Famine, Among The Masses
Tim Williams
July 15, 2011
The most malignant scourge of mankind still plagues humanity. Whether it is brought on by war, drought, famine, or disease mankind continues to wallow in self destructive behavior all over the globe. It is no more apparent that after 20 years of anarchy in Somalia where whole populations have continued to suffer from the most despicable acts of horror and savagery has left a nation so ravaged that the forces of nature only continues the onslaught of misery for so many millions of people. The ruthlessness of power hungry militants has plagued this nation for years forcing millions to flee. Somalia, who has not had a stable government since 1991 when Siad Barre was over thrown has become a tempest of wonton devastation. What followed has been over 20 years of constant fighting among rival so called warlords. So intense this infighting has become this nation has succumbed to the lowest common denominator of human existence that not even the United States or the United Nations has been successful in any attempt at intervening with humanitarian relief.
What impact has 20 years of war and instability had on Somalia and its people? With current conditions today has only been greatly accentuated by the horrific drought and food shortages that have been continuing for far too long. With the savage carnage of a population who always are the victims of this begetting violence has only left a nation so impoverished. The only time within the past two decades that their has been some stability is when the Union Of Islamic Courts gained control of Mogadishu in 2006. When the Islamic Courts took over only further pushed Ethiopia to rush in and try to force the Islamic's out. Supported by the United States only encouraged more violence and instability through the region. Inadvertently the United States in their zeal to eradicate al-Qaeda militants managed to only make matters worse in Somalia. So that today Somalia continues to be one of the most unstable and violent of countries.
All attempts at promoting a unification of so many factions has proved most futile. What ever commerce their has been has long since been replaced by the barbaric acts of piracy that has now prevailed. A source of unheard of wealth coming from the heinous acts of despicable terror on unsuspecting mariners continues to supply all those who blatantly ignore the sanctity of life. When there remains almost non-existent sources of economic activity within a country lawlessness prevails. Where their is no rule of law anarchy thrives as such is the case in Somalia.
To get a better picture of the acute humanitarian and economic crisis that has plagued not only Somalia but all the other countries in that part of the world is to understand how a country became so destitute. Somalia is the one country that has been in crisis mode for over 20 years. Not only has and is lacking a central government, civil unrest among warring factions continues to run rampant creating mayhem and terror along the way. As a result of all this upheaval has been millions of families are being displaced. With drought conditions now plaguing the region continues to ravage a most destitute country. Poverty as a result of all the ongoing insecurity within has affected over 3/4 of the 9 million that still remain in Somalia. Of the total population less than 20% are literate and of this percentage only about 13% are women. In the past three months an estimated 60,000 people are seeking refuge in neighboring countries in escaping the horrific conditions due to the extreme drought and violence. Adding to all this misery are what schools there were are now closed as well as other economic entities due to the fact that whole populations are fleeing because of the drought conditions.
Without international help the plight of Somalia will undoubtedly spread like the drought conditions to other parts of Africa and eventually Asia as well. Drought conditions have already spread and the effects are being felt all through-out the eastern portions of Africa. The ongoing carnage that has manifested into a national catastrophe remains the most singular concern through-out the region. Creating more animosity among nations that would be willing to engage in support and relief measures are thrown back and openly denied access or worse attacked in the process. As long as their remains such blatant disregard for the sanctity of life Somalia will always be a hotbed of instability. A country run by terror and oppression in controlling the fate of millions. To all those who stand in the way or those who try to grab more wealth and power seal the fate of an already impoverished nation.
The Somali people need international help now more than ever. The effectiveness of the United Nations will surely be put to the test in convincing the international community to step up to the plate, sort of speaking, in giving unilateral support directly to the people of Somalia. If we fail in this endeavor the likely hood of the total effectiveness of the United Nations to intervene in alleviating any natural or man induced calamity is greatly reduced. When that happens where ever any crisis arises all of humanity will suffer. Places like Somalia will continue to slip into a deepening crisis creating more of the world's chronic catastrophe's.
Of all the tragic events that have unfolded in a most desolate and impoverished part of the world nations that are much better off have to find a common denominator that will effectively unify those entities that have divided a nation. An obligation, yes, in part because without intervention like a very virile disease the situations and circumstances becomes so contagious it spreads like wildfire and will engulf entire populations. With the conditions already in Somalia deteriorating it becomes more paramount that action is critical. Least we forget it is the Somali people themselves that bare the brunt of this human catastrophe. The United Nations with the combined energies of the Members of the Security Council must commit to building a lasting peace in Somalia.
