Ali Fatah at at Makhir University Event

As part of our occasional series on Somali doctors, we will momentarily divert from our course and present to you a conversation we had with a Somali professional in Washington D.C. We are pleased to present to you Mr. Ali Ahmed Fatah who has been awarded the prestigious Special Achievement in GIS (the SAG award) for his outstanding work in the Geographic Information System (GIS) field. A small number of GIS sites, including Mr. Fatah's at the District of Columbia, Department of Transportation (DOT), were selected from more than 100,000 user sites worldwide. The award is conferred by ESRI (Environmental Systems and Research Institute) in July 2005 in San Diego, CA. WardheerNews takes this rare opportunity to recognize Mr. Fatah's achievement in his professional field and his short visit to our home. Mr. Ali Ahmed Fatah holds an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh and a CPM from George Washington University. He has an extensive background in planning and GIS. Mr. Fatah established the GIS Program at DOT and is currently its Chief. He is the previous recipient of a number of other awards, including the American Planning Association (APA) Award for establishing four scenic byways in the Nation's capital, the first for the DC Department of Public Works. Mr. Ahmed A. Hassan has conducted the interview for WardheerNews. WardheerNews: Can you briefly talk about your background? Fatah: I am a Somali American with deep roots in the United States. My family's presence in the US goes back to the 1920s when my uncle arrived with the first wave of Somali immigrants to this country, at the end of the First World War. I came to the States in the 1970s to join my late and eldest, brother Mohamed, who came to join my uncle 1963. So my story is a little different in that I emigrated to join my family early on rather than come as a student or a refugee, which is how most of our people, came to these shores. In terms of career, I have more than twenty years of professional experience in planning, capital budgeting and GIS (Geographic Information System) management. I have developed and currently manage the GIS Division for the District of Columbia Department of Transportation. My educational background includes a BA degree in Urban and Regional Planning and Political Economy from the State University of New York, a MPA from the University of Pittsburgh and a CPM from George Washington University. WardheerNews : Mr. Fatah, how long have you worked for the District of Columbia ? Fatah : A little over 20 years. This is clearly a lot longer than I thought it would last! My career in public service has, in many ways, been challenging and rewarding. Though my initial plans did not include the current vocation, I settled on it (after Somalia skidded off its developmental trajectory) mindful of the axiom, ‘life is what you do while you are making other plans.” WardheerNews : In the District of Colombia, also known as Washington DC, the capital of the United States of America, a number of other Somali professionals work there. Can you shed some light on the fields and areas of their expertise? Fatah : There are many Somali professionals working with the District of Columbia Government. I have not counted them but I suspect there are more than a dozen and half Somalis working with different agencies. I know many senior engineers, financial officers, health and human service officers, IT professionals, procurement officers and so on. Having come through the ranks almost all of them hold responsible positions. WardheerNews : What do you do and what are your responsibilities? Fatah: I manage the GIS Division for the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). The Division's main responsibility is to deploy and utilize cutting-edge GIS technology to integrate different spatial data sets that are used by various elements within DDOT into a geodatabase on a single platform. We are responsible for maintaining all the GIS data layers, which we analyze and geo-code to develop GIS maps that visualize attribute data on all kinds of projects ranging from planning to design to construction to maintenance. We produce a variety of GIS maps on a regular basis, including standard maps such as NHS (National Highway Systems) map and the Functional Class, which are mandated by the Federal Highway Administration to local maps showing political boundaries or social indices to project-specific maps, etc. We similarly develop GIS applications to present GIS data dynamically, that is, with added intelligence that can be garnered as you drill down on dynamically presented data. In addition to writing scripts for GIS applications, our programmers create codes that allow for the generation of status reports on fast moving events such as storms, automatically. Along with the GIS maps, such reports are critically important for decision support purposes. The above are examples of some of the work the Division performs. WardheerNews : What is GIS and how is it used? Fatah : The Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) – the premier developer of GIS software and applications, world wide, defines GIS thus: “Geography is information about the earth's surface and the objects found on it, as well as a framework for organizing knowledge. GIS is a technology that manages, analyzes, and disseminates geographic knowledge.” With my planning and management background, I found that GIS is an incredibly dynamic technology that is best suited for community planning of any scale to support communities that are economically prosperous; have decent homes at affordable prices; safeguard the countryside; enjoy a well designed, accessible and pleasant