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OIC pledges $350 million to Somalia at Turkey summit
August 17, 2011 · 20 Comments
Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries have pledged $350 million in aid to fight famine in Somalia at an emergency summit in Istanbul, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said Wednesday.
With some 3.7 million Somalis at risk of starvation in the Horn of Africa country, Ihsanoglu said he hoped the aid would soon reach $500 million and urged donors to improve drought-stricken Somalia’s long-term food security by helping it rebuild infrastructure and agriculture.
“All in all we have secured $350 million in pledges. We hope to raise the commitments to $500 million in a very short time,” he told a news conference after the summit, held in Turkey’s commercial capital during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan appealed for aid for Somalia, criticizing millionaires who drive luxury cars and the “Western world’s” arrogance for ignoring the plight of the poor.
In a speech sprinkled with references to Islamic piety and criticism of Western capitalism, Erdogan said the Somali famine was “a litmus test” not only for Muslims but for all humanity.
“If you ride a luxury car you should be generous enough to people who are struggling with hunger,” he told foreign ministers from the 57-nation OIC at an emergency summit in Istanbul to galvanize support for Somalia and neighboring regions also hit by drought.
“I hope the efforts (of the OIC) will mobilize the sleeping consciences. We hope the Western world, which likes to boast about its per capita income, shows its support for Somalia.”
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last week her country would give an extra $17 million to combat famine in the Horn of Africa, including $12 million to help Somalis — bringing total U.S. humanitarian aid to the region to more than $580 million this year.
The OIC recently changed its name from Organization of the Islamic Conference to Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed said his country was unable to raise enough food and cattle, and faced militant attacks. The worst-hit areas are controlled by al Shabaab militants, who have prevented aid from getting to people.
The rebels, who have waged a four-year insurgency against Somalia’s Western-backed government, withdrew from Mogadishu earlier this month, opening the way for life-saving food aid but also raising the risk of insurgency attacks.
TURKEY IN AFRICA
Muslim Turkey, a rapidly growing economy and multi-party democracy that has applied to join the European Union, is widely regarded as a model for Muslim and other developing countries.
The OIC summit offered Turkey a chance to showcase its commitment to Africa when other emerging powers are scrambling for trade and investments in the resource-rich continent.
Erdogan, a pious Muslim who fasts during Ramadan, used his 30-minute speech to burnish his image as a hero among many Muslims, a status he has gained for his criticism of Israel and his support for Palestinian statehood.
“What can we say to people on the other side, making trillions of dollars, capitalizing on others? What kind of civilization is this?” he said, raising his voice at times.
“We come from the community of the Prophet, who says you cannot sleep peacefully if your neighbor is hungry. The Somali people are looking at us. Can we turn our gaze away?”
Erdogan will travel to Somalia Thursday with his family. He plans to visit relief camps and will be joined by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his family.
Visits by foreign dignitaries are extremely rare in Somalia, plagued by war and anarchy for the last two decades.
Turkey lags other emerging powerhouses such as China, Brazil and India in the race for new markets in Africa, but under Erdogan’s AK Party government, Turkey has boosted trade with the continent and opened several new embassies there.
Davutoglu later heads to South Africa and Ethiopia as part of an African tour aimed at raising Turkey’s diplomatic presence in the continent and expanding business ties.
Erdogan said Turkey would open six field hospitals in Somalia and send 20 tonnes of medication and 10 tonnes of food.
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By Mo Guled
Tags: East Africa Drought, Ethiopia, Kenya, OIC, Somalia, Somaliland, Somalilandpress
Readers Comments (20)
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Allahu akbar! May Allah bless Turkey
"you cannot sleep peacefully if your neighbor is hungry" this is something that needs contemplation. This is the worst year for Somalia but hopefully the last year of war. al-shabab left Mogadishu and things will gradually get better ending this misery war and famine. The suffering of Somalia has been far too long.
Where are the arabs?……
ummm, Monaco and Las Vegas.
