Recently, everyone has heard about the Somali pirates that terrorize the seas around the country, but fewer people know about the brutal fighting that has stricken the entire region. Islamic extremists in the area have been joined by hundreds or foreigners, determined to overthrow the current government and establish a Muslim “haven on the Horn of Africa.” This kind of civil war has been raging for many years, but it is now coming to a head. Last Friday the UN released a statement demanding “that opposition groups immediately end their offensive, renounce the violence and join reconciliation efforts.” Though the UN has also lent strong support to the country’s western backed government, “concern that the government might fall is [still] mounting.”
The situation in this poor African country has not been stable for almost two decades; but now most of the population is reaching refugee status. “Residents have been fleeing for days, sleeping under trees and sheltering children under scraps of plastic.” It is a bleak state of affairs in this war torn nation. Locals describe, in news reports, how the Islamic insurgents careen “around the streets in pickup trucks bristling with weapons.” If it gets any worse, if that is even possible, more refugees will flee to Kenya where 250 000 have already taken up residence. Unfortunately, “there is no hope that the two sides will stop fighting,” and “no one has the upper hand.” Those who have managed to stay say that the conflict is “even worse” than when Ethiopian troops invaded almost three years ago.
Normally, people would not pay as much attention to fighting in Africa, which has been going on as long as anyone can remember, but the Somali coastline lies along an important sea-trade route just below the “oil rich Arabian peninsula.” This proximity to one of the world’s most important resources is what makes the fighting so unnerving for western style governments all over the world. If Islamic extremists take over Somalia, they could branch out taking other lands as well and cut off the oil supplies to anyone they deem necessary. It is disgusting really that we only choose to get involved with a crisis that would benefit us. Who are we to choose which humanitarian efforts are worth our while? Shouldn’t we be trying to help everyone possible? I’ll let you come to your own conclusion on that one, but I for one would like to see stronger measures taken by the UN on all fronts, not just when western powers call for them.
The situation in this poor African country has not been stable for almost two decades; but now most of the population is reaching refugee status. “Residents have been fleeing for days, sleeping under trees and sheltering children under scraps of plastic.” It is a bleak state of affairs in this war torn nation. Locals describe, in news reports, how the Islamic insurgents careen “around the streets in pickup trucks bristling with weapons.” If it gets any worse, if that is even possible, more refugees will flee to Kenya where 250 000 have already taken up residence. Unfortunately, “there is no hope that the two sides will stop fighting,” and “no one has the upper hand.” Those who have managed to stay say that the conflict is “even worse” than when Ethiopian troops invaded almost three years ago.
Normally, people would not pay as much attention to fighting in Africa, which has been going on as long as anyone can remember, but the Somali coastline lies along an important sea-trade route just below the “oil rich Arabian peninsula.” This proximity to one of the world’s most important resources is what makes the fighting so unnerving for western style governments all over the world. If Islamic extremists take over Somalia, they could branch out taking other lands as well and cut off the oil supplies to anyone they deem necessary. It is disgusting really that we only choose to get involved with a crisis that would benefit us. Who are we to choose which humanitarian efforts are worth our while? Shouldn’t we be trying to help everyone possible? I’ll let you come to your own conclusion on that one, but I for one would like to see stronger measures taken by the UN on all fronts, not just when western powers call for them.
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