Turkish PM to travel to famine-stricken Somalia with his family

[Che -Guevara]

Today's Zaman

August 11, 2011

 

 

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday announced that he will travel to the famine-stricken African country of Somalia along with his family and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.

 

The prime minister announced his decision during his Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) Expanded Provincial Leaders Convention. He said he would travel to Somalia within a few days.

 

“Where is the world as people die of hunger in Somalia? Hundreds of people are dying of hunger and thirst. Are they extending their hands? They are thinking about what kind of a profit the opportunities they hold would provide for them. This is a humanitarian issue. … When will the international community cooperate if not today to save the children who walk towards death every day? Those who exploited Africa for years are now watching what is going on with their conscience dead,” Erdoğan said.

 

Somalia is suffering its worst drought in 60 years. A total of 187 out of every 1,000 Somali children die by the age of 5. There are less than 500 physicians in this country of more than 10 million people. The UN on Wednesday declared three new regions in Somalia famine zones, expanding the area where the highest rates of malnutrition and mortality are taking place, including the refugee camps in the capital of Mogadishu.

 

The UN's food arm said famine is likely to spread across all regions of Somalia's south in the next four to six weeks. Famine conditions are likely to persist until December, the Food and Agriculture Organization said. Across Somalia, 3.7 million people are in need, the UN says, out of a population of 7.5 million. The UN also says 3.2 million are in need of immediate, lifesaving assistance.

 

Turkish aid associations as well as the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) and the Religious Affairs Directorate have launched aid campaigns to help the Somali people.

 

Source: Today's Zaman

[Che -Guevara]

UPDATE 1-Turkey's Erdogan to visit famine-hit Somalia

 

ANKARA Aug 10 (Reuters) - Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday he would visit famine-hit Somalia along with his family in the coming days as part of an effort to draw international attention to the East African country's plight.

 

Visits by world leaders to Somalia are extremely rare due to the extreme security risks, but Erdogan was undeterred.

 

"It is impossible for us to be spectators to the human tragedy in Africa," Erdogan said.

 

"My foreign minister and I will visit Somalia with our families. So, we will get a chance to see the situation there," Erdogan told a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara.

 

It is especially dangerous to visit the Somali capital Mogadishu after Islamist rebels mostly pulled out last weekend, raising the spectre of more guerrilla-style attacks such as suicide bombings after their failure to win a military combat.

 

The government and African peacekeepers admit they do not control all of the capital even after the rebels' withdrawal.

 

The last leader to visit was Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in November last year.

 

His army contributes more than half of a 9,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force propping up the government. But no one from outside Africa has been for a very long time.

 

Istanbul will host a meeting on Aug. 17 of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference aimed at galvanising support for Somalia and drought-struck neighbouring regions.

 

The meeting, which comes during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, was proposed by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

 

Turkey sent two cargo planes laden with 50 tonnes of food and medical supplies to Somalia on Monday and the Turkish Red Crescent is working with the government's development agency and Office of Religious Affairs to raise donations from the public.

 

Turkey, with its multi-party democracy and rapidly growing economy, is widely regarded as a model for development in other countries of the Muslim world.

 

Erdogan's wife, Emine, visited flood-stricken areas of Pakistan last year, raising Turkish awareness of its people's plight. Turkey's speedy response to disasters has strengthened its reputation within the Islamic and developing world. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by Simon Cameron-Moore; Editing by Gareth Jones)

[Che -Guevara]

Amazing!

 

 

It's good to see Turkey moving away from only Euro-centric policies and employing a balanced approach.

[oba hiloowlow]

Mashallah turkidaan waa dad fiican xalay aan ka daawanaye Somali national TV dad kasocda dowladdaas oo booqday xeryaha xeryaha qoxotiga Muqdisho oo deeq gaarsiinaye dadka tabaaleeysan.. Thanks Turkey waxaani waa taariikhii waligiin baan xasuusan doona walaalaheena ee no so gurmaday..

[Che -Guevara]

^We should give Ergodan an honorary citizenship and appoint the president for a year..lool

[oba hiloowlow]

^^^^hahah LOL waa arin wanaagsan

[Aaliyyah]

I was reading about that earlier today...definitely wa sheeko wanaagsan. Hadaan somali qurbe joogta nahay wa wax rajadeena aan somalia u qabno si waynaynaya..allow dalkeena oo nabad ah nugu celi! kun jeer ayaan ku ducaysanaya alle ha aqbalo ducada!

 

salaam

[nuune]

I am just wondering, what has Siilaanyo & Faroole have done for their brethren whom famine had striken so badly, I haven't heard the two leaders talking in public about the famine, remember, tomoro it would be you if not today!

[Showqi]

Haa ma waxaad ka hadleysaa labada dowladood ee ay Soomaaliya jaarka yihiin??????

[Che -Guevara]

Nuune-I heard Faroole saying few words about but no sustained effort. Severe droughts are already creating havoc inparts of the North and malnourishment is not uncommon. But I imagine average people in those are helping.

[Ismahaan]

Masha Allah, at least wadan muslim ah oo ka danqaday dhibka umada soomaalida haaysata. We must make sure that we always support our people. Our people are starving.We must do more to help. Siilaanyo ,faroole as well as shariif should act reasonably and responsibly.

[Che -Guevara]

Dalxiis bee ku jiraan.

[xiinfaniin]

Courage!

[A_Khadar]

Right, those two Faroole and Siilanyo and even Shiriifs waa dalxiisayaal.. But for sure average people in everywhere dal iyo dibad have those who affected by this famine in their hearts. Alle ha u sahlo..

 

I don't think they can do much, but at least Somalidu waxay dhahaan "Hadalna waa sad ee"..

 

This will be unprecedented move by Turshid president. Which deed is better in this month than visiting to those most in need with his family.. Alle khayr badan ha siiyo..

[oba hiloowlow]

Waar Sheikh Shariif is doing well,