Ethiopia urges protected aid corridors for Somalia
10 Sep BBC
Ethiopia has called for humanitarian corridors in Somalia to be
protected by peacekeepers, so that aid can reach famine-hit areas held
by rebels.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi suggested the move at a regional summit
in Kenya on the East Africa drought and famine.
But UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Somalia Mark Bowden said aid
deliveries were increasing and efforts to provide armed protection could
jeopardise them.
The UN says 750,000 people could die in Somalia's famine within four
months.
Flow of refugees Mr Meles told Horn of Africa leaders "huge areas" of
Somalia remained unreachable. "Many districts are in control of al-Shabab
terrorists. We need to urgently support the TFG [transitional federal
government], AMISOM [African Union Mission in Somalia] and other forces
to create corridors of humanitarian assistance in the liberated areas
and beyond," he said.
Mr Meles said more food aid needed to be delivered to the affected
areas to minimise the flow of refugees from Somalia. Ethiopia shares a
border with Somalia. East Africa correspondent Will Ross says Mr Meles's
suggestion is controversial. Observers say using peacekeepers to guard
aid routes would undermine negotiations on delivery with the Islamist
al-Shabab group.
In July, al-Shabab lifted a ban on aid organisations operating inside
Somalia, but reimposed it after the United Nations declared a famine in
parts of the country. Our correspondent says restrictions imposed by the
group have hampered the aid effort and most people agree that food aid
is not reaching enough people in Somalia.
Regional leaders meeting in Kenya on Friday agreed a solution to the
political crisis and conflict in Somalia was needed.
In a document - to be known as the Nairobi Action Plan - they pledged
to ensure future droughts do not cause such suffering and agreed to
invest in arid areas to help livestock-keeping communities become more
resilient. |