“Death Conspires – Horn of Africa” is title of a recent film report indicating how conflict, drought and escalating food prices are combining to produce the current situation as bad or worse what has been seen in the last several decades. diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/death-conspires-horn-of-africa/27635 Drought: We have warned of what drought was inflicting for several months – (See FILM REPORT – “Kenya Drought” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/kenya-fights-drought/22789 & READ ARTICLE “Worse to Come” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/worse-to-come-cow-herds-starving-to-death-by-ambassador-mo/28806 .) It was not unexpected, but the reaction of major donors has been recklessly passive. Conflict: The self-proclaimed “Islamist” movement Al-Shahab in Somalia waging war and its own indoctrination campaigns has also prevented effective delivery to aid. It has threatened aid workers and proclaimed that there is not a real famine in southern Somalia but only western propaganda. The internationally backed Government of Somalia in Mogadishu has been more forthcoming in recognizing the rapidly rising need, but perhaps too much has been cheered about recent successes on the military front, while not enough mobilization on humanitarian. (See FILM REPORTS – “War Without End – Somalia” diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/war-without-end-somalia/26982 & “Somalia Drought-Dark Side of Moon” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/somalia-drought-dark-side-of-the-moon/25587 ) Now, according to the UN, at least 1,000 new persons a day are coming to what is presumed as a “feeding camp” in Mogadishu. Many more are traveling beyond Somalia’s borders to camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, stricken with their own drought and hunger. Many thousands of others, mostly young children have perished on their way to the camps, and others are too weak to survive upon arrival. (AGAIN FILM REPORT-“Death Conspires” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/death-conspires-horn-of-africa/27635 ) Rapidly Rising Food Prices: Rapidly Rising Food prices are another element of “death’s conspiracy” against Somalia, but again this may have a human factor of speculation driving food beyond the reach of many, and not only in Somalia. (FILM REPORT – diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/food-prices-killing-poor-staggering-middle-classes/24574 “World Bank Food Prices Crisis” diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/food-prices-crisisworld-bank/26289 ; “Billion to Sleep Hungry” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/billion-to-sleep-hungry/24674 UN Pleas: To upload another film report on Somalia’s starving leaves me questioning whether such would verge on exploitation. There are heart wrenching pictures on our platform at Diplomatically Incorrect and on mainstream media. UN officials and agencies are becoming a chorus of pleas for assistance, to their credit. However, still more needs to be done. (Below from UN News Centre July 22, 2011 Statement) UNSG Ban Ki-moon today made an impassioned plea to the international community to mobilize resources to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Somalia, where severe drought has plunged communities in the southern region of the country into famine. From Op-ed published in LA Times: “To save the lives of the people at risk – the vast majority of them women and children – we need approximately $1.6 billion in aid. So far, international donors have given only half that amount. To turn the tide, to offer hope in the name of our common humanity, we must mobilize worldwide. This means everyone. I appeal to all nations – both those who fund our work year-in and year-out, and those who do not traditionally give through the multinational system – to step up to the challenge.” Ban noted that UN agencies will on Monday gather in Rome to coordinate the emergency response for Somalia and raise funds for immediate relief. Mr. Ban also emphasized the need to find ways to deal with vulnerabilities brought on by recurring droughts in the Horn of Africa. “Today’s drought may be the worst in decades. But with the effects of climate change being increasingly felt throughout the world, it will surely not be the last. This means practical measures – drought-resistant seeds, irrigation, rural infrastructure, livestock programmes” – to boost agricultural production, the Secretary-General wrote. He said early warning systems have improved, noting that the current drought was forecast as early as last November. “Looking ahead, we must ensure those warnings are heard in time.” Public Awareness Event: Despite efforts to raise awareness through humanitarian institutions and diplomatic/political channels, the response is slow, on might even question if apathetic among the broader public and countries. That is why we ask do we need another “Live Aid” to appeal to mankind on a less rhetorical and more shared language of culture and celebrity, of music and imagination what can be accomplished working together on behalf of fellow man. – 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 LAST ARTICLE - “When Food Crisis Becomes Famine”- diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/when-food-crisis-becomes-famine-by-ambassador-mo/32441