Sunday, October 19, 2008

What are they doing and what can we do?

As you know, Somalia has been continuously making attempts to rebuild a government. After failing several times, Somalia's latest attempt has been with the transitional government (TFI). As for the individuals of Somalia, they have absolutely no say in what is going on. Their only plan is to escape the dangerous country as fast as possible while taking the chance that they'll die on the way out (we have seen this in Yemen recently as well as in Kenya). As a result of such an obvious problem, UN agencies and nongovernmental organizations seem to be helping where they can.

UN agencies have actually been aware of many of Somalia's problems for a while now. In April of 1992 the Security Council had founded UNOSOM I, whose job was to watch the status of Mogadishu, as well as to protect and provide security for UN personnel. They also supplied equipment and food, bringing them to seaports and airports in Mogadishu. Soon after, UNOSOM expanded to provide protection and supplies to all of Somalia. Eventually in December (1992) Somalia's situation got worse, and so a Unified Task Force (UNITAF) was created in order to further provide safety for materials being delivered for assistance to Somalia. Overall, the two UN agencies worked together to deliver supplies and control major population centers in Somalia. In 1993, UNOSOM II was established to continue support and to help establish peace, but as instability grew and disagreements between countries established they were forced to pull out in 1995. The United Nations Political Office (UNPOS) was established in its place, more specifically to deal with peace among Somalia leaders and the country itself. The UN Security Council has also been making decisions on when it is necessary to get directly involved in the war/attacks. The agencies continue to reveal periodic updates of Somalia's status. Most recently (February of 2007) the UN Security Council organized for African Union peacekeepers to try to create some sort of control in Somalia. In March, the AU peacekeepers arrived in Mogadishu despite the unavoidable war. Unfortunately though, there is much controversy over help offered by UN agencies. In July 2008, Osman Ali Ahmed, head of the UN Development Programme in Somalia (another agency specific for increasing peace and development), was killed in Mogadishu by gunsmen. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and more are also all involved in providing food, security, water supply, sanitation, and even education in Somalia.

Nongovernmental organizations are also a huge part of helping in this poverty crisis. Save the Children is one of many organizations that give everyday people the opportunity to sponsor a child and/or donate money to families in Somalia. In December of 2006, Save the Children helped by supplying over 42 tons of mosquito nets, blankets, water containers, and plastic sheets used for temporary shelter. Other NGOs include the Humanitarian Action for Relief and Development Organization (HARDO), Africa Educational Trust (AET), World Vision, Somalia European Committee for Agricultural Training (CEFA), and Women and Child Care Organization (WOCCA)--all of which are looking out for Somalia and are specifically advocating awareness for its devastating humanitarian crisis. It's important that everyday people contribute as well. We can do this by supporting organizations in their quest to find a solution with donations and by sponsoring children. One of the biggest, most helpful things that we can do is to make others aware of the situation. The more people that know, the more help Somalia can get. It's time to think about what's really important-- those new shoes or a person's life?



Sources

"Country Profile: Somalia." BBC NEWS. 18 June 2008. 23 Sept. 2008http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1072592.stm.

"Statement by 52 non-governmental organizations working in Somalia on the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis." Oxfam International. 7 Oct. 2008. 19 Oct. 2008 http://http//www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressrelease/2008-10-07/somalia-deteriorating-humanitarian-crisis.

"United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)." UN Somalia. 19 Oct. 2008. 19 Oct. 2008 http://http//www.un-somalia.org/un_somalia/index.asp.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

An answer to your comments: Perspectives

Thanks so much for those of you who have commented my posts! I really appreciate it and value your opinion. I have taken into account some of the changes you have suggested and found them very helpful. One of the comments that you guys left brought up an extremely good point! Especially in issues such as this one, it is important to consider the different views of the people (specifically Somali people, Ethiopian people, and even Americans). In one of my previous posts I shared one American's point of view on the topic. He stated that in his opinion, Ethiopia should not have gotten involved with Somalia because he feared that Somalia would become Ethiopia's Iraq. Now, I would really just like to focus a little on the perspectives of the Somali people and the Ethiopian people; I'm leaving the American perspective up to you. Comment my blog and let me know how you feel about the situation!

