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Somalia is worst humanitarian crisis, UN official
Written by: Emma Batha
An African Union peacekeeper guards Mogadishu port. REUTERS/Ismael Abdi
Somalia is the world's most urgent humanitarian crisis - worse even than Darfur, a senior U.N. refugee official said this week. More than 1 million people have been uprooted from their homes in Somalia, which is convulsed in fighting between Islamist insurgents, assorted warlords and allied Somali-Ethiopian troops. The violence makes it very difficult to provide aid, as underlined by a bomb attack on Monday that killed three aid workers. "I've never seen anything like Somalia before," said Guillermo Bettocchi, country representative for the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR. "The situation is very severe. It is the most pressing humanitarian emergency in the world today - even worse than Darfur." Although fighting in western Sudan's Darfur region has uprooted an estimated 2.5 million people, levels of malnutrition in Somalia are higher and access to aid more difficult, Bettocchi said. Fifteen percent of the population suffers acute malnutrition and the rate has been constant for years. Health services are very limited and sanitation, water and shelters are poor. Delivering aid to people in Somalia is three times more expensive than in other crises, said Bettocchi, who has spent 19 years working on refugee emergencies throughout the world. Poor security means supplies have to be flown in to Mogadishu and transported to other parts of the country in armoured vehicles with armed escorts. TRAPPED The aid workers who died this week were with Medecins Sans Frontieres. They were killed by a roadside bomb in the southern port town of Kismayu, 500 km (300 miles) south of Mogadishu. "This is just another example of the way the insurgents are trying to destabilise the whole country," Bettocchi said. "Those who will suffer the consequences are the people." He said Kismayu was already a no-go area for U.N. and many other international agencies and the attack meant the U.N. security department would be even more reluctant now to allow missions in the area. UNHCR says 700,000 people fled fighting in Mogadishu last year, but Bettocchi said those still in the city had not remained out of choice. "Those who have stayed are those who cannot move. They are the most vulnerable - the handicapped, the elderly or those who cannot afford to pay a donkey cart," said Bettocchi, who experienced the violence first-hand when he was caught up in a rocket and mortar attack on Mogadishu airport in 2006. Mogadishu is so dangerous that Bettocchi runs UNHCR projects "by remote control" from neighbouring Kenya. But the political and ethnic violence that erupted there last month has made operations more difficult. Flights have been cancelled, transportation of goods from the Kenyan port Mombasa has been affected and the price of fuel has gone up. TIRED OF CONFLICT Bettocchi called on the international community to put more pressure on all the parties behind the fighting in Somalia to find a political solution. He said the U.N. secretary-general's special envoy to Somalia had called on Saudi Arabia to play an active role in mediating in the conflict on the grounds it might have some clout with the insurgents. Islamist militia calling themselves the Islamic Courts Council temporarily wrested control of the capital and other parts of Somalia in 2006. When they first emerged, Bettocchi said they attracted sympathy from Somali people who thought they would provide a way out of the anarchy and violence created by the warlords. But Bettocchi said they has lost support, not least when they banned TV broadcasts of the World Cup - a move that left many Somalis wondering what they were getting themselves into. "Somali people are tired of conflict, are tired of suffering and would like to see peace and security established," he said. Bettocchi said any political dialogue would require the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops but that security needed to be improved before they could pull out. The African Union wants to boost its peacekeeping presence to 8,000 but has struggled to get African nations to contribute soldiers.
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10 responses to “Somalia is worst humanitarian crisis, UN official”
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31 Jan 2008 12:10:53 GMT
Aid is very sorce of Somali`s problem.Aid has caused this war to take so long,as it provides lifeline&energy for the fighters&infact never beneffits the hungry people.I think its time aid&Aid workers be responsible for their actions¬ to cry when they become target,they desreved it.
31 Jan 2008 12:26:10 GMT
somalis are peace loving when justice and dialogue is in place. Ethiopians and their somali warlords should be kept at bay and you will have peace and prosperity in the blue nation.
31 Jan 2008 15:50:15 GMT
It is heartbreaking to see so much suffering and misery inflicted on so many innocent Somali people. However, whatâs more tragic is the fact that the international community, specially Arab and Islamic countries are turning blind eyes on the plight of the Somali people. What happened to Muslim and Arab solidarity? I wonder??
Mukhtar Ainashe Washington, DC. United States www.ainashe.net04 Feb 2008 12:26:16 GMT
They say in Muslim colloquals,"god helps those who help themselves". We must help each other as Somalis and stop this senseless conflict. Long term projects are a steps toward development but stability and sustainable peace are prerequisite for investment.
