SOMALIA: Al-Shabab bans the use of ‘Chlorine powder’ from southern town

By: Malyun Ali
KISMAYO (RBC) Al-Shabab group in Kismayo port town of southern Somalia on Wednesday issued order to ban the use of chlorine, a dry powder used for water purification, RBC Radio reports.
“The residents in Kismayo are strictly warned to use the chlorine while the traders are also warned to buy the powder,” the group said in a statement issued on Wednesday adding that anyone who uses it will be punished.
Sheikh Hassan Ali, one of Al-Shabab leaders in Kismayo justified the banning of chlorine after a study made by Al-Shabab’s health office revealed that the powder could cause severe health problems.
But the statement of Al-Shabab sounded that anything imported from western countries is unreliable.
The residents of Kismayo questioned such banning in a time the seasonal rains begun in most of southern regions and could reason diseases.
Somalia has been suffering a long history of contaminated water usually causes diseases such as diarrhea and cholera that faces children of under 5-years.  
RBC Radi