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Somalia could be on the verge of another famine | Ideas

In July 2011, the United Nations announced the famine in Somalia, which had caused widespread controversy. The proclamation was issued during the holy month of Ramadan, which strengthened the Islamic state and contributed to a major financial effort.

Although the UN proclamation has helped to strengthen people and governments around the world, foreign powers have noticed that it has arrived too late, leading to delays in the increase in humanitarian aid. About 258,000 people – mostly women and children – have lost their lives because of globalization.

At the end of 2016, warnings of another possible famine were issued, raising alarm bells in donor agencies. The tragic memories of 2011 were new, which contributed to the initial fundraising compared to 2011, though not immediately, as about 45,000 people died.

In view of these traumatic experiences, we are now writing a warning about a possible new famine. Based on our observations, public reports and discussions between our networks – in Somalia and other countries – we have received ample evidence that a large portion of the Somali population is facing a serious food crisis. We are deeply concerned that the humanitarian response process will be delayed, which could lead to the death of many Somalis again.

Results for 2011

In 2012-13, we conducted a study on the 2011 famine, which confirmed that the UN declaration of famine was delayed. The famine may have begun in March or April of that year and was triggered by a number of factors, including a drought, rising global food prices, and poor crop yields.

There was also politics at play: at the time, the militant group, al-Shabab, was embroiled in controversy with the Somali-born government and its international allies. His appointment as a terrorist group reduces his chances of helping Westerners in areas under his control.

Today, as in 2011, the rains came twice as often as the crop failed to produce good crops. In addition, Somalia has been shaken by political instability and conflict, with foreign countries being affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, which could reduce humanitarian responses and reduce access to and distribution of funds.

We are already looking at the first signs of a possible famine in terms of human capital and migration. In our study, we documented that prior to the 2011 famine, businesses and religious leaders, in Somalia and Kenya, worked hard to raise funds and send aid to those in need. Mosques had become the source of foreign exchange.

Downstairs, families had sent children and the elderly to towns where help was readily available as boys and men often came with pets to try to care for them. When people did not have the means to do so, they traveled for several days to Ethiopia and Kenya for help. Many were killed during those journeys.

Today we see the same system reappear. Somalis at home and abroad have already responded to a growing crisis. The acute drought seems to be in the area known as the Mandera Triangle, where Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya meet. But there are also areas that are suffering, including both the Somali and Kenyan borders, as well as areas that grow crops in the Southwest State.

Aydrus Daar, head of the Kenyan-Somali organization, Wasda, which works on the Somali-Kenya border, told us that the cattle had already run out and that the source of income, especially for water and food, was between Somali businesses and foreign regions. from these areas started about five or six months ago. He confirmed that the seasonal rainfall is Gu, which usually falls from April to June. Deyr rain, which falls from October to December, has also now failed.

The Daar NGO has received a small and recent support from other international organizations due to the drought. He said he had not seen anything like this for 30 to 40 years, with wild animals entering people’s homes in search of water.

North of Jubbaland, Paul Healy, the head of the Irish NGO Trócaire, who provides medical care in the area, told us that many people were coming to towns from rural areas in difficult areas, with women and children dying along the way. , before arriving at the hospital.

Camel deaths in many parts of Somalia are also reported and are another sign of danger. Camels are extremely resilient in the face of drought; cows, sheep and goats all die before they die.

One of the authors, who recently visited Puntland, in northeastern Somalia, noticed that religious leaders were now encouraging businesses and the government to raise money and help the rural population. Although Puntland is not the epicenter of the drought and is a relatively stable area to respond to, it is also affected by this severe drought.

The friend was so moved by the request of a sheikh from another mosque that he immediately sent money to his relatives on the Somali-Kenyan border where they come from and where they receive more than usual calls from distant relatives. a sure sign of abnormal stress.

In November, a prominent Nairobi religious leader, Sheikh Umal, again called for people to raise funds to help drought-stricken people in Kenya and Somalia. His mosque was a well-known center for revenue and connectivity in 2011.

Serious delay

We cannot be 100 percent sure that there will be a famine in 2022, but there are already alarming signs and we know that because of what is happening in Somalia and abroad, humanitarian response may be too late.

In view of the drought and early reports of food insecurity, it is wise to take immediate action to gather resources, save lives, protect lives and prevent the spread of famine.

Despite the dangers, sending humanitarian aid can now help many people whose condition has already begun and will surely worsen. One of the lessons of the 2011 famine study is that there needs to be a greater focus on hunger prevention.

We recognize that today international and regional politics are very complex and can delay the decisions that have to be made to generate revenue. Globally, the COVID-19 epidemic has posed a serious threat to governments and aid agencies.

Horn of Africa is also facing new instability due to the Sudanese crisis and the Ethiopian civil war. The Somali government and political elites are preoccupied with political disputes and electoral processes that are wasting time and money on civilian activities.

This contributes to a lack of trust in the data, differing views on the most pressing areas, the interests of competing corporations and the lack of reliable (international and local) organizations to work with, making things even more difficult. The political data and information are unfortunately all too much. International organizations, including the United Nations, are tackling these challenges and pressures, reaching out to deserving people.

However, there is no doubt that things have already happened and will only get worse. The long, dry season – Jilaal – has just begun and the next rain is about four months away. Predictions for rain – a Gu – also do not promise. That rain can bring relief, especially for shepherds, but for farmers, their harvest is still six months old. This is the third worst drought in 10 years, which is a clear indication of climate change in the Horn of Africa.

To avoid repeating some of the past mistakes, we need to take positive action now. Along with the efforts of the Somali people abroad, countries need to act urgently. The cost required is small compared to what has already been raised to end the epidemic, but it could go a long way in saving the lives of Somalis.

Preliminary action may also help to set a precedent for hunger prevention, which should be established as a humanitarian approach, especially given the growing climate change in water shortages in Somalia and the Horn of Africa as a whole.

The views expressed in this article are for the benefit of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Al Jazeera.




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