UN Response SOMALIA, by Ambassador mo

Posted on 06 November 2011 at 10:16

Somalia faces the combined impact of heavy rains, widespread famine and continuing insecurity in the streets. Refugees, ironically after the devastating droughts, are now facing downpours during the current rainy season in parts of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. Combined UN humanitarian agencies are speeding up efforts to provide emergency assistance in refugee camps. Although not by any means resolved, thankfully the situation appears to be improving the following FILM REPORT was issued mid-summer 2011 - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/mobilizing-horn-of-africa-aid/28010 . Greater Access to Food, Safe Water & Shelter: “Since July there has been a significant scale up in response activities as has been described. At least 2.2 million people have benefitted from enhanced access to food, up from 770,000 before July and nearly 1.2 million now have sustained access to safe drinking water, compared to 850,000 at the end of June, with an additional 1.8 million people receiving temporary water provision:” Corinne Momal-Vanian, Director UN Information Service, Geneva. “In Somalia’s capital Mogadishu the rains have flooded the shelters of some 2,800 people in Sigale IDP Camp. In response we are distributing 4,500 assistance kits with plastic sheets, supporting sticks, plastic buckets and soap. More distributions are planned for some of the worst affected IDP Camps there:” Andrej Mahecic, Spokesperson UNHCR. Access to Affected: The rains have also hampered road access and delayed the delivery of emergency food. Among the most vulnerable are children who have been displaced within the country by conflict and hunger. “1.5 million children in southern Somalia are in need of humanitarian assistance, and this includes 450,000 acutely malnourished children including 190,000 of whom, are so severely malnourished that they will die within weeks if they do not get assistance:” Marixie Mercado, Spokesperson UNICEF. (See FILM REPORT –“Somalia Airlift” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/somalia-airlift/28146 ). Cholera & Health: “A cholera epidemic is ongoing in Somalia. During the first two weeks of October, 2,810 cases of AWD with 66 related deaths were reported in the south and central zone. On October 18, a WHO team collected 34 stool samples from Acute Watery Diarrhoea cases in several facilities in Mogadishu. Of all the samples 15 or 44 percent tested positive for Vibrio cholera:” Tarik Jasarevic, Spokesperson World Health Organization. Children Greatest Victims: The very youngest have suffered the most. Death to lack of normal activity for children, from education to opportunity for physical activity is a problem. (See UN Photos Above). Seeding Salvation & Farm Crops for Next Season: In Mogadishu, Humanitarian Coordinator Mark Bowden said that although rains are welcome as they guarantee a harvest in January, but it also brings added concerns. “One of the major challenges of the rainy season is to get seeds into place in the main growing areas. That’s started to happen. In fact, I understand that the main seed distribution has taken place from FAO and that other organizations are still moving on seed distribution. What we need to ensure now is that there are people who will undertake the planting and invest their labor in the situation. But the rains also bring bad news, in that they bring problems in terms of disease. Communicable diseases are increasing. The major risk is malaria, for example, which in the 1992 crisis was the big killer.” Initial Slow Response: Drought and insecurity in Somalia has forced more than 330,000 people to flee the country this year, with the vast majority traveling to neighboring Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen and Djibouti. Unfortunately the security situation to conflict in the primary affected areas has not changed much for the better despite some initial optimism at the UN earlier this year. (See FILM REPORT - “Somalia Getting Better?” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/somalia-getting-better/27603 ). It also becomes more demanding upon humanitarian agencies to continue to focus attention upon the situation and continue to collect necessary resources/funding to distribute assistance. The crisis did not come unexpectedly, (READ - “Political Culpability for Famine” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/political-culpability-for-famine-by-ambassador-mo/34826). The crisis/famine was effectively ignored. (See FILM REPORT - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/stairway-to-life-or/27781 ). Thankfully, after a tardy response the globe with UN agencies addressing critical roles is now responding significantly with greater vigor and effectiveness. Part of this has been a more effective public awareness raising campaign. Antonio Banderas was one of first to highlight the plight. (See FILM REPORT –ANTONIO BANDERAS – Horn of Africa” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/antonio-banderas-horn-of-africa/28123 )Since, others have come forward not to let the sense of urgency fade. (See – FILM REPORT: - “RONALDINO, KAKA, CHRISTINA AGUILERA…” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/ronaldino-kaka-christina-aguilera-world-food-day/28875 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook – Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX More at “Humanitarian Channel” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/humanitarian

UN Response SOMALIA, by Ambassador mo

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