World

Somali Crisis 'Worse than Darfur'

by Jarrett Martineau | June 16, 2008 at 04:07 pm

249 views | 10 Recommendations | 2 comments

Although much of the world's attention has been recently focused on the burgeoning global food crisis, the challenging situation in Somalia is among the worst. Due to a combination of violent conflict, drought, economic collapse and the rising cost of food, Somalia is now facing "a worse situation than Darfur" according to the United Nations.

The number of people in Somalia in need of emergency food aid is likely to rise to about 3.5m in the coming months, the United Nations has warned.

Mark Bowden, the UN's humanitarian co-ordinator for the region, says the food crisis is dramatically worsening.

Somalia faces a worse situation than Darfur, Mr Bowden says.

Contributing to the crisis are fighting between rival militias, successive droughts, sharply rising food prices and a collapse of the Somali currency.

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Rhonda J Mangus

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 16:11 on June 16th, 2008

Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Barry ORegan

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 20:46 on June 16th, 2008

Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff. Good luck in getting food to Somalia, once it is off the aircraft or boat, Warlords pick and choose what they want for themselves and leave the rest. Sometimes it is best for the citizens to rise up and rid the corruption and murder which is Somalia and it's anarchy. There you never know friend from foe, tragically as many US and Canadian Troops who tried to help in the aid mission can attest. Cruel as it sounds sometimes it is best to let them deal with each other.