Somalia Famine Crisis

July 28, 2011 at 3:39 pm

Somalia Famine Crisis

While I was writing Wild Swans I thought the famine was the result of economic mismanagement but during the research I realized that it was something more sinister.
Jung Chang – Author

Many are saying that the present famine crisis in Somalia is due in a large part to the drought, which has remained relentless in the region. But, there have been other forces at work to spoil all efforts at aid…until recently. In the past, many efforts have been made to help the people in the region. But the political and religious turmoil present in the area has always served to disrupt the efforts.

Most recently the disruption came from a ban on all foreign aid. The Islamist regime in control presently has had a long distrust of Western aid, but it seems that their view on this matter has changed. When the U.N. had a meeting to talk about the drought stricken region, they also declared famine in 2 regions of Somalia. There are more than 3.7 million people at risk of starving, and another 8 million that require assistance in neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia. Famine hasn’t been declared in any region by the U.N. since 1992.

Until now, all efforts at providing aid in the area have been hampered by the unrest. After losing 2 Black Hawk helicopters in southern Somalia, even the U.S. Military gave up on the region. Leaving it in the control of a hardline group, Al-Shabab. This group had implemented a ban on all foreign aid and none would be accepted. Now,the same group has lifted the ban that prevents humanitarian aid from groups such as the World Food Programme (WFP.)

Just declaring that a ban has been lifted isn’t enough of a guarantee for many of the aid organizations though. In the past many of their workers have been kidnapped, killed, extorted, and even worse. But, the WFP are not to be discouraged easily. They are already planning airlifts into famine affected areas, Bakool and Lower Shabelle being only 2 of them. They are also planning excursions deeper into the region and are already discussing opening several routes. Their focus on personnel security and safety being foremost in the considerations.

The U.S. Government has said that they will send assistance if there are assurances that no extortion, bribes, or hampering of the aid workers will occur. Kenya has requested aid in the matter also. There are already 370,000 Somalis in Dadaab, and there have been as many as 3000 per day fleeing Somalia. The situation is just as bleak in Ethiopia, with more than 3 million being affected in the drought stricken region.

GET A HOUSTON MOVING QUOTE FROM A+ RATED MOVER-STUDENT MOVERS