Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-08-04/humanitarian-crisis-horn-africa
The U.N. estimates more than 12 million people in the Horn of Africa need emergency aid. Drought and famine in Somalia have displaced a quarter of the nation. Families sometimes walk hundreds of miles to reach over-crowded refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. This week the Obama administration eased rules that placed restrictions on U.S. charity groups giving aid to Somalia. Concerns remain that a Somali-based militant group linked to al-Qaida could benefit from relief funds and supplies. But the needs are dire. The U.S. Agency for International Development says 29,000 Somali children have died in the past three months. Diane and her guests will discuss the humanitarian crisis in Somalia and what can be done to help.
Guests
Dr. Rajiv Shah
administrator, USAID.
Ken Menkhaus
professor, political science, Davidson College; specialist on Somalia.
Kristalina Georgieva
EU commissioner responsible for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.
Jeremy Konyndyk
director of policy and advocacy for Mercy Corps.
Comments
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The people of Somalia and surrounding countries need to follow the example of other successful black governments around the world. Create an organization similar to the United Nations where their successes can be consolidated to produce a force for prosperity.
Sure Monte, Then white U.S. could sell arms to black U.N.
I've heard that government forces have prevented aid from getting through. If that is the case, what good is contributing to an NGO if the food can't get to the people who need it? What are good alternatives?
Thanks.
PS - thanks for your ongoing efforts to cull "talking points" from facts, most recently in the debt crisis debate.
Breakdown of civil rule and hunger the same regardless of color, religion, country, or sector.
The only difference is how media covers/ not covers the story(with few exceptions).
And the definitions and semantic loading of chosen wording/ display.
People the same since people(to provide relief here and abroad... or not- whichever most profitable of course- we love IT).
WE count on that. Do you really think the recovered alien technology was simply by your skills? LOL. To err humane- BUT to really foul the world requires smoke technology(electronics stop working when smoke escapes) and a web to ensnare them with(voluntary compliance- we did NOT expect THAT).
The deserter (other one) tried to warn you; You disregarded their message. Now reap the benefit of your numbers(we use a base 7 system where our largest number, of course, ...).
Forgotten the list. You will relearn the lessons. At least until Terra distress beacon silenced and this temporal paradox successfully patched. Resources recycled but always wasted when caught within beta release mistakes.
Apologies to few sentients caught within. Next virtual vacation @temporalandrelativedistancesinspaces will be compensated at your expense as specified by contract and owners agreement for growth(varies by makers mandates).
Semi-Anonymous = Great comment!, I would add that the the guy next door in his infinite wisdom coupled with the expansion of the universe might as well call it quits. With the likelihood of ever contracting ideas to facilitate the equal balance needed for sustainability one might need to evacuate ones brain case.
Please guide us to the NGO's that are on the ground and working in the area so that we can send donations. There was no guarantee that our money reached the people of Ethiopia in the 80's and we want to not make that mistake this time.
US policy in Somalia has been short-sighted and counterproductive. I sight 3 examples:
Shortly after 9/11, the Treasury Department shut down the Al Barakaat money exchange organization claiming links to Al Qaeda. According to the 911 Commission following an investigation by the FBI there were no such links. Shutting down the organization - which was a key part of the Somali financial system - devastated the economy;
In 2004 the Treasury Department shut down a Muslim charity the operated an orphanage housing 2500 boys. The charity plead with the US to keep the orphanage open, offering to transfer funds to a third party to keep it open. The US refused.
The Islamic Courts arose several years ago as a counterbalance to warlords. Warlords exploited the Islamic nature of the organization to allege links to al Qaeda. The US reaction led eventually to an invasion of Somalia by Ethiopia. The Islamic Courts were vanquished. An opportunity for order was missed. Al Shabab was created.
Comments
Asking about birth control is the wrong question. Population growth is always higher in underdeveloped countries than in the developed world. This is because: 1) women know that some of their children will die, so they bear more of them; 2) parents need to children to work to support the family and 3) there is no social security system and parents need children to take care of them when they are old.
Sharon Murphy
Professor of POlitical Science
Nazareth College of Rochester (NY)
This is the nation that dragged our dead soldiers through the streets of Mogadishu almost twenty years ago. Maybe this is payback time. Ever heard of Divine Retiribution? Karma perhaps?
I don't agree with helping Samolia. I have been to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa in a military capacity. Al Shabah dominates the area and will simply steal the food or use it to gain political advantage. We don't want or need another Black Hawk Down scenario by sending US military or other troops.
If a person wants to give that is their right to do so. I will urge my friends and family not too. If your so inclined to demand aide you should go to the Horn of Africa yourself or allow your sons or daughters to go this region and provide the aide. You should not expect others people to solve the problem if your not willing to do so yourself.
Aide workers are a father, mother, son, or daughter to someone.
Need a credible alternative?? Horn Relief has been working in Somalia for over 20 years. 90% of funds go to direct support. The remaining 10% is for operations. Please donate at www.hornrelief.org.
$25 will feed a family for 1 week
$100 will feed a family for 1 month
$150 will provide food & basic needs for a family for 1 month
$300 will provide food & basic needs for a family for 2 months
Horn Relief and its Founder, Fatima Jibrell, have won the 2002 Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa and the 2008 National Geographic Society/Buffett Foundation Leadership for Conservation Award.
There are lesser known heroes and organizations who continue to defy the odds but the current stats are staggering and we need your help. www.hornrelief.org
The desertification and overgrazing over several centuries has had both the effect of changing the local weather conditions and stripping the land of its ability to retain water and grow vegetation. Just as in my state of Arizona which has been overgrazed and desertified primarily by 2 centuries of exploitation by the white man, Africa is being decimated by the same bad grazing, mining and foresting practices. These lands are supporting populations which assure constant stress on resources and borderline ability to survive periodic droughts. Politics may play a role in this famine, but the underlying causes are overpopulation and human destruction of the land.
To those of you asking about organizations that are successfully helping those affected by the famine, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has already distributed over 15,000 emergency assistance packages for some 90,000 people in Mogadishu and southern Somalia since the declaration of famine in two regions on July 20. An additional 13,000 aid packs for 78,000 people are slated to be handed out in the next 10 days.
Even with this progress, the existing need is so overwhelming, with 1,300 people per day streaming into our already overcrowded camps, that we are requesting those who are able to make a donation to help those in need.
Please visit www.UNRefugees.org/Mogadishu or connect with us on Facebook to learn more.
I agree-I will use any money I can spare to alleviate hunger and suffering in my country of the United States. Yes, there are hungry and homeless in the richest country in the world and it will only get worse as the government continues to ignore the will of the people and refuses to tax the richest individuals and corporations.
Of course, if the rich feel they must give away food and money abroad, let them do so using their personal wealth, not with government funds.
Birth control is the ONLY question we should be discussing. 1) There is zero evidence that women have more children because they know some will die, 2) working children is a myth, the starving babies you see are too young and weak to be working, 3) there is no such thing as old age in Kenya, Somalia, etc. because the people are dying of starvation, war, or AIDS before they get beyond 40 years old.
Unfortunately, education is probably not the answer because they can't build schools fast enough to accommodate their birth rate.