Four reasons help is slow to reach Somalia’s famine victims

1. Al Shabab
Al Shabab militants say it is better to starve than to accept aid from the West. With their threats and attacks, Al Shabab may be intentionally keeping Somalis out of reach of Western aid, or killing them for attempting to escape the famine, the Associated Press reports.
The United Nations World Food Programme says there are 2.2. million people in need of aid who are out of reach in militant-controlled southern Somalia.  Al Shabab initially said it would allow all aid groups access to the country in order to provide aid, then rescinded permission to many of the groups, including UN agencies, the Monitor reported Wednesday. To get around the restrictions, the UN has been requesting additional help from Arab leaders – Al Shabab has been more permissive to aid from Islamic countries.
Organizations also have to act cautiously to be sure that they don’t run afoul of US and British anti-terror laws, which are meant to prevent humanitarian funds from ending up in the hands of militant groups such as Al Shabab.

2. Fighting in Mogadishu
African Union peacekeepers launched a preemptive attack on Al Shabab militants in Mogadishu today to prevent them from attacking aid groups as they begin arriving. Nineteen peacekeepers were wounded in the fighting and were evacuated to Nairobi, according to the AP. Six people died.
The peacekeepers said they captured three “strategic locations” in the city, Bloomberg reported. Mogadishu is Somalia’s main city and the key conduit for aid operations in the country.
"AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) fully understands the need to restrain military operations while the aid agencies mount their humanitarian campaign. However, we are here to maintain stability in Mogadishu, and if we perceive a threat from the extremist insurgents, then it is our duty to protect and defend the most vulnerable from this threat," said Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, an AMISOM spokesman.

3. Not enough funds
The UN refugee agency increased its funding request on Thursday from $136.3 million, saying it now needs $144.9 million to respond adequately. It has so far received $59 million. The UN-backed World Food Programme says it has received $250 million in pledges from donor countries, but still needs $252 million.

4. No functioning government
Somalia has been torn apart by a two-decade civil war and the fighting has left the country’s infrastructure in shambles. Even if aid agencies get approval to operate, they have to figure out how to deliver food and other supplies to remote areas of the country that lack usable roads – some because of disrepair and some because of landmines. The landing strips necessary for airlifting supplies into the country are also in shambles.
Without a functioning government, there’s no one the aid groups can turn to for help, either. African Union peacekeepers are the most reliable presence in the country.

Sources:

http://www.csmonitor.com
http://www.ap.org
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2011/0728/Four-reasons-help-i...

Tags: Aid, Al Shabab, Humanitarian, Hunger, Mogadishu, Somalia

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Permalink Comment by Sukma Wijayanti on August 7, 2011 at 4:37am

I think point number 4 is more critical because a county, a region and even a country need a leaders, a government to tackling, to assist persons and people's from all sorts of problems. What Somalia's needs to do is to fix the system of their government more reliable and accountable.

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Permalink Comment by Elliott Verreault on August 7, 2011 at 10:06am

Good point, one could argue in a sense that #4 generates a lot of other problems that are definitely not helping the prompt and safe delivery of humanitarian aid.

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Permalink Comment by Megan McAninch on August 8, 2011 at 6:11am

ICRC said they would need an extra $86million to care for the newly affected districts as well. The camps in Kenya are running out of space and resources, so many Somali refugees are now being turned away or sent to other camps (including camps in Uganda). I'll be working in the camps next week and we have two doctors and a nurse on the team here out in Somalia now--will send updates and more information as I can!

Also, after having had no legitimate government since 1991 (with the exception of the semi-autonomous Somaliland), they are slated to have elections next year. It will be interesting to see how those play out and if al-Shabaab will stay out of Mogadishu.

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Permalink Comment by Megan McAninch on August 8, 2011 at 7:19am

You might also be interested in the following piece by Julie Cowdroy, "4 New Ways to Look at the East Africa Crisis"

She writes that
1. Africa is not a country [It's a shame that this is a valid clarification]

2. While the images we see on our screens capture very real suffering, they don't capture the immense dignity of those who are affected.

3. Thoughtful emergency relief will ease the suffering.

4. The drought didn't cause this famine. In only compounded existing problems.

(with more details for her arguments linked here: http://globalpovertyproject.com/blogs/view/438)

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Permalink Comment by Elizabeth Sinta Hapsari on September 25, 2011 at 12:41am

Sorry, I think that was the point of the problem is the rebels, there is no other way than to crush it out, sorry, not meant cruel, but here the rebels have beendisturbing human rights of civilians and many casualties, I've read news of themassacre of civilians by the rebels. It was terrible, if anyone asks "Why not use the law", and that too is also not useful because the government has absolutely nofunction at all, aka a mess, and Somalia, countries should be assisted.International bodies such as the union state agencies had to intervene, and should help each country in distress. And all the best ways to send aid to Somalia are always in vain because the rebels. And rather than continuing to spend, why not just crush the rebels out of the country, with that problem diSomalia definitelycompleted and that too with the help of other countries of course. The United Nations can ask allies to crush the rebels out, indeed it will take some casualties,but in the long run Somalia will live safe and secure again with a new order of life,a new governance under the guidance of an experienced democracies.