Wednesday, February 15, 2012
In an address at the second annual conference of the Centre for Technology and Economic Development (CTED) of the New York University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates last Sunday, he noted that $1.5 billion was required for Somalia not to return to a state of famine.
President Rawlings said a total of 9.5 million people still faced famine in the Horn of Africa with 2.3 million coming from Somalia alone.
Speaking on the topic, ‘’Somalia, the Horn of Africa and Food Security’’, the AU High Representative said conflict had impacted negatively on food security in Somalia but expressed the confidence that the recent successes chalked up by the African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in liberating Mogadishu and other regions of Somalia would help to put in place measures to enhance food security.
‘Since I started addressing you, approximately 30 children somewhere have died of hunger. By the time I have finished 300 would have died. And by this time next year six million more children will be dead due to hunger. This ‘’silent’’ horror is happening right now despite the fact that there is indeed enough food to feed the word,’ he told the conference.
Former President Rawlings noted that research had demonstrated that hunger in modern times was not typically the product of a lack of food, but rather, hunger usually arose from problems in food distribution networks or from government policies in the developing world.
He added that there was no doubt that short-term aid alone did not provide a guarantee for long-term and sustainable solutions for the region and Somalia specifically.
‘’What is crystal clear, however, is
that the absence of short-term aid to halt and turn this humanitarian
crisis around will frustrate the implementation of longer-term solutions
that will ensure food security and prosperity for millions in the
region,’’ he added.
Former President Rawlings added that the most
important issues related to food security, political process,
counter-terrorism, piracy, local stability, and humanitarian and
international co-ordination, therefore there was no doubt that conflict
and insecurity had a major impact on food security.
‘’Somalia, ravaged by nearly uninterrupted civil war for the past two decades, is one of the most dangerous places in the world for aid workers and one of the regions that needs them most.
Without security, aid efforts will be threatened and the humanitarian situation could turn into another crises. Without security, development will be a pipe dream. Without security, stability as foundation for a prosperous Somalia will turn into quicksand,’’ he said.
He explained that recent advances in the security situation in Somalia by the joint effort of the African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] and the forces of the Transitional Federal Government were very promising, but suggested that in order to establish the required security Council approved the strengthening of the AMISOM forces its current level of 12,000 to the requested level of 17,700.
‘’Given the situation in Somalia, a much higher investment than 10per cent of national budget may be required, and yet again the commitment by the international community towards this goal will be essential, ‘’ he added.
Earlier, Professor Yaw Nyarko, a renowned professor of Economics and Director of the centre, described President Rawlings as ‘’an emblem of humility and integrity’’ who had championed the cause of the common man. He recounted the role President Rawlings had played in the resolution of the conflicts in Liberia and Rwanda.
Professor Nyarko also said President Rawlings played a huge role in creating international awareness on the humanitarian situation that engulfed the Horn of Africa in 2011.
President Rawlings and his delegation also held a meeting with the Director-General of theAbu Dhabi Fund for Development, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi.