospital
MARK CORCORAN: Bosaso hospital is hopelessly swamped with patients. It now offers the only medical treatment for half a million people in this region.Aidarus is briefed by hospital director Abdullahi Said Aw Mussa who faces a daily struggle to bring order to the chaos.
MARK CORCORAN: What do you need?
ABDULLAHI SAID AW MUSSA, HOSPITAL DIRECTOR: What we need? You know we need a lot have a look at how many patients who are here, are waiting for
Interview with Abdullahi Said Aw MussaSuper: Dr. Abdullahi Said Aw MussaDirector, Bosaso Hospital We are having a shortage in drugs, in doctors, in everything, there are shortages in everything. So we need every help that we can get.
Dr. Abdullahi Said Aw Mussa and Dr. Aidarus Farah on tour of hospital wards
MARK CORCORAN: Theres a quick hospital inspection and some bad news. A consignment of donated instruments from Australia has gone missing en route.But a shipment of beds from the Cabrini Private Hospital in Melbourne has arrived. Patients will no longer have to lie on the floor.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Hopefully we have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine nine beds. There are other beds coming but that shows that really theres nothing empty room.
Dr. Aidarus Farah walks around compound
MARK CORCORAN: Word of Aidarus arrival spreads rapidly patients are arriving from hundreds of kilometres around.Hes the first orthopaedic surgeon or bone doctor as the locals call him theyve ever seen. A speciality welcomed in an area where hideous gunshot injuries often receive little if any treatment.
Dr. Aidarus Farah with young girl, Howa and family A desperately injured girl on a filthy mattress has been dragged across to block Aidarus path.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: What is your name?
MOTHER: Howa.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: How old are you?
MOTHER: Fourteen.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Fourteen. She was just walking on the street six months ago when a bullet hit her on the left thigh.
MOTHER: Shes broken! She cant get up!
MARK CORCORAN: Is she in pain now, is it hurting?
TRANSLATOR: Is it hurting?
HOWA: Very much.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Shes in a lot of pain and shes specifically been brought here simply because they heard that Im coming
MARK CORCORAN: So how far has she come this morning?
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Yeah. I think it is 200 kilometres from here 200 hundred kilometres. So what we are going to do now she will be the first patient Im going to see they will do x-rays and then we are going to see what we can do for her.
Patients and family inside hospital, Howa being carried through hospital corridor
MARK CORCORAN: With the crowd of patients steadily building, Aidarus sets up an impromptu clinic.
Aidarus attending patients
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: You know I felt that,
Interview with Dr. Aidarus FarahSuper: Dr. Aidarus FarahOrthopaedic surgeon you know if I dont help who can help? You know Im Somalian its people like me who has to start doing something.
Howa being carried through hospital to examination room with Dr. Aidarus Farah
MARK CORCORAN: Finally Howa returns.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: I think what we are going to do we need to, normally we need to fix with a nail, coming from there, open this, make straight, put the nail from here to there, but we dont have nails here.It becomes clear that Aidarus will have to operate and soon.
Patients and family waiting in corridors being examined by Dr. Aidarus Farah But outside the door are another dozen Howas.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: It was overwhelming I was not really expecting all this complications that I saw today it was
Interview with Dr. Aidarus Farah huge you know maybe we saw 200, 300 people gathering there and the cases which came through that door it was unbelievable!
Dr. Aidarus Farah examining Howa
MARK CORCORAN: Later as Aidarus explains to Howa the surgery he will perform, her mother Mahado reveals that her injuries are just part of a greater family tragedy all too common in Somalia.Nine months earlier Mahados husband suddenly took ill and died. Then came the shooting incident that wounded Howa and claimed the life of her five-year-old sister Fatumo.
Mahado weeping in hospital roomDissolve to: Mahado attempts to deal with it all by referring to Fatumo in a strange, painfully detached way.
MAHADO: She was on the side of the street with a five-year-old-girl. The bullet went through two guys and then hit the five year old and my daughter. The five year old later died in hospital and my daughter was injured in the left leg.
TRANSLATOR: So the girl who died was a sister of your daughter?
MAHADO: Yes.
MARK CORCORAN: This is your only daughter, your only child?For six months Mahado has struggled to keep her only remaining child alive,
Howa in hospital bed and Mahado in roomFade to black but she worries that western medicine may not save Howa.
MAHADO: If God wills it, she may also die.
Civilians and army personnel in Bosaso streets
Dissolve to: Music
MARK CORCORAN: The peace of Bosaso is imposed by the gun. And the guns are controlled by a powerful warlord who not only rules this town but all of Puntland.Its not democracy, but its better than the anarchy thats engulfed Mogadishu and other parts of the country.
