IRIN
SOMALIA: Million-dollar drive for flood victims
22 November 2006


[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United 
Nations]

MOGADISHU, 22 November (IRIN) - When Sheikh Nur Barud went on television 
to co-host a fundraising programme, he knew his clout could move Somalis 
in the capital, Mogadishu, and in the diaspora to support hundreds of 
thousands of people across the country uprooted by floods.

"Our brothers need us," the blind scholar said during the drive on 
HornAfrik radio and television on Monday. "Let us show the world we can 
lean on each other at this time of need. Please send in your 
contributions to the money transfer companies. This is the time to help 
one another."

By Tuesday, nearly half a million dollars had been collected for a 
national kitty to help the flood victims. "I have decided to hand in my 
gold ornaments," said one woman, speaking from abroad. "This is my 
contribution towards helping our brothers and sisters affected by the 
floods . I wish I could provide more than that."

Against the backdrop of grim pictures of women and children begging for 
food after their mud-thatched houses had been submerged, hundreds of 
ordinary people from Somalia and as far away as Finland pledged support. 
Even children got involved - young shoe-shiners in the city contributed 
US$6.

Tuesday's contributions stood at $300,000. Another $150,000 had been 
collected on Monday at a fundraising organised by the Union of Islamic 
Courts (UIC), which controls the capital.

Million-dollar drive

Organisers of the programme hope to collect $1 million, saying they will 
air a similar show on 26 November. "We will repeat this programme next 
week," presenter Said Tahlil told listeners. "This is aimed at giving 
more people the opportunity to participate in helping the victims of the 
floods."

Ali Imaan Sharmarke, managing partner of HornAfrik, said the event was 
heard and watched by Somalis both inside the country and in the diaspora 
in Europe, Middle East and Africa via Arabsat television. It started 
7:30 pm local time and ended at midnight "while people were still 
pledging".

"This is our way of saying we should not always wait for outside help, 
we should start helping each other first," Sharmarke added. "We are 
trying to create a new culture of fundraising for the less fortunate 
among us and tell the world that however little we have, Somalis will 
share with each other."

Ahmed Yusuf, chairman of Hormuud Telecommunication Company, said he was 
happy to take part in the project. "This is a noble cause," he said. "We 
have contributed $35,000. I am very happy to join in and help our 
affected brothers."

Humanitarian emergency

With no functioning government, Somalia, which is facing the worst 
floods in decades after the Juba and Shabelle rivers burst their banks, 
is facing a particularly hard time. According to the United Nations, an 
estimated 900,000 people will need food and other assistance in the next 
three months. Many of their villages have been completely washed away.

The Shabelle and Juba rivers which snake through Somalia burst their 
banks last month after heavy rains, submerging villages, bridges and 
roads, making it hard for food aid to reach thousands of marooned 
victims. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fews 
Net), about 1.1 million people in the affected areas are already facing 
a humanitarian emergency.

Apart from killing dozens of people and driving tens of thousands from 
their submerged homes, the rising waters have also raised fears of 
possible outbreaks of epidemics. This week, Fews Net warned that the 
flooding had inundated thousands of hectares of farmland and would 
significantly curtail harvests early in 2007, creating food shortages.

The worst-hit areas are Gedo, Juba Valley, Hiiraan and Shabelle Valley 
regions. On Sunday, residents of Baladweyne town in Hiiraan said hungry 
crocodiles that have come down with the water ate five people, who were 
trying to wade through flood waters to seek shelter on higher ground.

"The year 2006 has been catastrophic for the Somali people. After the 
worst drought in a decade, they are now facing torrential rain," said 
Pascal Hundt, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross 
delegation in Somalia. "Families are pushed to the limit of their 
capabilities trying to survive under such extreme climate conditions. 
What they need most is drinking water, shelter and food."


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