Somalia

People Before Politics

Extreme weather and drought has driven Somalian’s from their homes in search of nutrition and safety. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is currently developing a plan to restore and prevent future humanitarian disasters from occurring. However, aid is being hindered by the Somali government’s confusion with policy. It was said that no foreign aid workers would be allowed into Al-Shabab territory, but the areas that have taken the biggest hit from the famine has been controlled by Al-Shabab. 20 humanitarian agencies have urged the Somali government to “put their people before politics", but until then, families in Al-Shabab territory will continue to be deprived of the aid they need to survive.

How can international aid be given to a country whose government is unwilling to take the time to properly plan? If the Somali government truly wants to prevent their people from migrating in the masses, they should be a little more open-minded about aid policy. According to the UN Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs, only 32% of the afflicted population has been reached by aids. If the Somali government were more willing to invest in more food supplies, better roads, and proper security protocols, their country wouldn’t be in such a politically vulnerable state. Agencies are predicting developments of more severe famine-induced diseases. The Somali government must act fast before the entire Somali population is jeopardized by their government’s inability to negotiate a plan with aid agencies.

Realist

http://allafrica.com/stories/201109220492.html

http://www.worldcrunch.com/famine-stricken-somalia-islamic-aid-groups-shoulder-relief-load/3617

September 22, 2011 at 7:42 pm