Replay. We in Africa are stuck on replay. Again thousands of people, mainly children, are dying of starvation in the Horn of Africa, particularly in southern Somalia. Again the United Nations has launched a desperate consolidated appeal for humanitarian assistance.
This time about $2.4-billion (and $300000 in the next few weeks) is needed to prevent many more thousands from dying. Again, African leaders are failing our people, with an African Union response that can only be described as too little, too late.
Jerry Rawlings, former Ghanian president and AU envoy to Somalia, cried in Mogadishu last week when he witnessed soldiers beating up desperate, exhausted Somalis fighting for food aid. Tears, as sincere as they are, are just not enough.
On July 14, a week before the UN declared a famine in the region, the AU approved a $300 000 grant to deal with the crisis. It appealed to its members, donor agencies and the “international community at large” to provide further support. This contribution and appeal is so little and so late, given that the threat of famine has been looming against the backdrop of war and drought for the past year.
Why is it that we have to beg our leaders for help in the face of death and desperation again? Why is it that over the past months our leaders have prioritised the defence of Muammar Gaddafi, a dictator who has overstayed his welcome at the helm and has now turned on his own people, while our children in the Horn of Africa face a slow death from starvation — again? Why is it that we continue to be soft on corruption and corrupt leaders on this continent?
Africa is among the most rapidly growing economic regions in the world. But so far only two countries outside the drought and famine-affected countries have pledged aid — North Sudan and South Africa. And South Africa has pledged a paltry R1-million. Last year we gave the National Youth Development Agency more than R30-million to throw a disorganised and debauched youth festival. Our priorities seem clear.
Perhaps this latest humanitarian crisis that is killing more of our children will serve as a catalyst for change. Perhaps one day soon we will be able to hit the fast-forward button.