It was 1984 when a widespread famine affected millions of people of today’s Eritrea and Ethiopia. This was due to low rainfall plus allocating huge amount of government’s revenue to military spending, neglecting the other development sectors. In 1993 the same scenario appeared from the Horn; this time from Somalia. The humanitarian workers classified the Somali’s food crisis as one of the worst in the world. Continual armed conflicts in central and south Somalia due to societal breakdown; drought and high inflation on food was the major causes of the death of hundred thousands and the starvation of millions Somali children at that time.

And now, in mid 2011, they are here again with a new famine. The UN officially declared famine in Somalia amid the worst drought in east Africa for 60 years and aid agencies accusing western donors of ‘willful neglect.’ Of course, there is also a willful neglect from the so-called Somali political leaders and the dominant cruel cult (Al-shabab) in the areas hit by the famine.

However, despite the negligence, there are other obstacles that the local and international relief organizations face to get fund from the donors and effectively help the needy:

1. The current financial crises in the world that demoralizes the donors
2. The prolonged anarchy mixed with corrupted transitional systems that made Somalia notorious country
3. Reaching the needy in Al-shabab dominated areas which is too dangerous and difficulty

The United States budget problems plus the Euro Crises due to the junk status for Greece and Ireland can be two factors that may delay or hinder the capacity of the relief organizations to help the needy. If you observe carefully the current atmosphere in the west, you may realize that there is a disguised feeling of ‘let us solve OUR problems (the financial crises), and you solve YOURS (the hunger).” And in an extreme case, in Europe, you hear some selfish idiots saying: “We eat from the greenhouses, which means we do not have enough stock for others and the stock prices are down, which means we do not have enough money...” 

The second point which is more disgusting is the lack of trustworthy and capable system of governance in Somalia. The system is corrupt, careless and incapable. It is corrupt because millions of dollars are lost in the system. It is careless because they are busy with hunting empty ministerial posts while malnourished Somali children dying in front of hopeless Somali mothers who can’t even carry themselves due to hunger. And it is incapable because they are confined in small areas in the capital.   

The third point which is too dangerous is trusting the monstrous enemy, the Al-shabab who accuses western humanitarian agencies as anti-Muslim and the Somali humanitarian workers or any peace lover citizen as Riddah or apostasy. A fresh example is the abduction of the newly appointed Somalia’s women and family affairs minister.

They have kidnapped and killed some humanitarian workers. They systematically diverted the humanitarian supplies into their own interests. And really, very painful to all, this merciless cult controls the Southern arable land that could feed the needy but unfortunately they maim the limbs of the needy in this arable land which is now officially declared as a famine area!

Although the humanitarian agencies welcomed the Al-shabab’s pledge of allowing the International humanitarian organization to help the needy, they still doubt trusting them because Al-shabab does not honor any international and national treaty or agreements.

Dr. Rajiv Shah, chief administrator of the US Agency for International Development said in an interview from the Dadaab refugee camp: “President Obama and Secretary Clinton have aggressively worked to and asked us to test Al-Shabaab.”  He also clearly expressed his doubts towards Al-shabaab’s pledge saying: “If they're going to provide humanitarian access, we're going to stand with the United Nations and other partners to make sure that humanitarian organizations can get in and can reach the most affected people. It's no coincidence that the precise geography that have been labeled a famine and have met the technical designation of famine are precisely those areas where Shabaab has limited access, has harassed aid workers and has made it difficult for people to eke out a basic standard of living and existence."[1]

At last, having known the obstacles and dilemmas surrounding to reach the needy inside Somalia, I argue the better off Somali community to continue extensively using their indirect system of helping to help each other. Of course, a dollar may save a live of a Somali child who is starving at the courtyard of a simple cottage in a remote area in Southern Somalia.

Yusufbile Abdi 
Rotterdam School of Management (Student)

Master in Logistics Management

The Netherlands
[email protected]

You can reach Yusufbile’s profile: http://www.trcb.com/author/yusufbile.htm