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The United States says it will send aid to famine-stricken Somalia areas under the control of Al-Shabaab militia, but asked the Al Shabaab to honour their pledge in light of recent reports that Al-Shabaab will allow international humanitarian aid into areas under its control.Capital FM reported on its website that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr Raj Shah told a media conference in Nairobi on Wednesday that President Barack Obama’s administration was ready to test Al Shabaab’s pledge with caution, considering the terrorists group’s refusal to grant humanitarian access to the area since January last years.He said they are determined to test that pledge and would like to see that access expand dramatically and rapidly as they provide food and other programmatic resources in support of devastated by the drought.Capital FM says the move marks a considerable change in policy from Washington after President Obama’s executive order in April 2010 naming Al-Shabaab a terrorist organisation, meaning no US aid could go to areas under its control.Dr Shah did acknowledge the risk of sending aid to a terrorist controlled area citing past incidents of humanitarian convoys being harassed, taxed and food supplies misappropriated saying that they all operate under the same legal restrictions that they want to provide support to those populations in critical need and not to terrorist organizations.The UN on Wednesday declared a famine in two areas of southern Somalia as the region experiences the worst drought in more than half a century.
Oxfam says Somalia famine needs better response from Canada, other countries
NAIROBI (tf.sf) – Oxfam Canada says the United Nations declaration of famine in drought-stricken Somalia should be a wake up call for the world.The food crisis has affected 3.7 million people, almost half of the eastern African country’s population, and mainly those in the south, according to the UN. Tens of thousands of people, mostly children, have died in the country in recent months because of the malnutrition.“We’re hoping that…this is an alarm for people who’ve been sleepwalking through this disaster and underlines the urgency and the severity of the situation and gets them to move to make a commitment,” said Robert Fox, executive director of the aid organization Oxfam Canada.Famine was declared today (July 20) because the level of acute malnutrition is higher than 30 percent among children; there are more than two deaths per 10,000 people every day; and food and other necessities cannot be accessed. The famine declaration covers the southern regions of southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle.Fox said the global community has not responded to the situation with the urgency or level of commitment warranted.“We have been drawing attention to this growing situation for a number of months,” he told the Straight by phone from Ottawa. “There is no excuse for the international community to find ourselves in this situation where literally we’ve reached the point of famine and we continue to be $800 million short of the funding that the UN has indicated we require in order to meet this situation,” he said.“We’re calling on the international community to step up to the plate and make significant commitments immediately and to deliver on those commitments,” he added. “It isn’t enough to put out a press release. We need cheques, we need money, we need food, we need water.”The UN has called on international donors to provide more support to address the crisis in the Horn of Africa. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned the crisis could deepen if there is not enough funding provided for humanitarian work in Somalia, a country plagued by drought and conflict. The UN says its agencies have received only half of the $1.6 billion needed to respond to the food crisis.Fox said the Canadian government responded early to the problems in the Horn of Africa, committing $22 million in 2011. But he hopes the government will commit another $40 million or more in an announcement expected Friday. He said that amount would be in line with what Canada is expected to contribute to such a cause.Fox also urged individual Canadians to donate toward humanitarian efforts.
Source: Straight Talk
MOGADISHU (tf.sf) – A distinguished delegations from United Nations and World Food Programme on Thursday arrived at the seaside Somali capital Mogadishu a day after the declaration in parts of Somalia.
The delegation differently had meetings with the top leaders of Somalia over drought famine related issues and the latest political developments of Somalia.
Lynne Bascoe, UN’s Undersecretary General for political affairs who was leading officials from United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) held a joint press conference in Villa Somalia with the president of Somalia after meeting with nation’s top leaders.Mr. Bascoe said that he discussed with Somali leaders about issues related to drought displaced people and how the UN could respond urgently the drought situation of the horn of African nation.For his part prime minister of Somalia, Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali welcomed the visit of UN delegation to Mogadishu, adding that they informed the facts of Somalia drought situations.On the other hand, Somali prime minister, Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali received high level delegation from World Food Programme WFP in Mogadishu on Thursday.Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme was leading WFP’s delegation. Sheeran and Somali PM held key discussions about the agency to start its aid operations in drought hit areas of the country.Abdurrahman Omar Osman, a spokesman for Somali government confirmed terror free somalia that WFP’s Executive Director Trip to Somalia was to view the agency’s ongoing operations to feed vulnerable and hungry people affected by severe drought and conflict. Sheeran will return to Nairobi, Kenya this evening.
Pree Release:
Japan's $5 million donation to the 'Horn of Africa' for food:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing once more form the Embassy of Japan in Nairobi, Kenya. I had sent another email with several other addresses, but they keep bouncing back.I am therefore very kindly requesting your esteemed institutions of the TFG to disseminate this press release to the various Somali news agencies as soon as possible. Your effort in this will highly be appreciated at the Embassy of Japan-Nairobi.The government of Japan appreciates the good work being done by the TFG administration towards the improvement of the lives of the citizens in all the regions. Your recent advances and progress are commendable.It is line with this realisation that Japan supports your initiatives towards the welfare of the Somali people.Subsequently, we will greatly appreciate your effort in sending out this press release and look forward to an enhanced and fruitful working relationship with you all. Kindly confirm if the message is received and ready for distribution.
Please accept the assurances of my highest cooperation.
Best Regards,
Elseborn Mwangi
Political (Somali matters), UNEP & UN-Habitat Affairs Section,
Embassy of Japan,
P.O Box 60202-00200
Nairobi.
Tel: +254-20-2898000
Fax: +254-20-2898220/120
Norway Boosts Aid to Famine Victims, Seeks Talks With Al-Shabaab
Addis Ababa — Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced that Norway would be sending more aid to famine victims in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, after also telling an Oslo newspaper that he thinks the latest crisis in Africa’s Horn suggests it’s time to start talking with Somalian militia group Al-Shabaab.“Up to now there’s been a policy of no contact with the groups making up the Al-Shabaab militia,” Støre told newspaper Dagsavisen. “I think it’s time to re-evaluate that policy.”Al-Shabaab is widely regarded as an Islamist terrorist group that’s been fighting to overthrow the government in Somalia. Some compare it to the Taliban in Afghanistan, and Støre noted that it now appears to control large areas that are among the worst hit by the famine.Støre called for using the hunger crisis to review the political situation in Somalia. “This is a country that has been one of the world’s foremost examples of a state breakdown,” he said. “We see symptoms of the crisis in the drought and lack of food but the main problem is politics. In some way or another we must find a means of reconciliation.”He’s decided to send one of his state secretaries, Gry Larsen, to the area in the hopes of having talks with responsible politicians. “A new government is being established in Mogadishu,” Støre said. “We want to urge them to put internal conflicts aside and focus on the catastrophe facing the country.”The United Nations announced earlier this week that more than 10 million people in the area lack food. “This is a crisis that’s much bigger than we thought and which hits the entire region,” Støre told Dagsavisen. “This includes neighboring countries that have isolated and invaded Somalia for years.“Norway will be open to support a regional panel with initiatives among the affected countries,” he said, adding that international cooperation on dealing with Somalia hasn’t been good enough.Støre also issued a challenge to the Somalian-Norwegian community in Norway, which is also divided into various factions. The famine in their homeland, he said, should result in more cooperation to serve common interests.Norway will now be sending NOK 263 million (nearly USD 50 million) in aid to the famine areas after boosting the amount by NOK 30 million on Thursday. The money will be funneled through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Thousands of refugees from Somalia are arriving at refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya every day.
Source: Views and News from Norway
via: Abdirahman warsame terror free somalia
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