Ban Ki-moon today discussed the need to mobilize international resources to counter famine in the Horn of Africa with Irish rock star Bono, a leader of the multi-partner Campaign ONE, which fights extreme poverty and preventable diseases in the world’s poorest places. In the telephone conversation Mr. Ban thanked the U2 singer for his concern about and work to alleviate the suffering in the region, where the United Nations believe that tens of thousands of people, many of them children under five, have already died and hundreds of thousands face imminent starvation and death, mainly in war-torn Somalia because of drought. Mr. Ban and Bono discussed the need to galvanize fund-raising efforts and to improve access for humanitarian workers to deliver aid, and agreed on the importance of supporting political dialogue in Somalia, where 3.7 million people, nearly half the population, are now directly at risk of famine. Yesterday, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Catherine Bragg told the Security Council the crisis had not yet crested since further deterioration is considered likely due to the very high levels of severe acute malnutrition and under-five mortality together with an expected continued increase in cereal prices, and a below-average rainy season harvest. Whether lost in the fog of the current financial crisis, deferred by other political agendas or clouded by stereotyping and prejudice, the response to Somalia and Horn of Africa’s humanitarian disaster is still lagging. Thhis generation has the advantage of a vast revolution in technology and access to information. Can we though muster a collective response that reflects today’s “Live Aid” and call to action. (See FILM REPORT – “Stairway to Life or … “ - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/stairway-to-life-or/27781 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey




 Facebook – Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect”




 Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX

 Humanitarian Channel – Film Reports: - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/humanitarian 

 Diplomat-Artist Channel – Film Report- diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/diplomat-artist