International News
Somalis in Britain Help Nation Through Drought
July 12, 2011 · 8 Comments
Somalia is suffering the “worst humanitarian crisis” in the world, according to the head of the U.N. refugee agency, and aid groups are working hard to make sure millions of people hit by drought have access to food, clean water and medical care. But aid is only one way to help people through crisis. Our reporter in London talks to the Somali diaspora in Britain about how cash transfers can help family and friends in Somalia survive the crisis.
In East London, Mohammed Hussein is sending money to his family in Somalia. He says when drought hits they depend on it.
“If it doesn’t get to them, what are we going to do? They’re probably going to die out, to be honest,” said Mohammed Hussein. “People might even wait for rain for three or four months, six months – you never know. All the cattle, all the sheep, everything’s dying at that point so the economy is really, really, poor – I wouldn’t even say we have an economy out there. The economy is us, people out here in London, I would say.”
Many Somalis save hundreds of dollars every month to help their family and friends in the Horn of Africa.
Dahabshiil is the largest money transfer company operating in Somalia. It was founded over forty years ago by a Somali entrepreneur.
Today, the founder’s son, Abdirashid Duale, is chief executive.
“I am British but at the same time I am Somali and many of our customers are like that, whether they are Somali, whether they are Ethiopian, whether they are Ugandans,” said Abdirashid Duale. “People are going about their normal life so that is why a bus driver or someone who is working in the hospital or someone working in the London underground will come to our office and they will send money back to their family and then they will continue living like they would be living in any part of the world.”
Somalis send back extra funds in times of crisis, like now. Somalia is at the center of a drought that’s swept a number of East African countries.
In the war-ravaged capital Mogadishu local aid groups are trying to feed the hungry.
Many people have fled to the world’s biggest refugee camp in Kenya. Others to Ethiopia. Across the region some 10 million people are thought to be in need of humanitarian aid.
But aid is only one way to give help, says Sarah Bailey from the London-based Overseas Development Institute.
“The important thing to keep in mind is that households don’t rely on just one source of assistance,” said Sarah Bailey. “Humanitarian aid can play a very crucial role but it’s only one tool that families need in a time like this.”
An estimated $1.6 billion is sent to Somalia by the diaspora community every year. Bailey says cash is vital in helping families survive, especially when crisis hits.
“I think cash can be extremely empowering to people who are facing a crisis situation and increasingly aid agencies are looking to provide cash-based assistance and not just providing food aid,” she said. “Remittances allow households to make whatever decisions that they think respond to their priorities.”
Source:VOA
Email this story
By Mo Guled
Tags: Abdirashid Duale, Dahabshiil, Somalilandpress
Readers Comments (8)
Somaliland
Somaliland-Ethiopia Relationship
Overpowering Gratitude Vs Vexing Misgivings By Ahmed I. Hassan Author’s Note: This is the chapter on Somaliland-Ethiopia Relationship in a book titled “Somaliland: The Legacies of Non-Recognition” which ...
SOMALIA: Turkish Airlines diverts to Nairobi after security scare in Mogadishu
MOGADISHU — A carrier operated by Turkish Airlines left its Somali passengers stranded in the wrong airport after landing in Kenya rather than their intended ...
UN envoy in Somalia concerned over violent clashes in Hargeisa
Photo: Special Representative Augustine Mahiga (UN Photo/Stuart Price) NAIROBI — The United Nations envoy in Somalia, Augustine P. Mahiga, today expressed concern over recent violent clashes ...
SOMALILAND: President urges citizens to uphold peace and stability
HARGEISA — The Somaliland National Independence day celebrations that was widely marked within and outside the country, had an added flavor when the State House grounds witnessed ...
SOMALILAND: Two Journalists join two others in prison
HARGEISA — Mohamed Abdi Omar and Khadar Farah Hussein, managing editor and reporter/cameraman, respectively, with the newspaper Yool newspaper, became the latest number of journalists ...
Your Say
Why not recognize independent Somaliland?
OPINION | MAY 22, 2012 By Ali Mohamed Twenty-one years ago this month, Somaliland was reborn when the tyrannical regime of Siad Barre collapsed. Since then, the ...
- Somaliland National day – for the sake of a decent life and principle of the future
- Somaliland media: Spreading the word
- SOMALILAND: Where is the Justice in our Justice System?
- Unionist are Dead — Long Live SOMALILAND
- Apprehending Ratco Mladic: a reminder of a war criminal working as jury
- Dr Jowhar: We lost a friend, a Hero
- GEESI LOO HANWEYNAA – A tribute to my hero Dr. Jowhar
- 10 Years after Timor’s Independence, Where Is the Justice?