Bosaso port Issa takes us on a tour of Bosasos once sleepy port, now booming with trade from the Arab world.
ISSA FARAH: Its so busy because it provides all the economic infrastructure of the whole state, everything that you see here coming from the ports and also this side.
MARK CORCORAN: And in the peace vanguard are the money men - dozens of Somali businessmen returning from Canada and Australia.
ISSA FARAH: You can see the cement,
Issa Farah greeting Kadir Mohmmed at port food, everything. Oh this is a friend of mine from Melbourne.
MARK CORCORAN: From Melbourne?
ISSA FARAH: Hes from Melbourne.
KADIR MOHMMED: I just recognised this. Its a very famous hat.
MARK CORCORAN: His name is Kadir Mohmmed, but he said he worked in the IT sector in Melbourne before returning to run a seafood import business.
MARK CORCORAN: Weve met a lot of Somalians coming back from Australia why is that?
KADIR MOHMMED: Because life here, everything is starting up.
MARK CORCORAN: Right, so do
Mark interviewing Kadir Mohmmed you see your future here or Australia?
KADIR MOHMMED: Both. We actually were educated in Australia but here is like you know, all the individual intellectuals went back overseas almost two million Somalians went back overseas. We have to come back and contribute something. We can stay Australian we are Australians.
Issa Farah on tour throughout Bosaso streets opposite hospital
MARK CORCORAN: The local militia also displays entrepreneurial flair by controlling the flourishing drug market located directly opposite the hospital.This is qat the traditional drug of choice chewed in vast quantities for its mildly narcotic effect.$50,000 USD worth of qat is sold here every day, but not one cent of the ruling militias profits is donated to the hospital.
ISSA FARAH: It comes from Kenya
Mark interviewing Issa Farah and theres another kind that comes from Ethiopia theres two kinds. Very expensive in Somalia terms, but people chew. I dont really understand why people want to spend $50,000 dollars every day to buy this while when actually theres nothing at the hospitals there is nothing at the hospitals there is no hospitals, no education and people spending $50,000 dollars every day, and thats a really sad story.
MARK CORCORAN: So these guys are very upset about us being here why?
ISSA FARAH: Oh bloody upset because they dont want anyone recording their stuff.
MARK CORCORAN: Why? Why not?
ISSA FARAH: Well because they see that probably the stigma of this drug.BYSTANDER: Half of them think
Mark interviewing bystander in street you guys are Americans helpers, you know like people who work for America. The FBI something like that.
MARK CORCORAN: Okay, were not FBI were not
FBI.BYSTANDER: I understand but they dont understand.
MARK CORCORAN: Okay, were going to go now.Its a case of mistaken identity, but as it turns out a reasonable assumption to make.
People in streets This is a Muslim country and among the few westerners still here remaining largely out of sight, are American intelligence officers on the hunt for Al Qaeda.Bosaso, and indeed all of Puntland is ruled by warlord Abdullahi Yusif, one of the great survivors of Somali politics. Since September 11, his authority has been further reinforced by his declaration that all his political opponents are either dangerous fundamentalists or members of Al Qaeda. This has brought him the covert support of the Americans, who according to local officials maintain a small CIA/FBI post here. But even members of Abdullahis own regime concede that while there have been a few low level arrests of Arabs passing through here, there is in fact no Al Qaeda presence here in Bosaso rather, its a case of simply telling the Americans what they want to hear.
Everyone acknowledges that Somalia has a problem with Al Qaeda, but insist the terrorists seek refuge amid the anarchy of distant Mogadishu, not Bosaso.
ISSA FARAH: Maybe, you know, we have got religion groups
Interview with Issa FarahSuper: Issa FarahSomali community worker theres no doubt about that, but we dont have fanatics who actually go out and kill, its politics, its game played by politicians and they accuse each other so they can get resource and money from America.
Militia and people in Bosaso streets Dissolve to: The spectre of Al Qaeda may help the local warlord keep the peace, but it frightens off desperately needed foreign aid.
Howa in hospital with Dr. Aidarus Farah And of course those who suffer most are the young and the sick.
HOWA: Please dont touch it.
MARK CORCORAN: Howa is sedated as Aidarus prepares to operate on her leg, but at Bosaso hospital everything is a compromise.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Basically, the hospital lost the running water today, yesterday and were going to use this water tank.This leg was shorter 5 or 6 centimetres before.
MARK CORCORAN: Whats that, a power failure?
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: They are switching the power.
MARK CORCORAN: Does that happen very often here?
