wfn.org | African Christians Aid Somali Tsunami Victims, Ask World's Help

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

AACC ASKS, "IS AFRICA STILL VISIBLE ON THE WORLD MAP?"

January 26, 2005, Nairobi, Kenya - Whether or not Africa is still
visible on the world map is a question on the thoughts of many,
especially after the tsunami disaster.	Exactly one month ago, tsunami
hit South East Asia and parts of Africa, mainly Somalia, but there seems
to be very little or no talk at all about Somalia, by both the
international community and foreign media.

By Akinyi Lucy Ogot

"It is time for Africa to wake up and lead the way in redeeming itself",
said the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of the Province of
Southern Africa, the Most Rev. Njongonkulu Ndungane.  The Most Rev.
Ndungane made a stop-over in Nairobi at the Jomo Kenyatta Kenyatta
International Airport (JKIA) to hand over a cheque of US dollars
seventy-five thousand donated by the Anglican Community in South Africa
for the tsunami victims in Somalia.

The Most Rev. Ndungane, together with Dr. Molefe Tsele, General
Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and Rev. Fred
Nyabera, Ag. Director of the Fellowship of Churches and Councils in the
Great Lakes and Horn of Africa (FECCLAHA) had just returned from a
solidarity visit and fact finding mission to assess the effects of
tsunami in Somalia.

The cheque was handed over to the Rev. Dr. Mvume Dandala, General
Secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and Rev.
Nyabera to discern what should be done to help begin the process of
misery alleviation for those affected by tsunami in Somalia.

The delegation appealed to the world community to respond generously to
Somalia tsunami crisis as was done in South East Asia.	Mostly affected
are the communities along the north eastern shoreline, with the worst
hit area being Hafun Island.  Over two hundred people, mainly fishermen
died when the waves struck.  Their only source of livelihood which is
fishing was affected as all their boats were destroyed.  The immediate
loss could be estimated at about US dollars half a million.

During the visit, the trio assessed the needs which they classified into
immediate, mid and long term.  "There is an urgent and immediate need
for humanitarian assistance i.e. food, water, medicine and counseling."
said Most Rev. Ndungane.

While the long term need calls for rebuilding of the country which
includes peace and security measures put in place, the mid term needs
identified included the peoples' plea to be helped to "rebuild
ourselves, our region and thus our dignity".  Things like basic
infrastructure, houses, schools, hospitals, places of worship, boats for
fishing which is their main income generating activity and source of
livelihood to enable them earn a living and become self reliant were
identified.  "There is need for a kick-start process" continued
Ndungane.

The Most Rev. Ndungane called on religious communities to take the lead
role in helping the people of Somalia realize their long term dream of
rebuilding and restoring their country. "Reconstruction and development
programmes for the well being of the people, should be put in place", he
said.  He stressed on the need for an urgent attempt to establish peace
and challenged African governments to help support the peace process in
Somalia which would create space for growth and development.

The Most Rev. Ndungane further stated that "we are, first and foremost,
children of one father and therefore, brothers and sisters, irrespective
of our religious and other affiliations.  Secondly we are all Africans.
When one brother or sister is hurting, we are all hurting and this is
what made us take the direction we did".  He further stated that "the
problems of Africa are too big for a divided people.  We, therefore,
need to be together, all sectors and faith communities to win".

Speaking at a the same press conference at the JKIA, VIP lounge, Dr.
Tsele decried the marginalization of the suffering of the people of
Somalia and expressed the need to correct this.  He stated that it was
"less than one month since tsunami disaster took place, yet not a single
international agency, except for UNICEF had visited Somalia."

Dr. Tsele called on the world media who continue to talk only on what
was happening in S. E. Asia to also visit Somalia and bring out the pain
and suffering of people of Somalia.  He reminded the world that whether
in S. E. Asia or Africa, the pain felt by those affected is the same.
Dr. Tsele decried "the poverty in Africa and in particular for Somalia,
the political instability that makes the situation worse, otherwise,
elsewhere, the boats would have been insured".	He stated that this
destruction may mean suffering for many generations to come.

He re-sounded the voices of all the others who have called on the need
to put in place a system for early warning as a means of helping the
world.

Dr. Dandala and Rev. Nyabera expressed their deepest appreciation to the
Most Rev. Ndungane, Dr. Tsele, the Anglican Church in South Africa and
SACC for taking the lead role in responding to the situation in Somalia.

Dr. Dandala confirmed that the AACC will continue with its role of
sending signals to member churches whenever there was a need for the
churches on the continent to act.  He said that, "it is up to us to take
our destiny in our hands.  It is time for the African churches to begin
to respond to our crises as a way of conveying our own commitment.  We
hope that this is only the beginning".

Dr. Dandala assured the delegation that the AACC and FECCLAHA were ready
to work with agencies working in Somalia irrespective of religious
affiliation and other differences.  "We will seek to ensure that every
penny is used towards helping alleviate the difficulties of the people
of Somalia" said Dr. Dandala.

Meanwhile, the magnitude of the tsunami disaster sent a wake-up call and
South Africa has gone a step ahead, taken the lead role and formed an
Interfaith Disaster and Humanitarian Relief Commission.  This body will
among other things, as reported by the Methodist Communications Office
in 'South Africa, will, "raise awareness of the need for vigilance in
monitoring natural disasters in both the developed and the developing
world".  It will also "be involved in on-going disaster management
caused by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and malaria". It will also look at
relief of the African debt burden.

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact: Akinyi Lucy Ogot, All Africa
Conference of Churches Communications and Advocacy Office, Email:
infodesk@aacc-ceta.org; Tel: 254 - 20 - 4441483, 4441338/9 · Fax: 254
- 20- 4443241, 4445835