Wednesdays 10:00PM ET
Somalia
Somalia is a coastal nation at the Horn of Africa. The coastlines of Somalia are filled with rampant pirating, making Somalia’s main port the most treacherous port in the world, with US navy ships positioned to protect goods traveling through. But, danger doesn’t end on the coastline. With a life expectancy of only 48.5 years, Somalia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world. For Somalis, danger is a way of life, as Dr. Bob Arnot sees for himself when he explores this war-torn country.
Currency: Somali Shilling – US $1 equaled 14,000 shillings
Location: Bali Doogle Airport
- This is the only way to fly into Somalia.
Location: Mogadishu
- Mogadishu, the largest city in Somalia is labeled as zone 5 or “no go” zone for Americans.
- There has been no recognized form of central government since the collapse of the Somalia government in 1991.
Location: Horn Afrik
- Horn Afrik is a radio and television station in Somalia and despite the chaos, journalists risk their lives everyday to spread the truth.
- In 1991 ten journalists were killed in Somalia and in the past six years four journalists from Horn Afrik were killed.
Location: Madina Hospital
Location: Technical Graveyards
- Technical graveyards are places where vehicles captured in battle are rehabilitated to be used in civil war breakouts.
Location: Al-Barakat
- A wire transfer service in Somalia uses a modern form of ‘hawala’, an informal form of money transfer using the honor system.
- The Al-Barakat network came under attack because it was suspected that hawala brokers may have helped terrorist organizations transfer money to fund terrorist activities. Al-Barakat has still not recovered from this blow.