Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides) - The Guinean general Sékouba Konate, High Representative of the African Union at the African Force in standby, went to Somalia to inspect the troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia.
The African military (mainly Ugandan and Burundian) support the transitional government in Mogadishu, recognized by the international community. The situation in the Somali capital is changing after the withdrawal of the Shabab militia that has allowed government troops to take control of some areas of the city.
In the meantime, the emergency caused by drought that has killed thousands of people and the displacement of millions of others in Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as in other parts of Somalia continues. Throughout the Horn of Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and parts of Kenya, as well as some parts of Uganda) 12 million people risk hunger.
The U.S. government has announced the allocation of 17 million dollars in additional aid (of which 13 are intended only for Somalia). So far, Washington has allocated $ 580 million to deal with the drama of the African drought.
Turkey has launched an appeal to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (IOC) for urgent action in Somalia and has sent a series of emergency aid in the country. In Istanbul on August 16, OIC held an extraordinary meeting to discuss a plan to help the Somali people.
"Substantial help" was sent on behalf of the Pope, from the Pontifical Council Cor Unum and some dioceses of the Horn of Africa. In L'Osservatore Romano, the Secretary of the Pontifical Council, Mgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, emphasizes the "special care with which Benedict XVI follows the plight of the region" and his "concern for the stricken populations ". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/08/2011)
