Strife in Somalia

While the world’s attention has focused on how to drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait, the Somali people of the Horn of Africa have focused on how to drive dictator Mohamed Siad Barre out of Somalia.

Since Dec. 30, when the rebels of the United Somali Congress began to wage a conventional war against the government of Siad Barre, some 2,000 Somalis are reported to have died while the rest of Mogadishu’s (the capital city of Somalia) residents (2 million) have become refugees without a refuge. The media reported that the fighting has been intensifying day after day without any break-time to bury the dead. The media also reported that food, medicine and water are in short supply.

As the situation in Somalia deteriorates, as Somalis starve, as the injured die for lack of medical treatment, I appeal to the world community to extend its hands to Somalis in their moment of need by providing them with food, medicine and doctors. Since the world community has shipped food and medicine to other war-torn African countries, such as Sudan and Ethiopia, it will be much easier to ship to Somalia. I would like to particularly appeal to the international humanitarian organizations to take steps toward saving Somalis from starvation and epidemic diseases.

The war is about democracy and human dignity. For 21 one years under Siad Barre, the Somali people have experienced a life somewhat comparable to the one experienced by Romanians under Ceausescu. Rest assured that the Somali war isn’t as tribal as fought in Liberia or Nigeria.

ABUCAR HAGI IMAN

Van Nuys