Walk for Somalia: Response to appalling Human Conditions

Press Release: Walk for Somalia

October 10th, 1pm, Yonge and Dundas

Imagine More than 1.4 million Homeless and without Assistance 

Walk for Somalia (WFS)
Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Toronto -  Somalia has been without a properly functioning central government for the past two decades. However, the recent multiple droughts have caused massive refugee displacement, a spike in food prices and in turn, increase in malnutrition in Somali children and adults. As a result, the long standing unchecked criminal violence and continuous human rights violations has made Somalia’s dire living conditions a perfect recipe for the world’s ‘top ten’ humanitarian catastrophes, according to Doctors without Borders. In response, a group of Canadian University and College students and graduates decided to organize an initiative titled Walk for Somalia. 

Walk for Somalia would like to appeal to Canadians on compassionate grounds. In an interview with Human Rights Watch, refugee researcher, Gerry Simpson, states: “The refugee crisis worsens with every day of delay, continued paralysis and unresponsiveness puts the well-being of all the refugees - new and old - at grave risk." Over 3 million refugees are in dire need of emergency aid. Doctors without Borders state, of those refugees, 600,000 live in Afgoye, the world’s largest refugee camp for internally displaced people. More than 200,000 of them have become refugees in the last four months.

As conditions worsen, Walk for Somalia requests Canadians’ attention and assistance. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mark Bowden said: "Somalia needs to be seen as a priority case, the implications of not responding now are a future of miserable destitution but also the potential to tip the region into a far greater level of crisis through the movement of Somalia's population out of the country if assistance isn't provided, we have critical shortages in the water, sanitation, health and nutrition areas which endanger the relief operation at the moment.” He also added: "before this I worked in (Sudan's war-torn region of) Darfur and I'm concerned that conditions for the displaced populations in Somalia are if anything worse than in Darfur."

WFS is a non-political, non-sectarian initiative that calls on the world to address the inhumane conditions facing millions of people in Somalia. Urging people to look beyond the short, news-clips of the violence, piracy and general chaos that far too often, constituted the entire discussions about Somalia; Walk for Somalia would like to remind Canadians that Somalia is not on the verge of a catastrophe, the catastrophe is a daily reality for over 3.2 million people. 

Walk for Somalia aims to raise immediate funds to help deliver some life-saving services and essentials to those displaced outside Mogadishu and the surrounding areas. To assist in the success of this cause, Walk for Somalia has partnered with Human Concern International (HCI) - a non-profit and charitable organization. Walk for Somalia strives to bring to the Canadian consciousness, the plight of millions of starving, sick and helpless men, women and children. Canadian assistance will lead to increased international efforts to alleviate suffering in Somalia. Walk for Somalia calls on everyone to donate as much as possible to provide food, medicine and other urgently needed essentials. In support of this campaign, we call on all to come out and join us on October 10, 2009 for a silent walk on behalf of those suffering in what the UN has labeled as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
Please join us: 
Date: Saturday October 10th 2009 
Meeting point: Yonge and Dundas
End Point: Queens Park 
Total distance: 5 Km
Time: 1:00 pm
 
Media Contact: Warda Abdulsamed
Walk for Somalia 
(416) 854 4719
[email protected]