History Repeats Itself in Somalia Famine
7 years ago, the UN declared famine in two regions of Somalia, following a deadly drought that
caused outbreaks of disease(“Somalia Famine”). The famine killed 260,000 people, half of whom
were children under the age of five(“Somalia Famine”). Tens of thousands of people were
displaced and forced to leave their homes in search of food(“Somalia Famine”). The combination
of an almost nonexistent government, terrorist groups, and limited international aid led to
unprecedented death and suffering that lasted far after the famine ended. Now, history is repeating
itself. Another drought, more widespread than the one in 2011, has once again pushed Somalia to
the edge of famine(Maxwell). The drought, combined with terrorist groups that threaten an already
unstable government, are the main causes of the famine that plagues Somalia.
caused outbreaks of disease(“Somalia Famine”). The famine killed 260,000 people, half of whom
were children under the age of five(“Somalia Famine”). Tens of thousands of people were
displaced and forced to leave their homes in search of food(“Somalia Famine”). The combination
of an almost nonexistent government, terrorist groups, and limited international aid led to
unprecedented death and suffering that lasted far after the famine ended. Now, history is repeating
itself. Another drought, more widespread than the one in 2011, has once again pushed Somalia to
the edge of famine(Maxwell). The drought, combined with terrorist groups that threaten an already
unstable government, are the main causes of the famine that plagues Somalia.
The continuous drought in Somalia causes crop failure and lack of food production. Currently,
Africa is facing one of the most severe droughts in history, leaving an estimated 6 million people
in Somalia in need of aid even more without food and water in neighboring countries(Burke).
After multiple years with poor rain seasons, with the lowest national grain yields in a decade in
2016, crops and animals have died, leaving people with little to no means of sustenance(Maxwell).
The lack of food and clean water have also led to outbreaks of disease, especially cholera(Burke).
In just three months, one clinic alone has treated over 1900 cases, and at least 5550 individuals
have died from disease(Burke).
Africa is facing one of the most severe droughts in history, leaving an estimated 6 million people
in Somalia in need of aid even more without food and water in neighboring countries(Burke).
After multiple years with poor rain seasons, with the lowest national grain yields in a decade in
2016, crops and animals have died, leaving people with little to no means of sustenance(Maxwell).
The lack of food and clean water have also led to outbreaks of disease, especially cholera(Burke).
In just three months, one clinic alone has treated over 1900 cases, and at least 5550 individuals
have died from disease(Burke).
Additionally, terrorist groups in Somalia block international aid and weaken the Somali
government. The most prominent is the Islamic militant organization Al Shabab, who currently
controls South Somalia. Al Shabab places strict constraints on people living in areas under their
control, and regulates the resources that comes in and out of those areas(Maxwell). Consequently,
the international community has little control over whether or not any aid they send reaches the
people. The possibility of Al Shabab receiving resources like food and water also means some
countries are prohibited from sending aid to people living in places controlled by the terrorist
group(Gabaudan). Especially in the US, certain laws have meant a loss of funding and aid to
Somalia due to the presence of Al Shabab(Gabaudan). Currently, the US Treasury’s Office of
Foreign Assets Controls prohibits sending aid to areas under the control of Al Shabab, citing the
risk of giving a terrorist organization material assets, leaving citizens under Al Shabab’s control
with no means of sustenance(Gabaudan). Additionally, foreign funding has shifted from providing
Somalia with long-term agricultural infrastructure to providing food and water(Paarlberg).
Because of this, food production has fallen, increasing the demand for food aid(Paarlberg).
Out of the $825 million dollars requested to deal with this famine, only a third has been
delivered, leaving the Somalian people in heavy need of more water, food, and money(Maxwell).
government. The most prominent is the Islamic militant organization Al Shabab, who currently
controls South Somalia. Al Shabab places strict constraints on people living in areas under their
control, and regulates the resources that comes in and out of those areas(Maxwell). Consequently,
the international community has little control over whether or not any aid they send reaches the
people. The possibility of Al Shabab receiving resources like food and water also means some
countries are prohibited from sending aid to people living in places controlled by the terrorist
group(Gabaudan). Especially in the US, certain laws have meant a loss of funding and aid to
Somalia due to the presence of Al Shabab(Gabaudan). Currently, the US Treasury’s Office of
Foreign Assets Controls prohibits sending aid to areas under the control of Al Shabab, citing the
risk of giving a terrorist organization material assets, leaving citizens under Al Shabab’s control
with no means of sustenance(Gabaudan). Additionally, foreign funding has shifted from providing
Somalia with long-term agricultural infrastructure to providing food and water(Paarlberg).