The United Nations has already launched a five year development plan for Somalia called the United Nations Assistance Strategy for Somalia (UNSAS). The percise purpose of the UNSAS is to set out the humanitarian, recovery and development objectives of the UN in Somalia for the next five years. The ultimate aim of the UNSAS is to increase availability of essential social services, provide livelihood opportunities and build Government institutions that are able to provide security and justice for all Somali people. This will not only provide Somalia with the security and stability that is so elusive but will also aid directly to the stability and security of all the other nations in that part of the world.
What impact has 20 years of war and instability had on Somalia and its people? With current conditions today has only been greatly accentuated by the horrific drought and food shortages that have been continuing for far too long. With the savage carnage of a population who always are the victims of this begetting violence has only left a nation so impoverished. The only time within the past two decades that their has been some stability is when the Union Of Islamic Courts gained control of Mogadishu in 2006. When the Islamic Courts took over only further pushed Ethiopia to rush in and try to force the Islamic's out. Supported by the United States only encouraged more violence and instability through the region. Inadvertently the United States in their zeal to eradicate al-Qaeda militants managed to only make matters worse in Somalia. So that today Somalia continues to be one of the most unstable and violent of countries.
All attempts at promoting a unification of so many factions has proved most futile. What ever commerce their has been has long since been replaced by the barbaric acts of piracy that has now prevailed. A source of unheard of wealth coming from the heinous acts of despicable terror on unsuspecting mariners continues to supply all those who blatantly ignore the sanctity of life. When there remains almost non-existent sources of economic activity within a country lawlessness prevails. Where their is no rule of law anarchy thrives as such is the case in Somalia.
To get a better picture of the acute humanitarian and economic crisis that has plagued not only Somalia but all the other countries in that part of the world is to understand how a country became so destitute. Somalia is the one country that has been in crisis mode for over 20 years. Not only has and is lacking a central government, civil unrest among warring factions continues to run rampant creating mayhem and terror along the way. As a result of all this upheaval has been millions of families are being displaced. With drought conditions now plaguing the region continues to ravage a most destitute country. Poverty as a result of all the ongoing insecurity within has affected over 3/4 of the 9 million that still remain in Somalia. Of the total population less than 20% are literate and of this percentage only about 13% are women. In the past three months an estimated 60,000 people are seeking refuge in neighboring countries in escaping the horrific conditions due to the extreme drought and violence. Adding to all this misery are what schools there were are now closed as well as other economic entities due to the fact that whole populations are fleeing because of the drought conditions.
Without international help the plight of Somalia will undoubtedly spread like the drought conditions to other parts of Africa and eventually Asia as well. Drought conditions have already spread and the effects are being felt all through-out the eastern portions of Africa. The ongoing carnage that has manifested into a national catastrophe remains the most singular concern through-out the region. Creating more animosity among nations that would be willing to engage in support and relief measures are thrown back and openly denied access or worse attacked in the process. As long as their remains such blatant disregard for the sanctity of life Somalia will always be a hotbed of instability. A country run by terror and oppression in controlling the fate of millions. To all those who stand in the way or those who try to grab more wealth and power seal the fate of an already impoverished nation.
The Somali people need international help now more than ever. The effectiveness of the United Nations will surely be put to the test in convincing the international community to step up to the plate, sort of speaking, in giving unilateral support directly to the people of Somalia. If we fail in this endeavor the likely hood of the total effectiveness of the United Nations to intervene in alleviating any natural or man induced calamity is greatly reduced. When that happens where ever any crisis arises all of humanity will suffer. Places like Somalia will continue to slip into a deepening crisis creating more of the world's chronic catastrophe's.
Of all the tragic events that have unfolded in a most desolate and impoverished part of the world nations that are much better off have to find a common denominator that will effectively unify those entities that have divided a nation. An obligation, yes, in part because without intervention like a very virile disease the situations and circumstances becomes so contagious it spreads like wildfire and will engulf entire populations. With the conditions already in Somalia deteriorating it becomes more paramount that action is critical. Least we forget it is the Somali people themselves that bare the brunt of this human catastrophe. The United Nations with the combined energies of the Members of the Security Council must commit to building a lasting peace in Somalia.
The United Nations has already launched a five year development plan for Somalia called the United Nations Assistance Strategy for Somalia (UNSAS). The percise purpose of the UNSAS is to set out the humanitarian, recovery and development objectives of the UN in Somalia for the next five years. The ultimate aim of the UNSAS is to increase availability of essential social services, provide livelihood opportunities and build Government institutions that are able to provide security and justice for all Somali people. This will not only provide Somalia with the security and stability that is so elusive but will also aid directly to the stability and security of all the other nations in that part of the world.
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