Jan. 5, 2009 issue
As turmoil rises, MCC’s Somalia aid continues
By Cathryn Clinton Mennonite Central CommitteeAKRON, Pa. — Turmoil in Somalia escalated in the last year due to increased political insecurity, drought, flooding and the rising prospect of famine. The United Nations considers Somalia to be suffering the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Displaced people wait for water at a camp outside Mogadishu, Somalia. — Photo provided by SAACID
Mennonite Central Committee has supported SAACID, a Somali women’s organization, for more than a decade.
MCC has provided water, education and financing for women to start their own micro businesses. MCC’s Global Family Education Sponsorship program supports SAACID in running schools in the capital, Mogadishu, and Adale.
In December 2006, Ethiopia, aided by the United States, invaded Somalia and overthrew the government. Since then, fighting between Ethiopian troops, Islamist insurgents, Somali forces and clan militias has continued.
Problems with food importing and distribution have increased due to pirate activity, which requires that ships importing food to Somalia have naval protection, and because some areas of the war-torn country are inaccessible to aid organizations.
The flood of people from Mogadishu grows daily. International relief organizations estimate the number of internally displaced people to be more than 1.1 million. It is further estimated that 3.2 million people, one-third of the population, are in need of humanitarian aid.
The number of temporary camps for displaced people continues to grow. Before this recent influx, SAACID was feeding more than 80,000 people. In 2007, MCC provided non-food items such as gerry cans and cooking pots to aid in the distribution of food in the soup kitchens that SAACID runs.
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