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: I am sure because the electricity comes and goes.Im going to put a steel pin from here to this to the traction, if you recall this leg was very shorter and the whole idea was to pull in traction with skeletal traction and that helps to maintain traction and the healing.
My plan was to, to open and put in a plate and screws but I dont have it here. Can you open this here?
Howa lying on operating table, Aidarus showing equipment This is the hospital equipment that they had before, but as you can see they have some drills here and some drill gauge and no plates and no screws, so its incomplete.
MARK CORCORAN: So its useless?
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Yeah, its not going to help me.
Dr. Aidarus Farah begins operating on Howa With few specialist surgical instruments, Aidarus makes do with whats available.The operation is swift and relatively simple. Worried about the risk of infection here, Aidarus keeps major surgery to an absolute minimum.Howas six months of agony is finally over and shes expected to make a full recovery.
Howa leaving hospital
MAHADO: Watch out for the girl.
NURSE: Get out of the way!
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Im really very happy that the mother
Interview with Dr. Aidarus Farah finally sees that something has been done for her child. And that gives me satisfaction. And that makes my day, honestly.
Howa being wheeled away from hospital
MARK CORCORAN: As Howa is wheeled across the dusty compound to the recovery ward,
Dr. Abdullahi attends to outpatients hospital director Dr. Abdullahi tends to the days outpatients.Raising money to keep it all going is also a daily struggle. The poor are treated for free, those that can afford it are charged the equivalent of a few dollars.
MARK CORCORAN: Where is the international community? Where are the aid agencies? Where is the United Nations? Why arent they here?
DR. ABDULLAHI: Ask them.
Interview with Dr. AbdullahiSuper: Dr. Abdullahi Said Aw MussaDirector, Bosaso Hospital You know I think the international community is present here, as you see the UNICEF, the UNDP, they are present here really. But at our hospital we dont get any help from them thats a fact.
Patients and families inside hospitalDissolve to:
MARK CORCORAN: The meagre United Nations presence here focuses on helping isolated rural communities.The UN used to assist the hospital, but pulled out at the height of the civil war.Now with Iraq and Afghanistan dominating the aid agenda, international priorities lie elsewhere.
Bosaso International AirportDissolve to: Western aid agencies may be suffering from donor fatigue, but theres no rest for Issa.Hes about to fly back to Australia with another sick child.Music
Ismail Mohammed Hassan at airport with family and Issa Farah Ismail Mohammed Hassan who is eight, but looks more like a five year old.
ISSA FARAH: Peace be with you.
ISMAIL HASSAN: Hello.
ISSA FARAH: Hey Ismail, how are you? Hows your health? Are you ready to go?
MARK CORCORAN: Ismail has a partially blocked oesophagus and stomach complications. Hes never been able to eat solids, surviving instead on fluids such as milk and gruel.Ismails mother is clearly relieved that her son is one of the lucky few selected for overseas treatment.
Interview with Ismails mother
TRANSLATOR: She said God knows how long hell be away from us.
MARK CORCORAN: You will miss him?
TRANSLATOR: She said, No I think in good hands.
Ismail and Issa at airport with family and friends
MARK CORCORAN: Ismail will be the 18th child Issa has escorted to Australia, but its a costly exercise.ISSA FARAH: You send a child to Australia for $15,000 with everything; food and
Interview with Issa FarahDissolve to: accommodation on top of that and everything else, medication. Thats almost 20 30 thousand dollars per child. You can actually bring a team of doctors to come here for 30 40,000 dollars and they can operate 50 60 different kinds of surgeries; urology, plastic surgery, orthopaedics and things like that.
Dr. Aidarus Farah in operating roomDissolve to:
MARK CORCORAN: Issa is leaving behind his travelling companion Aidarus who has volunteered to stay on another three weeks at Bosaso hospital and more importantly now wants to return on a regular basis.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: I dont think
Interview with Dr. Aidarus FarahSuper: Dr. Aidarus FarahOrthopaedic surgeon I have just come one time and just go. I have to make a commitment and my plan is, might be to come two times a year, train a local GP for simple fractures, for simple fixtures, you know how to diagnose certain things and how to do simple operations, and you know, keep doing that because you cant just come here once and go.
Ismail at airportDissolve to:
MARK CORCORAN: For little Ismail the future is less certain, but he puts on a brave face.Do you know where youre going?ISMAIL HASSAN: Australia.
MARK CORCORAN: Do you know why youre going to Australia?
ISMAIL HASSAN: Health.
MARK CORCORAN: Tell me what you know about Australia?