living and work environment; and are effectively and fairly governed with a strong sense of community. And, those that are aspiring to such status. WardheerNews : How relevant is GIS for a developing country like Somalia ? Fatah : GIS is an incredibly important tool for helping developing nations like Somalia to map out plans for successfully achieving management strategies to deal effectively with disaster, hunger, disease and poverty by first understanding the characteristics of resources as well as human conditions. GIS also helps users to plan for future events through techniques used for forecasting and what if scenarios. Similarly, GIS mapping allows decision-makers to understand the impact their remediation efforts would have on a given community. That is what makes GIS analysis and design useful for regional planning. This is especially true as comprehensive plans become more and more indispensable tools of the trade for social development, the world over. Among the key benefits of using GIS for developing countries is the technology's ability for analysis and visualization of data of such critical resources as groundwater can go a long way to effecting environmental preservation projects. GIS is a great tool to support sustainable development by helping analysts and decision makers understand the characteristics and the roles of key elements in social development: Water resources Road construction Health Education Agriculture Marine and coastal Land conservation Park management Wildlife protection Geological explorations WardheerNews : Can GIS be used to fight drought and hunger? Fatah : The answer is unequivocal yes. (See my answer to the previous question). WardheerNews : One of the major challenges that Somalia faces nowadays is the lack of environmental management and planning. How do you think GIS can contribute in developing better management techniques for environmental and other related resources management? Fatah : The use of GIS technology, along with satellite and GPS (Global Positioning System) data, is the best approach for developing base maps by using different techniques such as digital terrain modeling, planimetric and topographic data and elevation modeling to gain full understanding of existing conditions to be able to develop appropriate remediation plans. The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), for example, maintains an online database that holds more than 400 different variables, as national, subregional, regional and global statistics or as geospatial data sets (maps), covering themes like freshwater, population, forests, emissions, climate, disasters, health and GDP. So, GIS technology (and its spatially referenced data) is being used worldwide to manage finite natural resources, be they land based, marine or atmospheric. WardheerNews : A major area where GIS is helpful is in the area of [urban] land use planning. Can you tell us briefly how does your GIS Division work with Department of Planning and Transportation and others? Fatah: The DDOT GIS Division has cordial relations with the GIS team of the DC Office of Planning (DCOP) as well as other GIS programs throughout the District of Columbia. We regularly exchange data and information on projects of mutual interest. However, on the District-wide level, the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) sets the standard for planimetric data (derived from aerial photography) collection, data sharing and the publication of such data to the outside world. It also coordinates the utilization of broad spectrum of GIS activities that concern more than one agency. Urban land use is under the purview of the DCOP GIS Division. WardheerNews : If Somalia 's devastated infrastructure is to be reconstructed, a massive mapping of its cities and layout of housing, circulation, sanitation and water systems need to be remapped again. What is your take on this? Fatah: I am not sure if this critical infrastructure in Somalia (principally in the City of Mogadishu ) was ever mapped in tif format let alone in GIS. The task of collecting the relevant data for surface assets, up until recently, used to require over-flight on swathes of geographic area (which would be a rather expensive undertaking for the fledgling TFG Government and probably prohibitive for regional governments). Infrastructure assets at the subsurface level such utility lines exist in most cities as as-built drawings. Lately, the availability and relative affordability of satellite data is putting the use of GIS within the reach of societies of modest means such as Somalia to be able to capture their surface infrastructure assets. I think it would be a great idea for the authorities there to consider utilizing this technology to be able to employ meaningful urban planning methods that combine the best practices of land use with sound environmental planning techniques. WardheerNews : Would you encourage the current Somali youth who are going to colleges and universities today [to pursue careers in GIS]? Fatah: Definitely. Whether in Somalia, where not only the population but also the whole eco-system has been traumatized for over many years, or elsewhere in the Diaspora, Somali youth would do well to know about and use GIS technology. For this technology has innumerable uses that span many disciplines. Happily, as technology advances, one does not have to be GIS professional to be able to use its technology. In fact, GIS is becoming more and more user-friendly, utilizing web services technology, which is intuitively designed for use by non-GIS trained persons. WardheerNews: Thank you Ali for taking part in this occasional series of featuring medical doctors and other professionals of Somali origin.

