Aid Group: Somalia needs Massive, Immediate Famine Response

An international aid agency said a massive and immediate humanitarian response is needed to save the lives of millions of Somalis whoare undergoing the problem of grave hunger and several health problems because of the ongoing drought in  the Horn of Africa.  The International Rescue Committee (IRC) said the aid should be increased so as to match the scale of disaster. Zoe Daniels, deputy director of programs for the Horn of Africa, said an aggressive and global mobilization of emergency aid is required. She added that the scale of the disaster in the Horn of Africa, especially Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya and adequate funds has to be provided so as to save the lives of millions of Somalis that are at a risk of hunger and disease. Daniels also stated that the international response should not be confined just to food aid. Daniels said that the people at risk also comprises of refugees that have moved from Somalia, and there needs to be a huge respone in terms of the level of funds that are provided and there also needs to be access to meet the people's needs. She said that the IRC had been responding to the crisis from its onset several months ago. It had been providing the needed support in both Dadaab camp in Kenya and Dolo Odo in southern Ethiopia. The UN this week declared a famine in southern Somalia's Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions, both strongholds of the Al-Qaida linked militant group al-Shabab. Al-Shabab recently allowed some foreign aid agencies into the region, reversing a ban on most relief groups. The entire security of Somalia has been affected and is unable to access the areas. Reported by     AR