Ismail and Issa Farah boarding aircraft
MARK CORCORAN: As Ismail and Issa board the aircraft theres an air of optimism.In Bosaso at least, theres been a relative peace for more than a year now.The question is whether the killing can be stopped in the rest of the country.
Ismails mother waiving and people at airport MusicFor all Somalis now understand one brutally simple
Aircraft taxing then taking offFade to black equation. If theres peace the doctors and aid will return. And children such as Ismail will no longer have to endure the long arduous journey to Australia.
Fade up from black Issa visiting farmhouse From Bosaso to the bush. Its three months since Issa returned to Australia and today hes dropping in to check on Ismail, now at the recuperation home of the Children First Foundation near Melbourne.
ISSA FARAH: Hello.
Issa and Ismail with other children inside farmhouse This is Ismail. This is Ismail. Its him. Ismail.
MARK CORCORAN: How are you?Doctors at Melbournes Royal Childrens hospital successfully operated on Ismail. Now for the first time in his life he can enjoy the taste of food.What do you like to eat?
ISSA FARAH: Toast. Toast. Do you like toast?
MOIRA KELLY: And McDonalds dont you sweetheart? Chippies?
ISMAIL HASSAN: Yes.
MARK CORCORAN: Ismail is one of nine children in the care of Moira Kellys Children First Foundation.
MOIRA KELLY: Well basically we bring children from all over the world, who basically cant be treated in their own countries third world country or children at risk like in war zones.
MARK CORCORAN: Its Moira who finances many of Issas mercy missions to Somalia.
MOIRA KELLY: So we put portraits
Interview with Moira Kelly of all our children that come through us in here.
MARK CORCORAN: Shes already made one visit to Bosaso
Photographs of Moira Kelly and children and plans to return next year to check up on some of the 18 young Somalis whose pictures adorn the walls.
Issa and Ismail on bicycle outside farmhouse For now, Ismail enjoys the strange luxuries of Australia. But in another month, he will go home.
Ismail on play equipment
ISMAIL HASSAN: Issah.
MARK CORCORAN: For Moira, the parting is always painful, but inevitable.
Dissolve to:
MOIRA KELLY: Its sometimes very hard sending my kids back, its like I come back from the airport, walk in this house and I feel like Ive been at a funeral, but you realise youve done your bit and some children dont belong here you theyve done their bit and they belong with their parents as much as we love them,
Ismails mother at airport their children love them more.Music
Reporter: Mark CorcoranCamera: Geoffrey Lye(Ron Ekkel in Australia)Sound: Kate GrahamEditor: John McElhinneyResearch: Vivien Altman
Puntland, in the Horn of Africa, sounds like a fictional setting for an Evelyn Waugh novel, but it does exist. And its the backdrop to a very moving Foreign Correspondent story. Mark Corcoran follows two expatriate Somalis on their journey home to a country ravaged by a decade of civil war and famine. Issa Farah is a relentlessly optimistic and charismatic character whos made the same journey already seven times, evacuating 17 seriously ill children to Australia for medical treatment. His travelling companion is a slightly apprehensive orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Aidarus Farah, who fled Mogadishu at the height of the civil war and now lives with his family in New Zealand.
Dr. Aidarus Farah at local airport
MARK CORCORAN: Dr. Aidarus Farah is on the last leg of a long journey home.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: I think I left Somalia in 1990 when the war broke out and this is the first time I come back.
MARK CORCORAN: As a desperate young medical student, Aidarus fled Somalias capital Mogadishu during the height of a civil war, thats claimed up to a million lives.
Archival. Militia in Somalia
Dissolve to: MusicSince the collapse of central Government in 1990, Somalia has become a byword for anarchy and Mogadishu reduced to a wasteland carved up by competing warlords.
Dr. Aidarus Farah boarding airport Now Aidarus is returning as an orthopaedic surgeon, leaving his Somali wife and children and the comforts of a new life in New Zealand.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: My wife was really upset initially she was very upset she said Are you mad? Are you out of your mind? People will kill you.
Archival. Somalian fighters
Dissolve to: Not only that a bullet can hit you, but when they know that you are a doctor, you know, they can kidnap you.Music
MARK CORCORAN: The warlords are now talking about a peace deal, but nobodys holding their breath.
Cockpit of aeroplane and passengers
Fade to black Somalia remains a no go zone for international airlines. This beat up old Russian charter plane provides the only air link with the outside world.Aidarus is torn between apprehension, fear and an urge to help his people.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: The reason that I am going there is to help Somalis and to try to do as much as I can and whats in my mind is to make sure that those things happen.Music
Bosaso International Airport
MARK CORCORAN: Aidarus destination is the town of Bosaso, on Somalias northern Red Sea coast.His companion on this trek is Issa Farah, another Somali expatriate from Melbourne who has made this journey seven times in the past year.Issa has evacuated 17 sick children to Australia for medical treatment, but this is the first time hes managed to convince a doctor to fly in with him.
