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Vanguard correspondents Christof Putzel and Kaj Larsen first ventured to Somalia in the summer of 2006 during a brief period of fragile stability. They discovered that peace reigned in the capital for a few weeks after 15 years of bloody civil war in what the world labeled a failed state. Shortly after they left the country, however, Ethiopian forces backed by US air power invaded Somalia to drive the ruling Islamic Court Union out of the capital, Mogadishu. Somalia plunged back into war.
Threatened by renewed violence and devastating poverty, countless Somalis once again fled their homes in search of peace and security. Tens of thousands try to escape in small boats across the dangerous Gulf of Aden. As Christof and Kaj found on a return to the region, many don't make it, and those who do face an uncertain future in the vast, alien desert of Yemen.

Vanguard is Current TV's award-winning documentary series. Whether it's half a world away or in our own backyard, Vanguard goes there to bring you stories about the most important issues of our time. Led by reporters Laura Ling, Christof Putzel, Mariana van Zeller, Adam Yamaguchi and Kaj Larsen, Vanguard airs on Wednesday at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific and can be found online at current.com/vanguard.
  1. groups:
    News,   On Current TV,   cultural film,   Vanguard Weekly Special,   3 more
  2. tags:
    News,  On Current TV,  Genocide,  Somalia, 16 more + add
  3. credits:
    Christof Correspondent,
    Kaj Correspondent,
    Saldate72 Editor,
    more
Christof
  • video added March 11, 2009

27 comments // The Beach of Death // Video

  •  

    Kaj, Christof

    Gentlemen thank you for going back

    ras_menelik
  •  

    and I would like to add to ras_menelik comment, thank you and I am very thankful for Doctors Without Borders and their pursuit for humanity. Their impartiality is one of many great virtues I strive to absorb.

    recommended by huntre
    RepressThis
  •  

    3RD CLASS RACE? 130 mile walk the Ethiopian refugees had to walk in front of GOD and MAN I say SHAME

    ras_menelik
  •  

    I SAW THE TITLE AND THOUGHT I WOULD LAUGH. THIS ISN'T FUNNY. THIS IS FRUSTRATING AND SO SAD. WE NEED TO SEE THIS THOUGH.

    estee_arie
  •  

    I can't even comprehend having to decide to leave the land you love and were born in to head into such uncertainty and fear, but knowing you have no other choice. I am still crying watching the end of this, and I honestly don't know how you held the camera as you did. I know it must have been extremely hard to do. My heart goes out to these people so much and I truly am in awe of their bravery. Hopefully, now that more people have seen what is happening here something more can be done. Doctors Without Borders is without a doubt an organization of heroes whose humanity is unbounded. The one way to support these people coming over to Yemen is to then support MSF.

    Vanguard has done a great service by doing this report, and I thank you so much for it. No one should have to live this way, and frankly, I wish the US would keep its nose out of these areas. It looks like as you stated in the beginning that peace might come, and then we step in again and chaos breaks out. The US government then needs to step up and work to fix what it helped to create. This is a humanitarian crisis that we can no longer afford to ignore.

    recommended by huntre, nkeg87
    JanforGore
  •  

    Compelling and heartbreaking, this piece reminds me that no matter how bad things may seem in the US, we can't begin to comprehend what hardship really means.
    True excellence in journalism is the willingness to witness the saddest or cruelest of humanity and make sure it's shared with the rest of the world.
    My sorrow goes out to those who were lost or suffered the loss of others.

    huntre
  •  

    I thought it was worth reposting this link to "Mogadishu Madness".

    huntre
  •  

    Thank you for this documentary, I think we as Americans truly need to stay informed about tragedies such as these. I think its really humbling when we complain about our "problems" and our recession, and people spout venom about Obama being a communist or a socialist--it really makes us look like fools and whiners when there are people especially in somalia who are suffering and dying just for a chance at a somewhat, but not much better, life.

    My heart goes out to our fellow human beings.

    snanders
  •  

    And just what is Obama going to do about this since it was this government by backing Ethiopia that pushed these people to this horrible fate? I personally think BECAUSE of this situation we have every right and reason to call out leaders of this country and this government that has a long history of fomenting this kind of horror for their own advantage.

    JanforGore
  •  

    Amazing reporting, guys.

    Current is the best on-the-ground journalism going today.

    bucketoftruth
  •  

    Its amazing to see the struggle of people around the world and being a citizen of the U.S. i feel censored from the outside world. It makes you truly appreciate what you have and wonder how people can be so cruel to one another.

    jrock108
  •  

    This is true journalism guys, thanks! This made me cry it was so heart-breaking and frustrating knowing this is going on and not being able to do anything about it.

    naty_forty
  •  

    Why does no one intervene the situation? They fight wars for oil, land, policy, and greed, yet no country helps these people, must be an other African tragedy; poor leadership, greed, and unfortunate. Why did America stop the war with the rebels? Is this not the same country that promotes and allows Pirates to raid ships for ransom? Why does no entity intervene?

    Kepano
  •  

    Hats off to you guys for telling the story. We do care. We do care. Hearts go out...

    LucienRafagas
  •  

    This is heartbreaking. When they found the bodies it was really distressing and hard to watch. I'm lost for words, I'm really sad now.

    smileymango
  •  

    sometimes the sin is knowing and doing nothing about it... thank you for sharing your experience with all of us. I'm sorry for what your eyes have seen. the haunting images you will never forget.....

    cairo926
  •  

    this was a truly touching video. And such great journalism. It really opens your eyes to the tragedies going on in the world today.

    Beccaholic
  •  

    this was a truly touching video. And such great journalism. It really opens your eyes to the tragedies going on in the world today.

    Beccaholic
  •  

    WHOA..... damn war... anywho the cause of the war: American even thou we are the super power of the world man ..... the small stories..... and man when you were filming the dead people I don't think they appreciated it .....

    TonesTestament
  •  

    Very moving-- I especially appreciated that there was a balance between explaining the motivations for leaving Somalia, interviews with Somalis, those who work with Somalis, and unfortunately, shots of the deceased.

    HappyNeesi
  •  

    I have a fast broadband connection but not the fastest in the world. I can't watch it non-stop because there are too many pauses. i want to download it once and watch it, but at the slightest excuse the video stops and I have to spend an hour downloading it all over again., Currently I have to stop the video and rewind it to the beginning JUST BEFORE it finishes or I have to reload the entire thing from the beginning. Is there anyway to avoid this, or to download the video so I can watch it properly? Thank you.

    SiriusBlack
  •  

    I had tears in my eyes as I watched this piece, trying to comprehend the struggle these people endure in pursuit of a better life. Amazing story & fantastic journalism! Thanks guys

    AlishaMarie
  •  

    Appalling... ain't nothing like hawaii that for damn sure.

    jp23
  •  

    This is a very important piece of journalism that should be seen by everyone -- the average American needs to know what is happening around the world because of the US.

    It's not easy to watch a video of bodies washing up on a beach, but the real things that are happening to our fellow human beings need to be seen and understood.

    I have to say, all thoughts of wanting a new phone or wanting to go shopping or other trivial things just fly out of my head when I'm exposed to what's really going on. I wish all new Blackberries and Iphones came pre-loaded with Vanguard, maybe then more people would see these images.

    Meheen_Hauge

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