Monday, May 1, 2006
BAIDOA, Somalia (AP) — The international charity Oxfam said Monday that the transfer of resources from development projects to pay for short-term relief in drought-plagued East Africa could undermine long-term solutions to food crises.
Oxfam’s statement came as senior U.N. humanitarian envoy Kjell Magne Bondevik, a former Norwegian prime minister, visited this interim capital to meet with leaders of Somalia. Bondevik was on the last leg of a five-nation tour to study the effect of drought in East Africa.
At least 7.5 million people are suffering from the worst drought in a decade in parts of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya and Djibouti, with their cattle herds dying off. Food supplies to 18 million people were in jeopardy.
Only a tiny fraction of aid needed to help them has been received, although the crisis is worsening.
“Emergency relief is needed now and more of it. Donors are right to make this the first priority, but there needs to be a plan to help rebuild lives as well as save them,” said Paul Smith Lomas, head of Oxfam in East Africa. “We risk getting into a pernicious cycle where money for long-term recovery is being diverted to fund emergency relief.”
“If long-term projects are raided every time we face a crisis, the region will never progress,” Lomas said. “Instead of robbing Peter to pay Paul, additional funds should be made available now to support both strands.”
The U.N.’s consolidated appeal for Somalia, launched March 21, is only just over a quarter funded. Of this money, the vast majority goes to food aid, drinking water and sanitation activities, Oxfam said in a statement.
Donors have not pledged any support to an appeal for longer-term economic recovery and infrastructure to accompany the immediate needs, according to Oxfam.
Agricultural rehabilitation has so far received a paltry 5 percent of the money requested.
In Ethiopia — where food aid requirements are 78 percent funded and water and sanitation needs are 64 percent met — only 1 percent of the funds requested to meet longer-term solutions have been received, according to Oxfam.
Source: AP, May 1, 2006