As for Ethiopia's people, I think it is most important to recognize what's actually going on in Ethiopia. Remember that this country is involved with Somalia, trying to help them put back a government. Now let's take a look at Ethiopia. I found an article in today's news headlines talking about the dangerous conditions that Ethiopians are facing. At this time the country is in a drought that is supposedly not being taken seriously. 4.6 million people are officially counted as starving in Ethiopia, but the article says that some agencies fear the real number could be around 8 million people (20% of Ethiopians). However, Ethiopia seems to be a country of many that is not openly accepting help because they hate the idea that they would need it (even though they clearly do). And Prime Minister Meles Zenawi continues to say that the situation is manageable at this time, though it seems that physical observations of the situation do not agree. My point for telling you this is that basically, a country greatly in need of help is "helping" (in a way) another country that is greatly in need of help. This doesn't seem very reasonable, and so I'm guessing that people from both countries aren't liking what's going on. The civilians, as in any other war, are being put in danger and often killed for no reason.

Honestly, what this comes down to is a question of how we can help as outsiders to the situation. How can we help? I'll be researching and will let you know as soon as possible. And please, if you are aware of any active programs for this cause, let me know.




Source:

Plaut, Martin. "Ethiopian need 'under-estimated'" BBC news. 12 Oct. 2008. 12 Oct. 2008 http://http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7665826.stm.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

POVERTY IN SOMALIA

Now that I've told you just a little bit about what's going on in Somalia and it's unending lack of peace (previous post), I'd like to take a little while to focus on the poverty in this country as well as what it's citizens are resorting to as a result. I found a video on BBC that not only explains more about the AU peacekeepers currently present in Somalia, but if you take a look in the background of the video you can see several destroyed buildings and a family living in what wouldn't normally be recognized as a home. In fact, the article that I found the video in refers to Mogadishu, Somalia as "ghost city" because the city has been so wiped out with the war. I've added it to my links on the side bar of this page, but here it is again: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7651204.stm. Imagine what it would be like to live there, let alone step foot in such a place.
While countries like the United States have highly developed technology, a consistent government, and have undergone industrialization, countries like Somalia are barely meeting their basic needs for survival. Some of the biggest problems and results of poverty in Somalia include a failing economy and displacement.

Somalia is highly lacking in resources and therefore greatly depends on agriculture for it's economy to flourish. However this is extremely hard to maintain as a result of natural disasters such as flooding and droughts. In 2006 floods destroyed parts of central and southern Somalia resulting in a dangerous shortage of food supplies, clean water, and sanitation. In addition to agriculture, Somalia's economy also depends on livestock for not only food, but income as well. Unfortunately, a constant spread of disease to many of the animals has become a hindrance, causing income to decrease. Many times, the animals themselves may even cause problems such as degradation of the land. As a result of an evident lack of resources, there is tons of competition even over just water.

Perhaps displacement is an even greater issue, leaving families without a home and no where to go. Some stronger groups of people are taking over land and forcing others to leave. Well over 370,000 to 400,000 people are estimated to be victims of displacement in Somalia. This has increased rape and abuse of women. (Women have a particularly low status in Somalia and therefore are also ignored in many situations. Nearly 45 woman die a day from pregnancy and giving birth in Somalia.) As you know, Ethiopia has had an extensive impact on Somalia, and so it is also important to consider how the war going on in Somalia has caused people to lose their homes. Displacement has been an even further cause of the strain on resources as a result of competition as well.
What's so sad is that because of these conditions people are trying to escape Somalia as fast as possible, and this is only causing more unnecessary deaths. If you happen to look into the news every so often (or even for a current events quiz at school) you may have noticed the most recent news on Somalia. Thousands are fleeing across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape the danger and many are not making it. (A picture of Yemen in relation to Somalia is shown in the left hand column of this page as well as a picture of a group of Somali people in a boat while fleeing.) 32,000 people are reported to have made this escape, and of those people, 365 are missing. Recently a boat of migrants were forced off a boat about three miles from the coast. Forty seven people made it to Yemen's shore, but unfortunately hundreds are still missing and five bodies have supposedly been buried by authorities.

The difference between so many other countries and Somalia is the war that it is currently facing. The war is obviously negatively affecting Somalia, but because of it there are so many changes in the country's status. I will keep you posted, but remember that I'd love to hear what you have to say or know about the topic as well. Please comment.



Sources:
"Migrants 'feared dead' off Yemen." BBC news. 10 Oct. 2008. 11 Oct. 2008 http://http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7663318.stm.

"Rural Poverty in Somalia." Rural Poverty Portal. 26 July 2007. 23 Sept. 2008 http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/english/regions/africa/som/index.htm.

