Halas.

Famine in Somalia is by no means a new concept. It does not take us by surprise the way an earthquake or a tsunami does.  We are not unprepared, yet we always seem to be bewildered by the situation.  My question is: why? Why are we so surprised, when the cause is plain for everybody to see?

In my view, we are witnessing the results of long-standing negligence. After all, Somalia has been having problems for the past 40 years. It seems to me we are just cosmetically treating the problems, as we would do with a blemish on the skin. Put some cosmetic product on and pouf!  The blemish is gone. Only you and I and the rest of the people know it’s not gone; the blemish is still there, covered skilfully.

During my last visit to Somalia, I was stunned to see that most INGOs were based in Nairobi, Kenya, not Mogadishu, Somalia. I was shocked and started thinking that maybe Nairobi was the new capital for Somalia and I was behind with the geo-political news.  Somebody assured me that indeed, that was not the case and I was in the right place, due to security.  Halas.

It is my turn to ask some uncomfortable questions: Who is creating this conflict? Who is alimenting this conflict? Who is creating the famine?

Remember: When you neglect your house, it becomes ruined. When you neglect your land, there will be no harvest and no food for you to eat. When you neglect your family, they will all become homeless. When you neglect your country and community, your neighbours become refugees and IDPs.

Do not cry for famine alone. Cry for stopping the conflict as well and cry for stopping the people of Somalia taking up arms.