Muslins opening their eyes and helping their less fortunate fellow Muslins is long time coming. If the Muslins unite and kept their dolloar investment within the Muslin countries, there would have been no need accepting handouts from the Westerns which carry lots of strings attached to it. Keep your wealth within the Islamic Community and everything will be fine.
“We come from the community of the Prophet, who says you cannot sleep peacefully if your neighbor is hungry. The Somali people are looking at us. Can we turn our gaze away?” This is a very powerful, powerful messag that gave me a teary eyes. I hope, they follow it through. Barak Allaahu fiinkum yaa Turkeya.
Gobaag dear, if the richer Muslims keep their dollar investiment within the Muslim communities, their wealth will be stollen or looted. Look at the Somalis looting food aid for the hungry in Mogadishu. The non-Muslim World respect and follow their laws but Muslims cannot respect even their Lord's Law. That is the difference.
Finally, they pull a stick out of their rear and carried out what Islam instructs us to do. Mashallaah, those poor souls are forever greatful for your kind assistance. Lets just make sure it is used and distrubuted properly and not diverted for personal use. Especially, they should watch out for those scrupulous NGO, modern day vultures in waiting. I also hope that they use portion of this fund for resettlement and rehabilitation of those uprooted communities and villages, so they can support themselves instead of relying on meager food aid forever in areas less prone to drought.
Like 10% of the aid will reach the poor rest will be lost to corruption
The UAE gave free computers and donated millions of dollars to a small town in America that experienced tornado which leveled the town. Kudos to them. HOWEVER, when it comes to fellow Muslims in Somalia they are doing NOTHING. These Arabs are the same people who wanted to manage ports in America, but there was a strong opposition by the very Americans they are dishing out to millions of free dollars. What is wrong with this picture? I am for helping anyone in need but why are they ignoring their fellow Muslims in Somalia? Is it because they think of us as "Abid."
@ my brother Ahmed, did you say they link us with Abid? Indeed they don't link you with Abid they consider you Abid. The Arabs consider Somalis Slaves and care less about our suffering, we should stopp associating with the Arabs and make good relations with Israel, we should stopp promoting thier culture by stopping to wear their clothes such us Khamiis Imaamad, Look at the misery the arabs brought to our people by importing Wahabism which is a new and a dangerous brand of Islam, a brand that is not intended for humanity a brand that wants to tell you how to walk in the streets, what to eat, the type of a hair style you should be wearing and a brand that will kill the innocent for watching a football match and then ask questions later. Alshabaab is imported from the Arab States, The majority of our people practice peacefull Suffi Islam, so my point is the Arabs somehow share the blame for creating this famine. This is man made, the drought is from god but famine is created by conflict.
You must have been deported from a gulf state.
It is their money period. What Somalia has done to help itself let alone other countries? Nothing…The bad deeds of Siad Barre still raking havoc in the country…Bloodshed is every where…it will never change until the people change themselves..
Lets hope the warlords in Muqdisho don't steal this time from the starving women and children but I wonder who will stop them if they do?
I don't understand Why we are attacking the Arab people who have contributed more then any other country. May be some of you are not realising this but the Muslim world has been more the generous in terms of Aid and Money. What they haven't yet ok'd is military Aid? I think people confuse themselves and shot them selves in foot. UAE, Kuwait, and even Palestine have donated. We have trading deals with many more who accept our refugees also. It is in conceivable that a muslim country Somalia could be so ungratefull when the famine was mainly caused by poor governance. How could they talk of good muslim countries when they themselves consistently break all the rules. My advise to all Somali people is to learn to be humble which isn't being a slave judging by inferiorty complex this is behind you're rants against muslim people. Do not judge unless you want to be also.
I really shaded tears when I read speach of Turkish Primer Minister Tayyip Erdogan. I have nver seen any Muslim leader like him tirelessly strugling to save the lives our people daying of hunger and war.
HIS WORD WILL REMAIN NOT ONLY IN OUR MEMORIES BUT ALSO IN OUR GENE.
May Allah bring love and understanding among Somalis.
May Allah Bless Turkey, its leaders and other Muslim brothers and sister supporting our people.