Wadahadalka dhexmaray madaxewyne Shariif iyo Cali Faatax ayaa wuxuu salka ku hayaa ka dib markii ay soo baxday in madaxweyne Shariif uu doonayo in uu Cali Faatax u magacaabo jagada Ra'iisal Wasaaraha Somalia. Dad u dhuun daloola madasha wada hadalku ka dhacay ayaa allsanaag u sheegay in ay si fiican isu afgarteen madaxweynaha iyo Cali Faatax. Wixii warar faahfaahasana mar dhow kala soco allsanaag.com

Madaxweyne Shariif iyo Cali Faatax oo ku kulmay New York New York: (LON)- Magaalada New York ayaa beryo waxa booqasho ku joogay Madaxweynaha Dawladda Kumeelgaarka ah ee Soomaaliya mudane Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed. Madaxweynaha oo horkacayey wefdi ballaaran ayaa khudabad ka jeediyey Golaha QM ee New York. Madaxweynuhu intuu New York joogey, wuxu la kulmay wefdiyo kala duwan oo heer caalami ah, wuxu kaloo la kulmay jaaliyadda Soomaalida ee ku dhaqan carriga Maraykanka. Waxay kulmeen Sheekh Shariif ninka haatan loo badinayo inuu noqdo raysalwasaaraha dambe ee Soomaaliya, Dr. Cali Axmed Faatax. Kulankaas ayaa ku dhacay jawi wanaagsan, madaxwyne Shariif ayaa ku soo dhoweeyey wefdiga Cali hoggaaminayey, hoteelka uu ka degganaa New York. Sida aannu ila xog-ogaal ah ka soo xigannay, walow ay jiraan musharrixiin fara badan oo isu qaawiyey jagada raysalwasaarannimo oo dhowaan laga casiley Cumar Cabdirashiid, waxaa loo badinayaa in la magcaabo Dr. Cali Axmed Faatax, maaddaaba uu yahay ruug caddaa ku xeeldheer maammulka iyo maaraynta, isla markaana ah nin u dhuun daloola siyaasadda caalamka iyo tan gudahaba. Cali asal ahaan waa reer Puntland; wuxu gobol ahaan ka soo jeedaa Sanaag oo ahayd gobolladii Ingiriisku xukumi jiray, ama British Somaliland. Waxa la rejeynayaa haddii Dr. Cali jagadaas loo magcaabo: 1) In uu isu soo jiidi karo Soomaalida kala tafaraaruqday; xalna ka gaari karo kooxaha iska soo horjeeda ee Koonfurta Soomaaliya. 2) In uu indhaha caalamka u soo jeedin karo arrimaha Soomaaliya, siiba Maraykanka oo Cali muddo 40 sano ku dhow ku noolaa, kana noqday sarkaal sare oo ka tirsan dawladda Maraykanka. 3) In uu wax ka qaban karo ammaanka, dhaqaalaha, horumarinta iyo waxbarashadaba. Khaasatan ammaanka

Originally posted by Prometheus: Shaking a woman's hand is not the epitome of evil, the exhortations of islamists notwithstanding. Maybe Sharif wants to send a message to all those bronze-age bedouins who think shaking a woman's hand is tantamount to having sex with her. As we all strive to score a political card in SOL, we very often unintentionally give opportunities for atheists and others to ridicule the Islamic faith. The flaws of the Islamic Ummah and the weaknesses of our Iman is a selling point for many to convince the world that Islam is not compatible with modernity. We are providing Prometheus with enough fuel to relay to us that the Islamic faith is a stumbling block and cannot permit democratic polity and modernistic society.

