Reerka waa ooman-yahay, aroorna uma maqno
by Dr. Mohamed Shamun Omar
Friday, August 26, 2011
Like the past humanitarian crisis that deeply wounded our nation, this too will pass without much reflection. Thousands have perished; others are hungry, frail and terrified. The central question of my writing is what are the causes of our never ending suffering; is it draught or fatal Somali leadership flaws?
Shortage of crop yield and variations in rainfall are not new phenomena in the famine hit areas. Somalis are very resilient and entrepreneurial in nature who for thousands of years have managed effectively what many believe to be the cause of the current famine, draught. Indeed, the area currently hard hit by the famine is well known for its local sophisticationin terms of managing food and rain scarcities. For generations, locals have relied on Bakaar(below ground grain storage silos) and Eeg (storm water retention ponds) as means of communal survival practices in the face of hardships. These means of survival have been practiced for generations by many including non Somalis; the story of prophet Yusuf as illustrated in the Quran is a case in point. “[Yusuf] said, you will plant for seven years consecutively; and what you harvest leave in its spikes, except a little from which you will eat. Then will come after that seven difficult [years] which will consume what you saved for them, except a little from which you will store”.
It’s time to end the myth of draught causing famine in Somalia.Drought is just a minor factor in the sufferings of many Somalis that we are witnessingtoday and it would be profoundly naïve to think that we could ride-out the current crisis through food or dollars donated by concerned Somalis and others. Unfortunately, the suffering of those that have least among us will continue beyond the generosity of many.
A fatal Somali leadership flaw is the root cause of the famine and it is time someone gets accountable, Al Shabab, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), and many current and emerging clan states under the name of regional states share the blame. A number of credible sources have been sounding alarms for some time that humanitarian crisis is in the making; the lack of foresight and compassion shown by many in leadership positions is a national disgrace to say the least.
The continued in-fight of the leadership of the TFG was a major cause of the famine that took away many precious lives. The task of leading and delivering during uncertain times is a trademark of leadership and many in the TFG failed miserably to have the foresight to avert a mass suffering. The period leading up to the famine; beginning in early 2011 was mired by unnecessary and ill-informed in-fight between the TFG leadership. On March 15, 2011, Famine Early Warning System Network-FEWSNET (American agency that puts out famine alert) issued the following alert “below-average March to May rains forecast in the Eastern Horn – current crisis likely to worsen. In marginal croppingareas of Juba and Hiran (southern Somalia), ---- localized famine conditions, including significantly increased childmortality, are possible”. This was followed by more dire alerts in March 21, May 6 and June 7, 2011 alert that said in part “--Following a complete failure of the 2010 October‐December rains and related harvests, the 2011 March‐May rains began late and performed erratically. --- This is the most severe foodsecurity emergency in the world today”. As these distress sounds were raised, where was the TFG, Kampala!!!, I don’t think I need to elaborate what the TFG was doing there and the shameful and infamous Kampala Accord. However, I would say, the TFG leadership were more interested in power horse-trading exercise than in sense-making and performing their duly duty of saving human lives.
Who else is on the hook; some misguided Somalis under the name of Al-Shabab. As far back as late 2010, tell-tale signs of impending crisis were there. On November 2, 2010, FEWSNET issued the following alert, “In agropastoral areas of southern/central Somalia,---forecastssuggest rainfall deficits of 100‐200mm below the average in many key cropping areas. Higher than usual temperatures are also anticipated, and this will exacerbate the impacts of below average rainfall on crop production during the deyrseason, which typically accounts for 40 percent of cereal production in Somalia”. There are credible reports that Al-Shababwho controls this areahas conscripted many if not all able men who otherwise would tend to the land to fight and as such are partially responsible for the suffering. It is unholy in every sense to take away a bread winner of a family in the name of holy war.
Who else is on the hook; the brother who never showed up for the call. As the tragedy was unfolding, many in the leadership of relatively stable areas of Somalia were consumed with a quest for recognition or fighting for a bigger share of the federal government. Similarly, in the face of suffering, we also witnessed large amount of energy and resources devoted to the emergence of yet another tribal fever exercise disguised under regional states; Azania and Mareeg just to name a few.
The ill-fated Antarctic expedition of 1914 led by Ernest Shackleton of England has much to teach the current Somali leaders. Shackleton and a crew of 27 men set out to be the first to cross Antarctica on board the ship Endurance. Despite a rapidly changing weather and the warnings of ice packs in the water, Shackleton sails on. Shortly, Endurance gets frozen solid in ice and although Antarctica is within sight, the ice packs carry the ship away from Antarctica and ultimately the ship sufferspermanent damage. With his crew’s survival, not the expedition, as his new goal, Shackletonleads courageously by traveling back to land with few men using a lifeboat. After grueling months of travel they reach a whaling island and mount a successful rescue mission for the remaining of Endurance crew. The case in point is the leadership in crisis demonstrated by Shackleton; as the ship gets damaged, he quickly abandoned his dream of reaching the Antarctic and concentrates on rescuing his men. The key for Somali leaders at this critical stage is to press the reset button; exemplify Islamic clericship andstatesmanship, end the nonsense of tribalism and above all advocate for the common good.
Dr. Mohamed Shamun Omar, Harvard University
E-mail: [email protected]