Ahmed
Imagine what would happen to you and your extended familes in the rural areas without livestock Markets in the middle east. Arab gave somalis the opportunity to export livestock in the enitire horn to their market. Yes, there are barriers, but we are still benefitting.
I share the feeling of many Somalis that they have done little to respond to our suffering. But by hurling bad words toward them, I don’t think we can win their support. Rather it would be wise find ways to bring their attention to us, for example organizinf people to people forums and discussion at various locations accross the world and even in the middle east, formation of aid organizations that raise funds in the arab world and deliver support to to somali people etc.
Yes there are Wahabis who send bad guys, but you should also know that there are intelectual and people with good wills with whom we can deal with.
Living in the arab world, Somalia is on everyone's minds, the poor people in gaza are giving donations to somalia, the news and the tv shows bring stories from somalia and have telethons.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/index.php/opinion/1475… http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/somalia-f… http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/government/camp… http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/Art… http://213.158.162.45/~egyptian/index.php?action=… http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/483006 http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article484205.ece
The real question we should be asking ourselves is what are fellow somalis doing for Somalia? We need to start taking responsibility for OUR actions, we won't get far blaming the arabs for everything while we haven't had a real country for almost 20 years now. We need to get over our victimhood mentality and petty tribalism and start working for the betterment of our country, instead of waiting for arab handouts.
Seems like some people, namely "Ahmed Wadani" is confusing religion with culture. I for one am proud to be a Muslim. I strive to follow my book the Qur'an and the hadiths of the prophet Muhammed (PBUH) to the best of my abilities. There are times I fail to do that but I am trying. No where in the scripture does it say Wahabism or Sufism is the right path. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said Islam will be divided into 77 sects and only one is the correct path to go. Think about that, many sects but ONE is the righteous path. This is one of the signs that the world is coming to an end, when the followers asked the prophet (PBUH.) about signs of apocalypse approaching.
My beef is with the impotent Arab governments who after billions of dollars made in oil can not produce or manufacture anything in the world. Name one product Arabs innovated or invented in the last 1000 years.
BTW "Wadani" Israel discriminates against its own "ABID" the Ethiopian Jews. Surf the web and there are many articles about Ethio. Jews facing discrimination in Israel. Also, caging people in Gaza is inhumane and against the teaching of any religion. What would Yahwe say?
Arabs generally give a lot when it comes to aid, but I'm afraid most of the rich arabs today are just very image minded, with extrema love of this dunya, and pleasing the westerns in every move they do thus forgetting about the less fortunate Muslims around the world. Poor governance,backward thinking and war is what caused the suffering of Somalis in Somalia but the current situation is emergency and to cry out to the world is a must and to receive international emergency aid is vital to put stop to ever so increasing deaths. It is already too late for so many.
Hoever, I am concern whether Somalis will come out of their backward thinking or not. Many already lost their human decency by stealing from the poor, killing became a hobby and violence is just every where. Many cannot think beyond their tripe, sometimes I wonder whether Somalis are cursed, being punished or being tested. Whatever the case I hope Allah puts end to this misery and open up a new clean, thriving, peaceful, loving, forgiving, helping, caring page for us Somalis wherever we are and whatever state or region we are in. I hope Somalis never ever face war again. We have been in WAR all our life. PEACE to every fellow Somali
This has nothing to do with Islam. What is really wahabism? Why is Saudi Arabia always linked to wahabism and extremism and is blamed for everything. Al-shabab are monsters and is nothing to do with Saudi Arabia or Islam.
Islam will be divided into so many sects and only one sect is the saved sect…who are the saved sect? the one who sticks to the Quran and Sunnah. Not the one who practices the religion based on ignorance. for example where in Islam did it say to do mawlid, to visit graves, to call upon others beside Allah, to kill for fun. Most of the so called Muslim groups are full of innovation and ignorance. I guess we as Muslims need to seek KNOWLEDGE rather than follow our emotions and our opinion on whats right and wrong. Islam is complete and Muhamed (pbuh) gave us step by step example on how to follow the Quran and practice the deen.
may Allah bless tayyip erdogan.all of us needs this kind of leader.