by Mohammed Idle
Thursday, March 11, 2010
“You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it” (Malcolm X)
The humanitarian crisis in Somalia has been exacerbated by drought, famine and protracted war. FAO's Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) put the number in need of humanitarian assistance in 2009 at 3.64 million people. An estimated 285,000 Somali children (or one in every five) are acutely malnourished, including 70,000 severely malnourished. WFP projected to provide food assistance to 3.5 million people, including 300,000 women and children threatened by malnutrition.
On January 5th, the World Food Programme announced that it was suspending operations in the south of the country owing to "unprecedented and inhumane attacks" and threats and demands by hard-line groups, leaving 1 million people in the south without food rations.
This decision certainly produced zero option, and blocked searching better way of managing challenges. I believe there are more windows of opportunity to consult wider in ways of dealing with such crises. WFP conclusion is far from strengths of working in lawless environment and seems to be dealing only with governmental institutions that give all UN agencies full protection to deliver its mandates.
USA provided $274 million last year in food and in humanitarian assistance for Somalia and now suspended further funding, while British government donated £9 million and is now thinking on whether to give more or not. According to the reported projection by the United Nations, $689m is needed for aid in 2010 to the Somali population, of which 43% live on less than $1 a day.
If the observation of the donors manifests unsatisfactory program implementation and poor relevant methodology, it will result cut off of donor support and mistrust by the ground partners. Despite the funds allocated in 2010 and current aid activity suspension in the south Somalia, it would be irrelevant to achieve the objectives of WFP food aid program in the country. Food distribution suspension could not be an option in the most deeply starving areas.
According to the UK’s times online on June 15, 2009, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6499155.ece WFP is under investigation after it emerged that thousands of sacks of food aid were being diverted from starving refugees and openly sold for profit. Stacks of bags of maize, wheat, and tins of cooking oil marked “not for re-sale” and bearing the UN stamp are on sale from ten warehouses and 15 shops in the city’s main market. When the food aid scandal boosted for investigation, Peter Goossens, the WFP’s Somalia director, described this issue as a “minor phenomenon”. Minor phenomenon! Is unjustifiable response, and if high profiled humanitarian policy maker should describe the aid could be encouraged to proceed in the wider markets, it seems that the office is not ready to tackle the problem and use the lessons learnt from this critical observations as a tool to correct the matter. WFP should come up with better strategy and proper relevant distribution methodology of food aid in Somalia, putting in mind that the former authorities and clan militias have been changed by new ones in the current working environment.
On February 18th, 2010 WFP has started to supply the food aid through Berbera port, and around 70 trucks loaded with WFP food for central Somalia could not pass through Puntland’s territory after the authorities denied for access. The trucks have been stuck in Lasanod border for days, before they were finally allowed to cross the border to continue the delivery. This is another incompetent attitude of crises management, it is very obvious that all the stakeholders have not been consulted or respected to involve in the beginning. It did cost time, energy and more funds to renegotiate with Puntland authorities to free the supply, discussing the justifications of using Berbera port (Somaliland) was the ultimate alternative. Solving a problem should not lead to rising another problem; there should be transparent and responsible ways of dealing when alternatives might be preferred.
On February 19, 2010, the U.S Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice dismissed by highlighting as false and unfounded accusations and called the World Food Program suspension of aid last month to parts of Somalia "an unfortunate development" after the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Somalia Mark Bowden accused Washington of "politicization of serious humanitarian issues" It’s unfortunate to accuse and lay blame on others, while agencies always fail on the ground. I would certainly agree the US to suspend further funding to WFP until visible, responsible ways of reforms take place; the current version of WFP aid delivery to Somalia makes the donors unhappy and encourages the local merchants to further hunt the food aid for commercial purposes. The US & UK government should demand proper reforms in WFP Somalia, the reforms should be relevant to the current situation.
Despite the insecurity challenges in Somalia, it has been reported that al-Shabaab demanded from the UN agency to pay $20,000 every six months for "security" in areas that they control. And when WFP declined, it was given a deadline of January 1st to cease operations. On February 28, 2010 Al-shabaab totally barred the World Food Programme from all areas under their control, blaming that UN agency had undermined local farmers and accused it of acting with a political agenda.
If the Al-Shabaab demanded just $20,000 for security, then it seems there was a window of opportunity to negotiate to collectively understand the priorities. No one denies that they are in-charge and control in the targeted areas and negotiations should have continued. In the past we may have negotiated and may be paid amounts to the former warlords, clan militias, and road block armed men to let the food aid and other humanitarian responses proceed to the needy communities. Why the WFP failed to seek tangible negotiation process and engaged imminent Somali persons to help possible ways of dealing with this situation?
Reform
· First, Peter Goossens, the WFP executive director for Somalis should resign, I say should resign on his incapability to challenge the humanitarian crises, and seeking options to tackle the critical situations instead of concluding suspension of aid. We are deeply concerned about rising hunger and suffering of our people, the conclusion he directed should never become an option.
· U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Somalia Mark Bowden should engage Somali experts to discuss the issue and propose ways of alternatives to respond effectively and efficiently on this disaster. All potential ways regardless of cost and time should be considered and taken into consideration.
· Local elders of the affected areas should open dialogue with the Al-shabab on all possible ways of lifting the embargo from the needy Somali people who live in areas under their control.
Mohammed Idle, is a Senior Humanitarian and Development Specialist and former UN consultant in Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan and can be reached at [email protected]