The United Nations claimed yesterday that the famine in Somalia, which has plagued the country for the past year, is over. Only a few other cases in the last 20 years have been extreme enough to be labeled a "famine," namely Ethiopa's in 1998 and Niger's in 2005.
This international organization first declared a Somalian famine in July, basing its diagnosis on malnutrition, the consequent death rates, and the fact that the country was experiencing its worst drought in over 60 years. The problem was exacerbated by an anti-Western, radical Islamic militant group called al-Shabab, which barred Western aid groups from performing their charitable services and prevented civilians from leaving famine zones.
Nevertheless, the UN helped raise $1 billion for relief and encouraged aid groups to focus their attention on areas controlled by Somalia's weak transitional government and its allies. Heavy rains, which resulted in a satisfactory harvest, also mitigated the desperate situation. Unfortunately, although the famine is over, severe hunger still abounds for approximately two million civilians.
Any thoughts? Should the US government have played a significant role in relief efforts?
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3 comments:
I think the US should have provided if not a lot, at least some aid. Of course we have our own problems to take care of within our country, but providing some aid would not have been that difficult. I feel that we should always aid foreign countries in their time of need. It doesn't have to be a significant amount or anything. I think that any efforts could always help.
I definitely agree with Kirsten. The U.S, especially now, should help those 2 million civilians at least a little. I know that if the US was in need, I'm sure other countries would help us and I think we should do the same for them. I have to say most people who live in the U.S. have enough food to feed a hundred people in Somalia. Why can't we help a little bit? We have enough to share.
As Jeremy mentioned, the issue in Somalia was caused by a severe drought which hit East Africa last year.
As the proverb goes: "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime."
I personally think that the issue of aid in East Africa is more than a matter of pitching in to help in times of crisis. Long-term infrastructure should be developed to prepare for such droughts. We develop levies to prevent flooding, architecture which is safer during earthquakes. Infrastructure is also called for as a solution to the food problems in East Africa.
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