The head of United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees, Antonio Guterres visited the Somali capital, Mogadishu, during Eid on Wednesday, to assess the current status of famine in the country. Guterres expressed his annual solidarity to a community during an important time that relates to their religious beliefs. This year, he picked Somalia and scheduled a visit that coincided with the end of the holy month of Ramadan - Eid. While this is a celebratory occasion for Muslims, Somalis have been suffering from the severe drought and starvation. "The international communities need to get together. All actors -- UN, Red Cross, Red Crescent, NGOS, Islamic organizations, need to work in a combined way, in a coordinated way, to be able to address the needs of these people that are suffering so much," said Guterres. According to Guterres, there are currently 850,000 refugees outside Somalia, and 1.4 million displaced inside Somalia, which he says is more difficult to support. "The Eid is a good moment to make this appeal, after Ramadan, to all parties to the conflict, to respect the humanitarian law, and to let humanitarian aid reach the totality of the territory of Somalia," he said. Relief aid agencies are finding it difficult to reach certain areas with millions of people who require aid. Many areas are under the control of Al Shabaab rebels, an al Qaeda-affiliated group. By Al Arabiya
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More displaced Somalis from the Bay area moved into the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in droves on Tuesday, as the nation continues to suffer from drought and famine. This region is the sixth in Somalia to be impacted by starvation since the United Nation's first announced the outbreak of famine in July which has affected a little over half the population. On Monday, the UN said that the six out of eight regions south of the country are now affected by the famine, as 750, 000 Somalis are at risk of starvation. Amina Mohammed is an example of a person who has been displaced within Somalia. "I came from Bay in Southern Somalia last month because of the drought, I settled at Galkayo but the recent clashes scared me and I had to move from there. I got here yesterday but the situation looks the same from where I came from, I don't know what to do," she said. Moreover, aid agencies are facing difficulty supplying the people with food, as the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabab rebels are prohibiting incoming aid to the southern territory which they predominantly control. Also, displaced farmers don't have enough time to reach their farms to tend their crops by October, when brief rainfall is expected. "The situation at Bay was very bad, there is a lot of starvation there and there is no water. The last time it rained there was years ago and all our livestock was wiped out. We are farmers and all our crops died, I don't think enough attention is being given to this situation," she said. The displaced have been complaining about the lack of basic human necessities like food and shelter. Thirty percent are suffering from severe malnourishment and the UN reports two in 10,000 deaths a day. Since the end of dictator Mohammed Siad Barre's rule 20 years ago, Somalia has been hit by continuous conflict and civil war. The country has been ruled by interim governments since 2004, but a meeting was held by various stakeholders on Tuesday in the capital Mogadishu to discuss both security and political reform and the holding of elections next year. By Noora Faraj AlArabiya with Agencies Speaker: Amina Mohammed - Internally displaced Somali Voice: Nadia Idriss Mayen
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Clinton: Somalia to Receive Millions for Famine Relief
Clinton: Somalia to Receive Millions for Famine Relief At the International Food Policy research Institute, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the U.S. will increase aid for famine relief to the Horn of Africa, with 12 million U.S. dollars reserved for Somalia, the worst affected by the crisis. "The United States is the largest single country contributor of food and humanitarian assistance to the Horn of Africa. On Monday, President Obama announced that in light of the current crisis, we are making available an additional 105 million dollars in emergency funding. Today I'm announcing another 17 million on top of that, with 12 million designed specifically for helping the people of Somalia. That brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance to the region to more than 580 million dollars this year. We are reaching more than 4.6 million people with this aid." Ms. Clinton said. Ms. Clinton re-issued her demand for Al Shabaab militants to give aid workers free entry into Somalia. "Still, a great deal depends on whether al Shabaab is willing to let international assistance be delivered. And so I once again urge al Shabaab to heed the calls not only of the international community, including the Arab league, but of the cries of their own people, and allow the secure delivery of relief to all those who are afflicted. The United States will continue to work with Somalis and the international community to bring the hope of peace and stability to Somalia. And we join all Somalis in hoping that there will be a future with a functioning government that can protect the Somali people against famine and help to build a sustainable agricultural sector." She added. Clinton called on governments and donors to contribute with immediate aid for the 12 million people affected by the worst drought and famine in decades in countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia. By Nadia Idriss Mayen Al Arabiya with Agencies
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