Originally posted by Jacaylbaro: Jaceylow, kuwani ma kuuliyada fanka iyo faataadugda bay ka baxeen. Congrats to the new graduates, Hargaisa has displayed maturity indeed.

Great News

Originally posted by Mr. Somalia: quote:Originally posted by General Duke: These kids look like they are having way too much fun to be judged as displaced folks. Since we've been informed previously that the ssdf clan fiefdom burnt down all their homes and deprived them of the means of their livelihood-- I think they should not stop there, but also confiscate their footballs. We shouldn't tolerate anymore sources of enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure for this particular community --or else they just might regain the nerve and mettle to defend their vast-- Saudi like-- reserves of oil and other natural resources up in the hills of Galgala. first of all, this was allready posted in the sports section, when the tournaments began on Wednesday. Geographical ignorance has been displayed by clan chauvanist far too often on SOL. Dhahar is 280KM from where the skirmishes are taking place (Galgala). Duke wants to repeat to SOL members that Haylaan was created by his clan enclave (Garoowe). Who's intelligence are you attempting to insult. Northern Mudug, where your from is not a region, it was a portion of Mudug created by the SSDF enclave in Garowe. Karkaar is not a region, it was created by your clan enclave also. Thus, stop embarassing yourself by re-stating that Haylaan was created by Puntland as if Puntland is even recognized in Haylaan region itself. Haylaan and Western Bari are 2 distinct geographical territories. The clan enclave in Garowe (Puntland) can reach Western Bari since its in the Bosaso environ, but for SSDF to reach Dhahar is nearly impossible. This tournament was funded by "Safe the Children", thus its petty for the clan enclave of Garowe to claim affiliations. The problems in Western Bari have more effect in Bosaso than Dhahar, which is a country away. Dhahar is a peaceful city that has been developing rapidly in the past 5 years.

Great Development

Ganacsade Libaan dheere oo ka mid noqday Odayaasha Xabsiga Bosaso lugu Xiray maalintii 3aad ku xiran Bosaso:-Waxaa xabsiga wayn ee Magaalada Bosaso dhowaan mudo 3cisho ah ka hor lugu xiray Odayaal dhaqameed ka soo kala jeeda beela dhowaan ku dagaalamay Degaanka IGDHAYS ee hoostaga Degmada Ufayn iyo Weliba Ganacsato uu ka dhex Muuqdo Mulkiilaha Canpanyga LIBAAN LIMTED CAMPNY,Libaan dheere. Odayaal dhamaqameedka iyo ganacsatada lala xiray ayaa waxaa saaka booqasho ugu tegay qaar ka mida dadka caailada ah ee ku dhaqan Magaalada Bosaso,Waxaana la geeyey goob gaar ah Odayaashan waxaana laga xanibay isgaarsiinta Mobeelka inay cid kula hadlaan. Ganacsade Libaan dheere oo ah Ganacsade ka mida shirkadaha Fara ku tiriska ah ee Ganacsiga Puntland ayaa xarigiisa waxaa iswaydiinaya dadbadan oo ka mida Ganacsatada Bosaso kuwaasi oo samaynta xariga libaan siyaabo kala duwan u arka. Waxaana 3Maalmood ka hor lugu xirxiray Odayaashan Xabsiga Magaalada Bosaso iyadoo markii hore looga yeeray Madaxtooyada oo Dowladu ay u sheegatay inay kulan la qaadanayaan lakiin markii aytageen la soo saaray Wareegto ku qoran Saxiixa Madaxwaynaha oo Amar ku bixinaysa in Odayaashan la xiro,waxaana inbadan arrintani ka biyo diidsan dadbadan oo Reer Bosaso ah oo aan xal macquul ku qotoma aan u arag xariga Odayaashan. Dhahar/Bosaso

