by Ramadan Elmi
Friday, August 26, 2011
The efforts that the Somali community has brought to the famine disaster relief are remarkable, and should not go unnoticed. Oftentimes the media portrays Somali people and their situation unfairly, even though there are certainly times when members of Somali community clearly do not act in their community’s interests. However, in this situation of drought and famine, where many Somalis lives are at stake, many members of the Somali community have shown common vision and passion beyond tribal lines in serving their fellow Somalis.
The majority of these Somalis diaspora got involved in rescuing their fellow Somalis in this unfolding disaster. They deserve high marks for their first response and swift action in relief efforts, even while UN organizations were struggling to classify the terms that they might attach to this catastrophic event—drought or famine. These UN organizations have finally determined that Somalia’s situation it one of this country’s “worst humanitarian disasters”. But the Somali community has not waited for such decisions, but rather has stepped up and filled the gap, bringing a new dimension to aid effectiveness. With very little operational costs they have gotten aid to many in Somalia who need it.
National and International aid organizations need to learn from these expatriate efforts in organizing its resources efficiently to respond to this crisis at an early stage. Money has been sent very quickly through the Hawala money wiring system, and lifesaving food has been expedited quickly. In addition, many fund raising events have been hold throughout the countries where the Somalia communities lives. This early involvement has made a real difference, and reduced the effects of this dire humanitarian situation. But the problem is that the scale of this crisis is too big for just the Somali diaspora group to handle—there needs to be a much more coordinated effort.
The UN organizations have been on the ground for many years. They have known at least for the last couple of years that this drought condition has had the potential to put millions at risk of starvation. But they didn’t act early enough to prevent this from occurring. By the time the emergency situation was declared, it was already at a tragic level. Therefore they should take their fare share of responsibility for letting this escalate to this stage.
An effective and transparent system should be put in place, and all organizations, national and international, must abide by this system. This should be very simple: tell and show how you spend people’s money. This education will help make a huge step forward in the effort to make aid more effective. Recent efforts by some local organizations have shown that this education and leadership can happen, but more is needed to create viable and trustworthy groups that can play a greater role in relief efforts. Governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders are most effective when they can be held accountable to those they serve; in this case, three million Somali people who are threatened by the famine.
This drought is hitting the entire Horn of Africa Region, but it is worst in Somali, mainly as a result of the lack of effective government that could put in place any safety net to prevent drought escalation.
But regardless of what Somali diaspora groups and international organizations do, it is the Somalis alone who must own this problem. They are the ones who held their people hostage for more than two decades by fighting with each other for no meaningful reason. They are the ones who are blocking aid groups from getting food and water to the suffering women and children. They are the ones who are looting food aid and shooting innocent displaced people in their camps. The bottom line is this, Somalis are the architects of this unfortunate situation and they are the only one who can turn it around if they choose to do so. The notion that says the Somali crisis is driven by external forces lacks facts and is based on illusive assumptions.
Somalis have not been known for caring much for common good and wellbeing of their people. They are divided across tribe line. Tribalism is major factor of division among Somali people, at home and abroad alike. However, the current famine situation has cultivated a new awaking which might have a potential impact in the Somali crisis. There have been efforts lead by youth in initiating and organizing many fund raising events in their communities , such as Masjid events, Food drives, car washes, soccer and basketball tournaments, walking events, and knocking on doors for donations. Somalis in the UK have made tireless efforts in first responses to this devastating famine, and other such efforts have been made in many countries that host Somali people. Somali media as well deserve recognition by constantly covering and raising awareness of this issue among the community and beyond.
The question still remains unanswered. In all these Somali community efforts at relief for Somalia’s famine and drought, are we seeing the beginnings of a broad movement that can rise above our problems as a people take the country back? Or are these accomplishments just a onetime effort which will fade as soon as the famine disappears? I believe that these aid efforts can be an opportunity and real start in putting back on track Somali as an effective nation, so that the cycle of famine and drought can be ended in years to come. Given the scale and magnitude of the present crisis, we all need to increase our efforts now, and look to how those efforts can bring about real change for our people in the future.
Ramadan Elmi: [email protected]
Student of SMU in MN, School of Graduate and Professional Program