Efforts to aid Somali’s worsening humanitarian crisis must be stepped up to save lives, members of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation told Departmental officials in Parliament today, 10 August.
“While we appreciate the good work being done in Somalia, we want the department to redouble this work” said the Acting Chairperson, Ms Kgomotso Ruth Magau.
Department of International Relations and Cooperation appeared before Parliament to brief the committee on the developments in Somalia. The department’s Deputy Director-General Mr Rapulane Molekane, said a total of R8 million had been raised by South African government for the Somali famine relief programme.
Mr Molekane said South Africa had partnered with and endorsed local aid organisations such as Gift of the Givers, the Africa Muslims Agency and Islamic Relief South Africa, on humanitarian missions. This followed President Zuma’s call for a comprehensive strategy for Somali in his 2011 State of the Nation address. The strategy includes development and capacity building.
Dr Imtiaz Sooliman of the humanitarian movement, the Gift of Givers, emphasised the need for the South African government to move swiftly with its aid interventions as children in Somali were suffering the most.
The Portfolio Committee also noted the urgent appeal of the United Nations for “exceptional efforts” to support Somalis in overcoming the crisis. The UN Secretary General had estimated that over $300 million was urgently needed in the next two months to supply medicine and food to Somalia. The African Union had lamented the level of desperation in that country, and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) had been providing medical assistance to those affected in Mogadishu.
Ms Magau said "the Somali situation needs a political solution by the Somali people, with South Africa’s help as a facilitator."
For media enquiries or interviews with the chairperson, please contact:
Mr Temba Gubula
Tel: 021 403 8307
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E-mail: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
Source: Parliament of South Africa
