Ravaged by civil war and famine, Somalia, north-east Africa, continues to grab global headlines and touch humanitarian groups. To date, tens of thousands of Somalis are feared dead in the world's worst famine in a generation, the UN said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the US said it will allow emergency funds to be spent in areas controlled by al-Qaeda-linked militants as long as the fighters do not interfere.
At home, Is There Not A Cause (ITNAC), led by Avonelle Hector-Joseph, has embarked upon the Somalia Outreach Programme. To date, they have sent US$300 in aid. A team will be leaving for Kenya on August 4; they intend to make a concerted effort to head to the Somalia border.On Friday, missionaries Sherry Eligon-Walcott and Ronald Buckmire spoke about plans to reach Somalians and Kenyans. Pastor Bernard Msandu will be their host. Previously, they helped Haiti and Jamaica.Spearheading the project, Eligon-Walcott said: "Somalia has been going through its worst drought in 60 years. Children are malnourished and women are leaving them to die along the way. Farmers have lost their livestock and they are running toward the border."
"We sent US$300 to feed Somalia. It is enough to feed 60 families. We are raising funds towards the immediate health and food issues. We are looking at long term like rearing goats and digging wells."When we get to Kenya we will be commissioning a well at Marigat for the Masai and installing a pump. We want to establish a clinic. We want to release women held in hospitals because they can't pay the bill. They are not going to release them. We sent funds to release some of them. US $300."
Helping Somalia
• Interested people can call 330-3135/394-2042 or 742-1879
Republic Bank Ltd 510009446802 (Haiti)
First Citizens (1660410)
ITNAC is hosting a fund-raising dinner on August 1 at Holiness Revival Ministries, Woodbrook, at $150.