Because of this, food production has fallen, increasing the demand for food aid(Paarlberg).
Out of the $825 million dollars requested to deal with this famine, only a third has been
delivered, leaving the Somalian people in heavy need of more water, food, and money(Maxwell).
However, international organizations and the Somali government have recently taken steps to
begin reform and prevent a disaster like the 2011 famine(Conway). Over the past 6 years, Somalia
has developed a fragile government framework and stands in a better position to implement
change as compared to 2011(Maxwell). The Somali government has worked with the UN and EU
to assess impacts of the droughts and cost of damages, as well as possible solutions, and new
plans for change have been implemented in meetings like the World Humanitarian
Summit(Conway). However, much work and change in both Somalia and the international
community must be seen in order to overcome the impending famine.
begin reform and prevent a disaster like the 2011 famine(Conway). Over the past 6 years, Somalia
has developed a fragile government framework and stands in a better position to implement
change as compared to 2011(Maxwell). The Somali government has worked with the UN and EU
to assess impacts of the droughts and cost of damages, as well as possible solutions, and new
plans for change have been implemented in meetings like the World Humanitarian
Summit(Conway). However, much work and change in both Somalia and the international
community must be seen in order to overcome the impending famine.
Works Cited
Burke, Jason. “'We've Never Seen This Drought, This Disease': Somali Families Bury Their Dead.”
The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 20 Apr. 2017,
www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/20/weve-never-seen-this-drought-this-disease-famine-looms-in-somalia.
The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 20 Apr. 2017,
www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/20/weve-never-seen-this-drought-this-disease-famine-looms-in-somalia.
Conway, George, and Puteri Watson. “In Somalia, Seeking to Ensure Drought Never Again Turns into
Famine.” UNDP, 28 Jan. 2018,
www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2018/in-somalia--humanitarian-and-development-solutions-seek-to-ensur.html.
Famine.” UNDP, 28 Jan. 2018,
www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2018/in-somalia--humanitarian-and-development-solutions-seek-to-ensur.html.
Gabaudan, Michel. “Somalia: A Man-Made Famine.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com,
27 July 2011, www.huffingtonpost.com/michel-gabaudan/somalia-a-manmade-famine_b_910809.html.
27 July 2011, www.huffingtonpost.com/michel-gabaudan/somalia-a-manmade-famine_b_910809.html.
Maxwell, Daniel, et al. “Famine in Somalia: Twice in Six Years?” IRIN, 3 Apr. 2017,
www.irinnews.org/analysis/2017/03/28/famine-somalia-twice-six-years.
www.irinnews.org/analysis/2017/03/28/famine-somalia-twice-six-years.
Paarlberg, Robert. “Famine in Somalia: What Can the World Do About It?” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media
Company, 2 Aug. 2011,
www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/08/famine-in-somalia-what-can-the-world-do-about-it/242960/.
Company, 2 Aug. 2011,
www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/08/famine-in-somalia-what-can-the-world-do-about-it/242960/.
“Somalia Famine 'Killed 260,000 People'.” BBC News, BBC, 2 May 2013,
www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22380352.
www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22380352.
Waal, Alex de. “Can Somalia Ever Win Against Al-Shabab?” Foreign Policy, Foreign Policy,
19 Oct. 2017, http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/10/19/can-somalia-ever-win-against-al-shabab-terrorism/.
19 Oct. 2017, http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/10/19/can-somalia-ever-win-against-al-shabab-terrorism/.
My favorite aspect of the piece is the conclusion because it shows that solutions are being worked on and put into place in order to help Somalia. I was surprised by the fact that the famine killed 260,000 people, including many children. One follow up question I have is what sort of measures are being taken to prevent future famines?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite aspect of your article was the concrete evidence you had to back up all of your claims. It made the article much more interesting and impactful. My main take-away from the report is how devastating the famine is to the Somalian people, which is surprising because I didn't know about this famine at all. One follow up question that I have is are Somalia's measures to lessen the effects of the famine similar to other countries?
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