Bile04 Feb 2008 12:31:21 GMT
I feel sad what happend in Somali,This is a power strugle between Islamic court and Eithopian Troops.between Habargeder and Agal clans. I belive United nation can do things in Somali in Peace.Somali people can sit dowen and sorting out thier differences for got Arab world or Usa or Un. Please Have look Somaliland they deserve what dane somalilanders.my brothers south stop the war and Thinks the childers, Mothers, Fathers killing every day for nothing and I do pray Allah we help for Somali People and I look forward in Peace and future properity.
04 Feb 2008 12:36:40 GMT
Somalia is as bad as it's been said on this artcle. But this phenomena (security crises) is not only praviling in Somalia. However, donor countries must understand giving a batch of sacks of rice would not solve the Somali problem,because it's not created by nature. It is a business of global hegemony led perpetrayed by the so called " international community". A year and half ago, somalia was about to come to the terms by its self.And this situation may have been avoided. I wonder whether the UN learns its mistakes toward Somalia?
04 Feb 2008 12:46:21 GMT
As a Somali-American, it saddens me to hear people like Osman and ali Mustafa . They are the very reason we are where we at in Somalia. They are the crowd blame anyone , but ourselves. We Somalis are responsible all the destruction, mayhem , the killing fields of our fellow countrymen. And as soon as we accept the fact , then we can start the healing process.
Ethiopia is not to blame, nor is the Somali Federal Government. They are the only entities that is taking tangible steps to remedy the endless war in Somalia. I and millions of Somalis ask where are the Arabs who fuel and continue to support the terrorists in Somalia? Where are others who continue to criticize those who dare to do something about Somalia's plight? Most Somali people are driven by and motivated by tribalism rather than patriotism. It saddens me to hear Somalis like Ali Mustafa who dare to criticize the Aid workers who are doing a great job of feeding poor Somalis who otherwise will go hungry. How dare you? I and millions of Somalis would like to express our sincere and profound sadness to those Aid workers families (MSF workers) who died in Kismayo . Please know that millions of Somalis are mourning with you at this difficult time!! Somalis are very grateful people and we will never forget those who came to our aid at this difficult period of Somalia's history. The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia is not the problem. There is saying in Somalia which goes like " Any Government is better than no Government at all". I am saying no to terrorism, no to Al-qaida in Somalia and that's the only alternative offered by the opposition that are fighting the TFG in Somalia. I say no, no to be held as hostage by warlords and terrorists. Somalis will not go back to the days of being HOSTAGE to selfish tribes who held Somalia as hostage for the past 18 years.04 Feb 2008 12:48:25 GMT
As a Somali-American, it saddens me to hear people like Osman and ali Mustafa . They are the very reason we are where we at in Somalia. They are the crowd blame anyone , but ourselves. We Somalis are responsible all the destruction, mayhem , the killing fields of our fellow countrymen. And as soon as we accept the fact , then we can start the healing process.
Ethiopia is not to blame, nor is the Somali Federal Government. They are the only entities that is taking tangible steps to remedy the endless war in Somalia. I and millions of Somalis ask where are the Arabs who fuel and continue to support the terrorists in Somalia? Where are others who continue to criticize those who dare to do something about Somalia's plight? Most Somali people are driven by and motivated by tribalism rather than patriotism. It saddens me to hear Somalis like Ali Mustafa who dare to criticize the Aid workers who are doing a great job of feeding poor Somalis who otherwise will go hungry. How dare you? I and millions of Somalis would like to express our sincere and profound sadness to those Aid workers families (MSF workers) who died in Kismayo . Please know that millions of Somalis are mourning with you at this difficult time!! Somalis are very grateful people and we will never forget those who came to our aid at this difficult period of Somalia's history. The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia is not the problem. There is saying in Somalia which goes like " Any Government is better than no Government at all". I am saying no to terrorism, no to Al-qaida in Somalia and that's the only alternative offered by the opposition that are fighting the TFG in Somalia. I say no, no to be held as hostage by warlords and terrorists. Somalis will not go back to the days of being HOSTAGE to selfish tribes who held Somalia as hostage for the past 18 years.07 Feb 2008 10:56:04 GMT
Yes Somalia is a failed state, Failed leadership and failed society, Over 10 years Somalis never got peace and proepserity, it was not an external affair but a very local one, neibour against another Neighbor. Now that Ethiopians are in to help the transional government the entire failure of Somalia is attributed to this just cause and the transitional government. How will a Somali learn from its own daily failures? most of the young somalis today do not know how peace feels since they are born during war time? how could one bring peace in the sociaty when the whole clan and sub clan issues dominate every discussion from elders religious meetings to tea shops? So many peace mediations have taken place in dozen cities in America, europe africa and middle east. But the children the the women keep suffering for what they never contributed a drop. Somalia will get peace only if they all somalis leave somalia for school and slavery abroad for years and see how others are living.
26 Feb 2008 09:50:37 GMT
I am so sorry for all that is going on in your country. Please let me know of how I can help.