Interview with Issa FarahSuper: Issa FarahSomali community worker
ISSA FARAH: A great example of someone actually doing a great sacrifice of leaving a colleagues, friends, family, great environment and coming to harsh, hot, dry and sometimes very difficult situation.
Bosaso International Airport
MARK CORCORAN: This is part of Puntland a self-styled state that declared its autonomy from the rest of Somalia six years ago.Its relatively peaceful there hasnt been any serious fighting here for more than a year.The first surprise is the joy of unexpected reunion Aidarus has spotted his brother who has survived the perils of war.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: I havent seen him since 1990
Dr. Aidarus Farah with brother at airport so its almost 13 14 years.
MARK CORCORAN: Has he changed?
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Yeah, a lot, a lot. He didnt have all these grey hairs here hes balding but when he smiled, I recognised his smile that was the first thing I recognised of him. But yeah, its been over 14 years Im very excited. Theres a lot of catching up to do.
Dr. Aidarus Farah travelling in car looking out at local people in streets
MARK CORCORAN: Theres also a huge task ahead. Aidarus is here for only one month to work at the local hospital.The Bosaso he left behind is unrecognisable, now teeming with refugees from the fighting in the distant capital Mogadishu some 1,500 kilometres to the south.MusicTheres no real administration here, no planning, few facilities. What attracts people to Bosaso is Somalias most precious commodity - peace.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Of course this was a city of five thousand before, and now its really become a city of 400 thousand because of the refugees who came from Mogadishu to Bosaso and everybody is trying to build a new house, and the infrastructure of the city really cannot cope with the huge population. Thats what well also see in the hospital
Bosaso hospital
MARK CORCORAN: Bosaso hospital is hopelessly swamped with patients. It now offers the only medical treatment for half a million people in this region.Aidarus is briefed by hospital director Abdullahi Said Aw Mussa who faces a daily struggle to bring order to the chaos.
MARK CORCORAN: What do you need?
ABDULLAHI SAID AW MUSSA, HOSPITAL DIRECTOR: What we need? You know we need a lot have a look at how many patients who are here, are waiting for
Interview with Abdullahi Said Aw MussaSuper: Dr. Abdullahi Said Aw MussaDirector, Bosaso Hospital We are having a shortage in drugs, in doctors, in everything, there are shortages in everything. So we need every help that we can get.
Dr. Abdullahi Said Aw Mussa and Dr. Aidarus Farah on tour of hospital wards
MARK CORCORAN: Theres a quick hospital inspection and some bad news. A consignment of donated instruments from Australia has gone missing en route.But a shipment of beds from the Cabrini Private Hospital in Melbourne has arrived. Patients will no longer have to lie on the floor.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Hopefully we have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine nine beds. There are other beds coming but that shows that really theres nothing empty room.
Dr. Aidarus Farah walks around compound
MARK CORCORAN: Word of Aidarus arrival spreads rapidly patients are arriving from hundreds of kilometres around.Hes the first orthopaedic surgeon or bone doctor as the locals call him theyve ever seen. A speciality welcomed in an area where hideous gunshot injuries often receive little if any treatment.
Dr. Aidarus Farah with young girl, Howa and family A desperately injured girl on a filthy mattress has been dragged across to block Aidarus path.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: What is your name?
MOTHER: Howa.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: How old are you?
MOTHER: Fourteen.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Fourteen. She was just walking on the street six months ago when a bullet hit her on the left thigh.
MOTHER: Shes broken! She cant get up!
MARK CORCORAN: Is she in pain now, is it hurting?
TRANSLATOR: Is it hurting?
HOWA: Very much.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Shes in a lot of pain and shes specifically been brought here simply because they heard that Im coming
MARK CORCORAN: So how far has she come this morning?
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Yeah. I think it is 200 kilometres from here 200 hundred kilometres. So what we are going to do now she will be the first patient Im going to see they will do x-rays and then we are going to see what we can do for her.
Patients and family inside hospital, Howa being carried through hospital corridor
MARK CORCORAN: With the crowd of patients steadily building, Aidarus sets up an impromptu clinic.
Aidarus attending patients
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: You know I felt that,
Interview with Dr. Aidarus FarahSuper: Dr. Aidarus FarahOrthopaedic surgeon you know if I dont help who can help? You know Im Somalian its people like me who has to start doing something.
