Donations still needed to fight famine in Somalia
Posted October 30, 2011 12:48 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (NEWS1130) – he drought situation on the ground across the Horn of Africa is a desperate one. Interest in the story has waned since media attention has trailed off and that’s had a huge impact on donations, according to one organization.
Richard Fox with Oxfam Canada says the level of conflict and violence in Somalia is making it tough for resources to get in and help those in need.
He says it’s frustrating when the story is huge but no longer top of mind for many people. “We’re looking at the global response to the fact that the world’s food system is broken. We need significant changes in policies so that this latest famine proves to be the last famine.
The people who are the most affected, according to Fox, are herder families which keep sheep and cattle. “They used to have several years to bounce back, to restock their herds, to rebuild their wealth and health and now they’re encountering droughts that are decimating their herds and leaving them destitute.”
He says we often see this effect with stories that also involve hurricanes, tornadoes, or floods. Fox adds people may have interest for a week or so and then things diminish.