- Why Hiil Qaran Party Will Not Have a Significant Impact on the Politics of Somalia
- Sunday 20 May: Join in Commemorating late Dr Jowhar
Dr. Abdishakur Jowhar-Franz Fanon of the Somali People
“He lit up a room. If you can imagine the sun, his face was like the sun, that smile, the arm around your shoulder. He ...
Somalia: Federalism, Division and The Dual Track Policy
OPINION | MAY 20, 2012 Photo: Alternative to federalism and Somaliland/Somalia ideology – the three branch Somalia (three branches of government in three different parts of ...
The Somali race have been very generous throughout our history, it is this time of despair and drought that our people need help from us in a broad. The few families that are lucky to have a family member in the UK, USA and other Western countries have hope since they receive money from loved ones, but what about those that have no one in abroad and cannot get money through Dahabshiil? Those are the most vulnerable to starvation. I urge the educated and the Somali singers to visit Dadaab, which is the world's largest refugee camp and the place where thousands of hungry children and women are arriving daily to show them that we have not forgotten them. I visited Dadab in 2009 and could not believe what i saw with my eyes and now with the drought and new arrival it must be a horror. Sade Ali visited the camp last week and told thousands of refugees who came to c her that only Allah can help them and not the agencies. Lets pray for the helpless and also help with money, its happening in Minnesota and i hope Somalis in the UK will do the same.
There is time for talk and there is time for action. I plead to every one of us to donate the maximum amount we can afford as this is drought of a biblical state. I advise to contact all family,friends, co-workers and even strangers to plead them to donate to the East AFrican drought through the – aid organisations .
This is the the current situation and we can only back putting our hand in the pocket and start donating.
The severe drought in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda and Djibouti, the situation is the worst in 60 years and has left an estimated 10 million people on the brink of starvation.
Some of many aid org. you can donate to :
http://www.arf.org.uk/ – african Relief.
ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Cafod, Care International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Plan UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision
Waxaan ummada u,gu talinyaa inaad abaaarta dalkii taalgaa wax lagaa gaabtoo oo umadii loog gaaargaado walalyaaal.
The British empire was is responsible of the Somali civil war and droughts because B/empire divided Somalia handed over parts of Somali territories to Ethiopia and Kenya. After 1963 the number of drought and boarder disputes started to grow. We all remember the first Ethiopian Somalian war and Kenyan Somalian war too. Both wars was the outcome of the British empire mishandling and premeditated injustices because kenya and Ethiopia are Christian countries but Somalia is Muslim country. After several B/E partition of Somali territories and formation of the new boarder lines which limited the movement of Somali nomadic community. Then lives of Somali nomads and their livestock became very difficult. British empire is our enemy and the problems they created is still killing our people I mean it is looking us every day.
I know that Britainn messed up Africa and Somalia by making these borders, especially by giving the Reserve Area and the Hawd Region of the Somalis to Ethiopia on purpose. But today, we have to look at the present. Somalia is broken and until your peope unite and stop fighting each other neither will your honour or Somali land return to Somalis of the South or anywhere.
It is strange to witness Somaliland seeking help from it’s number one enemy. UK was divided Somali territory into several parts and handed over to Ethiopia and Kenya. UK was the created the present Somali suffering and the civil war so how can of us seek help from our victimizer.
Why should you talk about rights? Do you respect Somali's rights? Women and children or men rights? Due believe in respecting others be it from a different gender, class, tribe, clan or religion. Are you any better? Did you show the British any reason to feel any remorse for their support of the Ehtiopians. Think about what type of people you have become and why Allah is punshing you for you're bigotory.
At this moment of dire need in the Horn of Africa, we can all agree whether you are from the North, South, East or West that people need urgent help now. We should put our petty differences aside (albeit for a moment) and do anything to alleviate the suffering afflicting OUR people. This drought will kill hundrends of thousands of our fellow Muslims and Somalis through no fault of their own but being born at the wrong place at the wrong time. Whatever you can muster, $5, $100 or even $1,000, DONATE. Ensure your money goes to reputable NGOs, ones with low overhead cost and most of the money going to fellow Somalis in need. Low overhead cost is 20% or less going to administration and operational matters and rest to the needy. I for one refuse to play politics at this time.
@Adan Somalilander: Kudos to you.
Of course, all Somalilanders first in the name of Islam and Somalinimo second should donate and help as much as possible. Charity and Justice increases a nations' and people's strength as the Prophet SCW taught us that we will succeed by helping the poor among us.
I wish that we become the givers not the takers in the future, the hand above is better than the hand below that takes!!