"SOMALIA: IDPs living in substandard conditions - UN official." IRIN News. 30 May 2006. 24 Sept. 2008 http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=59167.

"Somalian 'ghost city' wracked by war." BBC News. 8 Oct. 2008. 20 Oct. 2008 http://http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7651776.stm.

Spindler, WIlliam. "Somalia: Inter-agency UN team finds displaced living in extremely harsh conditions." The UN Refugee Agency. 6 Nov. 2007. 24 Sept. 2008 http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/473048cb4.html.

History: Where did Somalia's poverty start? Why did Ethiopia invade Somalia? How is this affecting Somalia?

For starters, I'm sure many of you have noticed that Somalia is in the headlines every so often. Somalia is a country located at the border of East Africa, and next to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. There are constant problems in this poverty filled country, especially since 1991 when President Siad Barre was overthrown, causing Somalia to lose it's central government.
Going back a little further, Somalia was created in 1960 when a former British protectorate and an Italian colony merged, and ever since there have been issues involving territorial claims by counties such as Ethiopia and Kenya. In addition, deadly droughts between 1974 and 1975 have held back Somalia even further from developing as a country. So, as you can see, the conditions that are present in Somalia today have been the case for a while. However, the many disagreements between bordering countries as well as war-components have been some of the bigger causes of poverty in Somalia.
In 2006 Ethiopia decided to invade its neighboring country, Somalia. Why? Well there are many components to take into account. First of all, Somalia had been in progress of developing what was called a "transitional government" also known as Transitional Federal Institutions, or TFI. For most of 2006, this government was supported internationally, including support by Ethiopian forces. However, the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), a group of Islamic fundamentalists, did not share the same views as Ethiopia and therefore created controversy. The UIC was not the most conventional but for the most part had Somalia's support. And when U.S. government agencies such as the CIA got involved to try to stop them for a number of reasons, Somali people supported them all the more.

During the summer of 2006, the UIC captured Mogadishu, Somalia's capital. At this point Somalia's transitional government headquarters are planted in Baidoa, an inland city. These headquarters are also protected by Ethiopian troops. Unfortunately though, UIC forces also decided to invade Baidoa. Eventually, UIC forces ended up in a quarrel with Ethiopian forces and more conflict resulted. After a troubling clash, Ethiopia finally took back Mogadishu from the UIC.

And don't forget how the U.S. is involved:
The United States gave all it's support to Ethiopia, but at the same did not fully approve of the idea of it's invasion. A BBC article printed last year quoted from US Central Command, General John Abizaid that "Somalia would become 'Ethiopia's Iraq'" (Plaut). And the reason that the United States is involved to begin with is that Somalia has become a hiding place for those involved in "al-Qaeda operatives". In addition Somalia's coasts happen to be overlookers on the route that oil from the Middle East takes to get to us, the United States. One of many disagreements is whether or not we should be supporting Ethiopia, because even though they share the same interests and ideas as us, they treat their citizens with no respect and leave them living without basic needs such as food and water.

These are the basic background components of Somalia's situation, but after all this, the real questions are: What is going on in Somalia today? How is Somalia handling this?

There are many countries in our world today that live on less than two dollars a day, and unfortunately Somalia is one of them. Poverty has a huge impact here, especially as a result of the attacks from Ethiopia. Thousands of people are dying and people are being displaced, sending them into more poverty. They are lacking water, sanitation, health, and education. In October of 2004 the TFI chose Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as their president, but as a result of various disagreements, he has failed to bring the country out of these unfortunate events. There is no proper protection supplied by Somalia's government or from the government themselves. The government is not seeking to help the people or improve their living conditions.

Recently, African Union (AU) peacekeeping troops (mostly from Uganda) have been in Somalia doing what they can to rebuild their government. However they are not close to success because they are constantly being attacked and lack military forces. At this time Somali citizens are greatly in need of even more help which they are not getting.




Sources:
"Country Profile: Somalia." BBC NEWS. 18 June 2008. 23 Sept. 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1072592.stm.

Nouraee, Andisheh. "Why did Ethiopia invade Somalia?" Creative Loafing. 3 Jan. 2007. 11
Oct. 2008 http://http//charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/content?oid=oid%3a114257.

Plaut, Martin. "Ethiopia in Somalia: One year on." BBC NEWS. 28 Dec. 2007. 11 Oct. 2008
http://http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7155868.stm.