The African Union called Tuesday on the international community to come to the aid of Somalia, where one in three people are suffering from the combined effect of unrest and drought.
“Close to three million people, that is one in three Somalis, are in need of humanitarian assistance,” said the AU in a statement.
“This has led to major displacements into urban areas, in particular Mogadishu, as well as in neighbouring countries.
“The chairperson of the commission [the AU’s Jean Ping] strongly calls on all AU member states to contribute in whatever way they can to the alleviation of the suffering of the affected populations.”
Mr Ping asked all AU partners and international humanitarian organisations to provide “much needed financial and logistical support” for the relief efforts in Somalia. more