Save the Children: Statement by 52 NGOs on the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Somalia

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Monday, 06, Oct 2008 12:00

We, the undersigned NGOs, are extremely concerned about the devastating humanitarian crisis in Somalia.

Nearly half of Somalia’s population, or 3.25 million people, are now in need of emergency aid. This is a 77% increase since the beginning of 2008. This number has increased dramatically over the past year due to the destructive combination of extreme insecurity, drought and record-high food prices. The situation is expected to deteriorate further with ordinary Somalis bearing the brunt of the cost.

Despite the ongoing political process we have not witnessed any lessening of the violence that continues to have a horrendous impact on civilians.

In the last few weeks, renewed shelling in Mogadishu has displaced approximately 37,000 civilians from their homes. Over the past nine months, 870,000 have fled for their lives. A total of 1.1 million people are currently displaced in Somalia today.

We are appalled by the indiscriminate and disproportional use of force by all armed parties to the conflict, which is further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The poorest of Mogadishu’s residents have no means to flee the extreme violence and have limited means to earn a living leaving them completely dependent on humanitarian assistance. This while the average Somali has seen price increases for food and water of up to 1,000 percent, plunging many into worsening poverty. One in six children under five, or approximately 180,000 children, is acutely malnourished in South and Central Somalia.

Aid workers are increasingly the victims of assassination and kidnapping and are now seen as legitimate targets. This year alone 24 aid workers, of which 20 are Somali nationals, have been killed whilst carrying out their work. The whereabouts of another ten are unknown. There have been 111 reported security incidents directly targeting aid agencies.

National and international aid agencies are prevented from responding effectively to the needs of ordinary Somalis because of violence and severely limited access. At present, South and Central Somalia is almost entirely off limits to international staff of aid agencies.

We call upon all parties to the conflict to allow aid agencies unhindered access to Somalis who are in desperate need of emergency assistance.

The international community has completely failed Somali civilians. We call on the international community to make the protection of Somali civilians a top priority now.

Signatories to the statement (52 National and International NGOs):

ADRA - Adventist Relief Development Agency

AET – Africa Educational Trust

AFREC – Africa Rescue Committee

ASEP – Advancement for Small Enterprise Program

CARE – Cooperative Assistance for Relief Everywhere

CARITAS SWITZERLAND & CARITAS LUXUMBOURG

CEFA – Somalia European Committee for Agricultural Training

CISP – Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli

CPD Centre for Peace and Democracy

COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale

DEVELOPMENT CONCERN

DRC - Danish Refugee Council

DIAKONIA EMERGENCY AID BREAD FOR THE WORLD

DIAKONIA Sweden

FERO – Family Economy Rehabilitation Organization

GHC – Gedo Health Consortium

GREDO – Gol Yome Rehabilitatation & Development Organisation

HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL

HAPO CHILD – Hiran HIV/AIDS Prevention and Child Protecton Organisation

HARDO – Humanitarian Action for Relief and Development Organisation

HIMILO – Himilo Relief and Development Association

HISAN

HORN RELIEF

IAS – International Aid Services

IDF – Integrated Development Focus

IMC – International Medical Corps

INTERPEACE/WSP – Interpeace / War torn Societies

INTERSOS

IRC – International Rescue Committee

IREX – International Research & Exchanges Board

ISLAMIC RELIEF

KAALO RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT

MAG – Mines Advisory Group

MEDAIR

MERCY CORPS SOMALIA

MERLIN

NORWEGIAN CHURCH AID

NRC – Norwegian Refugee Council

OXFAM INTERNATIONAL

PROGRESSIO UK

RI – Relief International

SAACID AUSTRALIA

SAFERWORLD

SCUK – Save the Children UK

TERRA NUOVA – Terra Nuova Association for International Cooperation to Development

TROCAIRE

VSF SUISSE – Veterinaires Sans Frontieres - Switzerland

VSF GERMANY - Veterinaires Sans Frontieres - Germany

WELTHUNGERHILFE

WOCCA – Women and Child Care Organization

WORLD CONCERN

WORLD VISION

If you would like an interview with Save the Children in Somalia, please contact Susannah Friedman, Emergency Coordinator for Save the Children in Somalia on s.friedman@scuk.or.ke or +254 7336 28192. Or call the London media unit on +44 207 012 6841 / +44 7831 409 650.