Howa being carried through hospital to examination room with Dr. Aidarus Farah
MARK CORCORAN: Finally Howa returns.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: I think what we are going to do we need to, normally we need to fix with a nail, coming from there, open this, make straight, put the nail from here to there, but we dont have nails here.It becomes clear that Aidarus will have to operate and soon.
Patients and family waiting in corridors being examined by Dr. Aidarus Farah But outside the door are another dozen Howas.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: It was overwhelming I was not really expecting all this complications that I saw today it was
Interview with Dr. Aidarus Farah huge you know maybe we saw 200, 300 people gathering there and the cases which came through that door it was unbelievable!
Dr. Aidarus Farah examining Howa
MARK CORCORAN: Later as Aidarus explains to Howa the surgery he will perform, her mother Mahado reveals that her injuries are just part of a greater family tragedy all too common in Somalia.Nine months earlier Mahados husband suddenly took ill and died. Then came the shooting incident that wounded Howa and claimed the life of her five-year-old sister Fatumo.
Mahado weeping in hospital roomDissolve to: Mahado attempts to deal with it all by referring to Fatumo in a strange, painfully detached way.
MAHADO: She was on the side of the street with a five-year-old-girl. The bullet went through two guys and then hit the five year old and my daughter. The five year old later died in hospital and my daughter was injured in the left leg.
TRANSLATOR: So the girl who died was a sister of your daughter?
MAHADO: Yes.
MARK CORCORAN: This is your only daughter, your only child?For six months Mahado has struggled to keep her only remaining child alive,
Howa in hospital bed and Mahado in roomFade to black but she worries that western medicine may not save Howa.
MAHADO: If God wills it, she may also die.
Civilians and army personnel in Bosaso streets
Dissolve to: Music
MARK CORCORAN: The peace of Bosaso is imposed by the gun. And the guns are controlled by a powerful warlord who not only rules this town but all of Puntland.Its not democracy, but its better than the anarchy thats engulfed Mogadishu and other parts of the country.
Bosaso port Issa takes us on a tour of Bosasos once sleepy port, now booming with trade from the Arab world.
ISSA FARAH: Its so busy because it provides all the economic infrastructure of the whole state, everything that you see here coming from the ports and also this side.
MARK CORCORAN: And in the peace vanguard are the money men - dozens of Somali businessmen returning from Canada and Australia.
ISSA FARAH: You can see the cement,
Issa Farah greeting Kadir Mohmmed at port food, everything. Oh this is a friend of mine from Melbourne.
MARK CORCORAN: From Melbourne?
ISSA FARAH: Hes from Melbourne.
KADIR MOHMMED: I just recognised this. Its a very famous hat.
MARK CORCORAN: His name is Kadir Mohmmed, but he said he worked in the IT sector in Melbourne before returning to run a seafood import business.
MARK CORCORAN: Weve met a lot of Somalians coming back from Australia why is that?
KADIR MOHMMED: Because life here, everything is starting up.
MARK CORCORAN: Right, so do
Mark interviewing Kadir Mohmmed you see your future here or Australia?
KADIR MOHMMED: Both. We actually were educated in Australia but here is like you know, all the individual intellectuals went back overseas almost two million Somalians went back overseas. We have to come back and contribute something. We can stay Australian we are Australians.
Issa Farah on tour throughout Bosaso streets opposite hospital
MARK CORCORAN: The local militia also displays entrepreneurial flair by controlling the flourishing drug market located directly opposite the hospital.This is qat the traditional drug of choice chewed in vast quantities for its mildly narcotic effect.$50,000 USD worth of qat is sold here every day, but not one cent of the ruling militias profits is donated to the hospital.
ISSA FARAH: It comes from Kenya
Mark interviewing Issa Farah and theres another kind that comes from Ethiopia theres two kinds. Very expensive in Somalia terms, but people chew. I dont really understand why people want to spend $50,000 dollars every day to buy this while when actually theres nothing at the hospitals there is nothing at the hospitals there is no hospitals, no education and people spending $50,000 dollars every day, and thats a really sad story.
MARK CORCORAN: So these guys are very upset about us being here why?
ISSA FARAH: Oh bloody upset because they dont want anyone recording their stuff.
MARK CORCORAN: Why? Why not?
ISSA FARAH: Well because they see that probably the stigma of this drug.BYSTANDER: Half of them think
Mark interviewing bystander in street you guys are Americans helpers, you know like people who work for America. The FBI something like that.
