Dialogue with Islamic courts and compliance of L’Aquila Commitment for sustainable agricultural development essential to address drought in the Horn of Africa

Districts affected by

drought in 2011

On 25 July government and civil society representatives from around the globe gathered in Rome at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization’s headquarters to discuss emergency relief and funding gaps for the people affected by the drought in the Horn of Africa

According to government representatives, U.N. officials and nonprofit representatives the response was not activated too late to last year’s early warnings

Districts affected by
drought in 2006

While the distribution of food was guaranted in Ethiopia, in Kenya and in northern-central Somalia, a big challenge is in south Somalia, a region mainly controlled by the Islamic courts. In Somalia, a country affected by a constant conflict in the last 20 years; eight regions are in the hands of Al-Shabab, who forbid international organizations from operating with specialized staff coming from abroad. Therefore, by learning from the past it is essential not too repeat the error made with the drought in 2006 when the international community refused the dialogue with the Islamic courts. it is time to start a dialogue with Al-Shabab as it controls eight regions in central-southern Somalia.

Official Map Horn of Africa
 United Nations

Another issue of concern is the fact that the donor countries just respected only the 22 % of the pledges made for agriculture, for food security through the the L’Aquila commitment for sustainable agricultural development in 2009.