Stop Somalia's Tragedy

To the United Nations Security Council:

"The Somali people are in the grips of a terrible famine. We call on you to step forward and support key Gulf states like the United Arab Emirates in an effort to lead mediation efforts and ensure Al-Shabaab allows immediate and secure access to all territories under its control for humanitarian agencies. This is the only way to stop the horrific famine. Nineteen years ago, the world witnessed the death by starvation of 300,000 Somalis. Let's not allow this to happen again".

Right now, more than 2000 people are dying every day in Somalia, in a famine that threatens to starve eleven million people to death. Drought has brought this region to its knees, but the food crisis is really fueled by a complete breakdown in governance and international diplomacy, and we can put an end to it.

The famine-hit area is governed by Al-Shabaab, an Islamist regime that is linked to terrorist groups. The isolation and conflict between Al-Shabaab, other local leaders, and the international community has kept out much of the aid and trade that could end the famine. But a few key countries, including the United Arab Emirates, still trade with Al-Shabaab -- they have an opportunity to broker a deal with the regime and break the stalemate that threatens the survival of millions.

We cannot let the politics of the war on terror claim any more innocent lives. It's time for the international community and Al-Shabaab to come to an agreement to immediately get food to the suffering Somali people. The UN Security Council is meeting in a few days -- let's demand that they take immediate action to support key Arab nations in an effort to open talks with Al-Shabaab on cooperating to end the famine and seize this chance for a long-term political solution.

[Source : avaaz.com]