Help us! |
Thieving businessmen and gunmen are undermining international famine relief efforts. Donated food is not even safe once it's given to the hungry refugees in the camps: they're often forced to hand back aid after journalists' photo-ops.
Help us...? |
The Al Shabab militia in the south snatches crops and animals from farms and, according to Human Rights Watch, have told the people to depend on God instead. It has banned about 20 humanitarian organisations as 'infidels', accusing them of pursuing religious or ideological motives. While the Transitional Federal Govt.of Somalia condemns any diversion of food aid, and claims zero tolerance towards corruption or crimes against food aid, the situation continues...
Um, aren't we already...? |
It seems a two-pronged attack on the problem is required:
(1) a complete re-evaluation (at a senior/binding level) of how tariffs hurt third world and struggling countries - with effective solutions found quickly - while simultaneously...
(2) sending a strong armed UN force (with a 'weapons-free' mandate) to protect supplies and workers at every stage of distribution, to ensure corruption reduction and starvation salvation.
Humanitarian disasters on this scale must be handled globally. As I've blogged before, if the UN cannot make a serious difference around the world...then why does it even exist?
The United Nations was created with righteous intent, but it has failed far more often than it has succeeded. It needs to grow a healthy set of balls. Fast!
PS: 26 Aug.2011 - Meanwhile, NZ's promised aid to Somalia hasn't turned up!
PS: 27 Aug.2011 - ...and African nations aren't exactly RUSHING to help Somalia!
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