Somalia' crest
Brandi Bell
“There is no viable government in Somalia,” says Former Somali Ambassador to the U.S, Abdikarim Ali Omar. The famine which currently exists in Somalia is unfortunately not the first. Lifeless bodies scatter the streets of several Somali cities time and time again; rib cages exposed, joints weakened due to lack of nutrition. These images are foreign to international communities with thriving governments. There have been large amounts of support in the form of food and money, but nothing seems to be changing. Thousands of lives have been lost, most of them being children whose growing bodies cannot do without the necessities of life. The obvious reason for the devastation in Somalia is the drought; lack of precipitation equals a lack of vegetation which undoubtedly can lead to famine, but there is another crucial factor here: the inadequate government. Somalia’s lack of government has been the cause of the reoccurring famine in the region.
In Somalia there is a Transitional Federal Government, established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government in November of 2004 by the Transitional Federal Parliament. Simply put, the government is extremely weak because of its recent implementation and politically ignorant members who display blatant neglect of the real needs of the Somali people. This government or lack thereof is incapable of properly facilitating and responding to the needs of the people. This has and will continue to be the state of Somalia if outside forces, namely the Security Council, don’t step in and clearly state the need for better governance chosen and run by the Somali people. The United Nations estimates that the number of deaths due to famine could rise to 750,000 in coming months. These numbers are staggering considering the famine was officially declared in July! The most heartbreaking aspect of this situation is that it could have been prevented. Famine continues to resurface in Somalia with no willing parties to repair the problem. Those in positions of power offer temporary solutions for a life threatening issue that deserves concentrated attention and the utmost sensitivity. “We cannot continue this endless façade!” Omar declares in his YouTube video about the connection between famine and lack of government in Somalia.
When human lives are at stake, the political games must cease; we must penetrate the skin and deal with the meat of the issue, connecting to our essence, to what it truly means to call oneself a human being. Many would blame the situation in Somalia on the Islamic extremist group, Al-Shabaab, stating that they stand in the way of support for those starving for change. Whether this is or isn’t true isn’t the issue; we must all feel responsible and connected to the afflictions of our neighbours, united as members of the human race. The famine we are witnessing in Somalia and the lack of responsibility threatens the code for which we stand. The images coming forth from Somalia and the refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya seem to have gone over the heads of the people in decision-making positions, their cries, in one ear and out the other. The severity of this issue has been belittled to political gain and promises of years to come; but in spite of everything, the faith of the Somali people is unwavering, showing patience and perseverance through verbal and non-verbal communication. As the observers we should not hang our heads in pity, rather we should raise them and take notes from our brothers and sisters in Somalia.