Nin goor dhowayd Bosaso lugu diley Waxaa caawa lugu diley Magaalada Bosaso nin rayad ah abaara 7:15Daqiiqo waxaana lugu diley agagarka Huteel Emaraad ee Magaalada Bosaso ninkaasi oo aan ilaa iminka la aqoon cida ka damaysey dilkiisa. Dilalka dadka rayadka ah ayaa beryihii u damayey Magaalada Bosaso waxaa ay ka noqdeen tusbax afka laga furay,iyadoo Habeenkii xili hore laga seexdo suuqyada Bosaso oo aan gebi ahaanba lugu arag wax dhexmaraya. buraan/editor bosaaso/p/land

Bosaaso 2-Ruux ayaa Lagu dilay September 25, 2010 By Admin Wararka aanu ka helayno Magaalada bosaaso ayaa sheegaya in Maanta Duhurkii la dilay Ninka soo Jeeda Beelaha Kiilka Shanaad ee Ethiopia, Lamana yaqaan Cida Falkaasi ka danbaysay Sidoo kale,waxa La dilay Caawa Nin kale oo lagu sheegay Xaqu Waa Cadyahay kaasi oo Caawa la Bartilmaameedsaday. Dilkan ayaa ku soo badanaya Magalaada Bosaaso iyada oo Xaglinayo inay ka danbeeyaan Kooxo Doonaya inay Fashiliyaan maamulka PL oo ay salka ku haya Kuwa xilal ka soo qabtay Maamuladii Hore. Faah Faahin Naga Suga Xafiiska Garoowe

Originally posted by Taleexi: This reminds me, when Secessionist militia attacked Widhwidh and Buhoodle, Somtel played the same tactic such as the heinous crimes comitted so call SL not get publicity. Let this incident, Galgala folks and others in similar situations take it as lessons learned. Well said, laakinse, Golis aad bay ugu mudaaharadey arrintani laakinse awood ay SSDF fiefdom isaga dhiciyaan maleh. There are Maakhiri blockholders of this company. We still need our own communication companies, ports, and own independent adminstrations to survive in this dog eat dog world.

Taleexi, good point laakinse aawi iimaan, iyo aragtidii dheer ee lagu yiqiin dadka reer Sool iyo Sanaag. The Diaspora must go back. I think there's a big vacuum there. NinaNC, the King needs our support. The Associated Press, "To counter al-Shabab, Carson said, the U.S. would also look to support "local governments, clans and sub-clans" in south-central Somalia that do not back either the militia or the federal administration."We will look for opportunities to work with these groups to see if we can identify ways of supporting their development initiatives and activities," he said.

^ Adeer Somaliland and Puntland are both viewed similarly in the eyes of Makhiri's. Atleast Somaliland never launched any offensives and there campaign has largelly been peaceful. The men arrived on an effort to raise funds for the large hospital in Badhan. Why should we regard them as sell-outs? Makhiri's have the right to allign themselves with whome ever they envision to host their interest. Taleexi, we ridicule Somaliland agents from Sool and Sanaag, yet we remain so silent about those employed by the clan enclave in Garowe as if "Puntland" is holly. Puntland is nothing but a criminal network long exposed by their actions. It is illogical for me to support criminals based on some kinship legacy. The man to the left of the flag with the white hat is Xasan Somali, a Makhiri Londener who was the campaign manager for Ilka Jiir. The man switched his allegiance after being confronted with dissapointments from Ilka Jiir and the clan enclave in Garowe.

Originally posted by Taleexi: Great development.... at least entertainment industry is booming. Taleexi thats for sure.

^Miskiin Macruuf, adeer this is highly political and points to stability in those regions. Also, there is a minister in the pics and the games were organized by a political entity. Hadaad wax kale uga dan leedahay dee inoo sheeg.

^ your welcome Nina Cadeey.

you can listen to the radio coverage by clicking on the link below: http://www.spr.fm/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=567:maqal-iyo-muuqaal-cayaar-dhexmartey-naadi yada-dugsiyada-sare-ee-dhahar-iyo-xingalool&Itemid=121

DHAHAR: Waxaa maanta lagu qabtay degmafa dhahar ciyaar kubada cagta ah oo ay soo qaban qaabisay wasaarada Shaqada/shaqaalaha/dhalinyarada iyo sportiga taasi oo ay iskaga hor yimadeen dugsiyada sare ee degmada xingalool iyo dugsiga sare ee Mubaarak ee degmada Dhahar. Ciyaartan ayaa waxay ka mid noqon doonta cayaaro loo qaban doona 11 dugsiyo sare ee gobolada Sanaag iyo Haylaan ayaa waxaa goob joog ka ahaa furitaankeeda wasiir xigeenka shaqada/shaqaalaha/dhalinta/sportiga Siciid Daahir Qodax oo halkaasi kasoo jeediyay war bixin ku saabsan horumarka cayaaraha iyo isdhexgalka dhalinyarada. Cayaarahan ayaa waxaa maalgaliyey Hay’ada Save the Children. Ciyaarta ayaa waxay ku soo gabagabowday muran kadib markii dhamaadka ciyaarta uu xaakimku dhigay rigoore una dhigay nadiga Mubaarak ee Dhahar taasi oo ay ka baxeen garoonka kooxda degmada Xingalool. Hadaba waxaa halkaas go’aan kagaaray markii lagaaray waqtigii loogu talagalay gudigii ciyaarta waday xaakinka ciyaarta ayaa waxuu ku dhawaaqay inay guushu sidaas ku raacday kooxda kasocotay dugsiga sare ee degmada www.spr.fm

KULAN WACYI-GALIN AH OO KU AADAN JAAMACADA MAAKHIR UNIVERSITY OO KA DHACAY MAGAALADDA BADHAN.+SAWIRRO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kulan ay kasoo qayb galeen ururada haween ay ku jira hay'adaha ,bahda waxabarashada, bahda caafimaadka iyo dad aqoon yahano ah ayaa maanta lagu qabaty xarunta ururka haweenka ee Al-Nasar ayaa waxaa lagu lafagurayay sida ugu haboon ee Jaamcada Makhir iyo bulshada ay u wada shaqayn lahaayeen iyo dardargelinta jaamacada iyo ardayda ku xirmidoonta si yaabaha loo baahnayahay in looga dhiso dhinacyada ay jaamcadu xooga saartey. Kulankan ayaa waxa laysku raacay in la kordhiyo macalimiin tayadoodu aad u sarayso taas oo gundhig noqonkarta in lahelo arday la jaanqaadi karta kuliyadaha ay ku biirayaan. Fikrado kala duwan ayaa laysku waydaarsaday kulanka iyadoo macaliinta iyo bahda waxbarshadu ay soo bandhigeen qaabab aad loogu riyaaqay islamarkaana ay ku dheeehanathay khibrad iyo waaya aragnimo dheeraad ah. Sida laga warqabo jaamacada ayaa maraysa gebagebo dhinaca diyaar garowga iyo furitaankeeda oo lagu wado in albaabada loo furo horaanta bisha inagu soo fooleh. Arday tiro badan ayaa oo la diiwaan galiyey ayaa isu diyaarinaysa in ay ku biiraan jaamcadan ka curatay geyiga sanaag gaar ahaan magaalada Badhan. Somali Public Radio SPR.FM