MARK CORCORAN: Okay, were not FBI were not
FBI.BYSTANDER: I understand but they dont understand.
MARK CORCORAN: Okay, were going to go now.Its a case of mistaken identity, but as it turns out a reasonable assumption to make.
People in streets This is a Muslim country and among the few westerners still here remaining largely out of sight, are American intelligence officers on the hunt for Al Qaeda.Bosaso, and indeed all of Puntland is ruled by warlord Abdullahi Yusif, one of the great survivors of Somali politics. Since September 11, his authority has been further reinforced by his declaration that all his political opponents are either dangerous fundamentalists or members of Al Qaeda. This has brought him the covert support of the Americans, who according to local officials maintain a small CIA/FBI post here. But even members of Abdullahis own regime concede that while there have been a few low level arrests of Arabs passing through here, there is in fact no Al Qaeda presence here in Bosaso rather, its a case of simply telling the Americans what they want to hear.
Everyone acknowledges that Somalia has a problem with Al Qaeda, but insist the terrorists seek refuge amid the anarchy of distant Mogadishu, not Bosaso.
ISSA FARAH: Maybe, you know, we have got religion groups
Interview with Issa FarahSuper: Issa FarahSomali community worker theres no doubt about that, but we dont have fanatics who actually go out and kill, its politics, its game played by politicians and they accuse each other so they can get resource and money from America.
Militia and people in Bosaso streets Dissolve to: The spectre of Al Qaeda may help the local warlord keep the peace, but it frightens off desperately needed foreign aid.
Howa in hospital with Dr. Aidarus Farah And of course those who suffer most are the young and the sick.
HOWA: Please dont touch it.
MARK CORCORAN: Howa is sedated as Aidarus prepares to operate on her leg, but at Bosaso hospital everything is a compromise.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Basically, the hospital lost the running water today, yesterday and were going to use this water tank.This leg was shorter 5 or 6 centimetres before.
MARK CORCORAN: Whats that, a power failure?
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: They are switching the power.
MARK CORCORAN: Does that happen very often here?
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: I am sure because the electricity comes and goes.Im going to put a steel pin from here to this to the traction, if you recall this leg was very shorter and the whole idea was to pull in traction with skeletal traction and that helps to maintain traction and the healing.
My plan was to, to open and put in a plate and screws but I dont have it here. Can you open this here?
Howa lying on operating table, Aidarus showing equipment This is the hospital equipment that they had before, but as you can see they have some drills here and some drill gauge and no plates and no screws, so its incomplete.
MARK CORCORAN: So its useless?
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Yeah, its not going to help me.
Dr. Aidarus Farah begins operating on Howa With few specialist surgical instruments, Aidarus makes do with whats available.The operation is swift and relatively simple. Worried about the risk of infection here, Aidarus keeps major surgery to an absolute minimum.Howas six months of agony is finally over and shes expected to make a full recovery.
Howa leaving hospital
MAHADO: Watch out for the girl.
NURSE: Get out of the way!
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: Im really very happy that the mother
Interview with Dr. Aidarus Farah finally sees that something has been done for her child. And that gives me satisfaction. And that makes my day, honestly.
Howa being wheeled away from hospital
MARK CORCORAN: As Howa is wheeled across the dusty compound to the recovery ward,
Dr. Abdullahi attends to outpatients hospital director Dr. Abdullahi tends to the days outpatients.Raising money to keep it all going is also a daily struggle. The poor are treated for free, those that can afford it are charged the equivalent of a few dollars.
MARK CORCORAN: Where is the international community? Where are the aid agencies? Where is the United Nations? Why arent they here?
DR. ABDULLAHI: Ask them.
Interview with Dr. AbdullahiSuper: Dr. Abdullahi Said Aw MussaDirector, Bosaso Hospital You know I think the international community is present here, as you see the UNICEF, the UNDP, they are present here really. But at our hospital we dont get any help from them thats a fact.
Patients and families inside hospitalDissolve to:
MARK CORCORAN: The meagre United Nations presence here focuses on helping isolated rural communities.The UN used to assist the hospital, but pulled out at the height of the civil war.Now with Iraq and Afghanistan dominating the aid agenda, international priorities lie elsewhere.
Bosaso International AirportDissolve to: Western aid agencies may be suffering from donor fatigue, but theres no rest for Issa.Hes about to fly back to Australia with another sick child.Music
Ismail Mohammed Hassan at airport with family and Issa Farah Ismail Mohammed Hassan who is eight, but looks more like a five year old.
ISSA FARAH: Peace be with you.
ISMAIL HASSAN: Hello.
ISSA FARAH: Hey Ismail, how are you? Hows your health? Are you ready to go?
MARK CORCORAN: Ismail has a partially blocked oesophagus and stomach complications. Hes never been able to eat solids, surviving instead on fluids such as milk and gruel.Ismails mother is clearly relieved that her son is one of the lucky few selected for overseas treatment.
Interview with Ismails mother
TRANSLATOR: She said God knows how long hell be away from us.
MARK CORCORAN: You will miss him?
TRANSLATOR: She said, No I think in good hands.
Ismail and Issa at airport with family and friends
MARK CORCORAN: Ismail will be the 18th child Issa has escorted to Australia, but its a costly exercise.ISSA FARAH: You send a child to Australia for $15,000 with everything; food and
Interview with Issa FarahDissolve to: accommodation on top of that and everything else, medication. Thats almost 20 30 thousand dollars per child. You can actually bring a team of doctors to come here for 30 40,000 dollars and they can operate 50 60 different kinds of surgeries; urology, plastic surgery, orthopaedics and things like that.
Dr. Aidarus Farah in operating roomDissolve to:
MARK CORCORAN: Issa is leaving behind his travelling companion Aidarus who has volunteered to stay on another three weeks at Bosaso hospital and more importantly now wants to return on a regular basis.
DR. AIDARUS FARAH: I dont think
Interview with Dr. Aidarus FarahSuper: Dr. Aidarus FarahOrthopaedic surgeon I have just come one time and just go. I have to make a commitment and my plan is, might be to come two times a year, train a local GP for simple fractures, for simple fixtures, you know how to diagnose certain things and how to do simple operations, and you know, keep doing that because you cant just come here once and go.
Ismail at airportDissolve to:
MARK CORCORAN: For little Ismail the future is less certain, but he puts on a brave face.Do you know where youre going?ISMAIL HASSAN: Australia.
MARK CORCORAN: Do you know why youre going to Australia?
ISMAIL HASSAN: Health.
MARK CORCORAN: Tell me what you know about Australia?
Ismail and Issa Farah boarding aircraft
MARK CORCORAN: As Ismail and Issa board the aircraft theres an air of optimism.In Bosaso at least, theres been a relative peace for more than a year now.The question is whether the killing can be stopped in the rest of the country.
Ismails mother waiving and people at airport MusicFor all Somalis now understand one brutally simple
Aircraft taxing then taking offFade to black equation. If theres peace the doctors and aid will return. And children such as Ismail will no longer have to endure the long arduous journey to Australia.
Fade up from black Issa visiting farmhouse From Bosaso to the bush. Its three months since Issa returned to Australia and today hes dropping in to check on Ismail, now at the recuperation home of the Children First Foundation near Melbourne.
ISSA FARAH: Hello.
Issa and Ismail with other children inside farmhouse This is Ismail. This is Ismail. Its him. Ismail.
MARK CORCORAN: How are you?Doctors at Melbournes Royal Childrens hospital successfully operated on Ismail. Now for the first time in his life he can enjoy the taste of food.What do you like to eat?
ISSA FARAH: Toast. Toast. Do you like toast?
MOIRA KELLY: And McDonalds dont you sweetheart? Chippies?
ISMAIL HASSAN: Yes.
MARK CORCORAN: Ismail is one of nine children in the care of Moira Kellys Children First Foundation.
MOIRA KELLY: Well basically we bring children from all over the world, who basically cant be treated in their own countries third world country or children at risk like in war zones.
MARK CORCORAN: Its Moira who finances many of Issas mercy missions to Somalia.
MOIRA KELLY: So we put portraits
Interview with Moira Kelly of all our children that come through us in here.
MARK CORCORAN: Shes already made one visit to Bosaso
Photographs of Moira Kelly and children and plans to return next year to check up on some of the 18 young Somalis whose pictures adorn the walls.
Issa and Ismail on bicycle outside farmhouse For now, Ismail enjoys the strange luxuries of Australia. But in another month, he will go home.
Ismail on play equipment
ISMAIL HASSAN: Issah.
MARK CORCORAN: For Moira, the parting is always painful, but inevitable.
Dissolve to:
MOIRA KELLY: Its sometimes very hard sending my kids back, its like I come back from the airport, walk in this house and I feel like Ive been at a funeral, but you realise youve done your bit and some children dont belong here you theyve done their bit and they belong with their parents as much as we love them,
Ismails mother at airport their children love them more.Music
Reporter: Mark CorcoranCamera: Geoffrey Lye(Ron Ekkel in Australia)Sound: Kate GrahamEditor: John McElhinneyResearch: Vivien Altman