“What affected me the most was that desperate people are arriving in a city like this only to find that it holds no promise at all but is in total chaos.” For the first time in 25 years a Dutch official has visited the Somali capital Mogadishu. Deputy Development Cooperation Minister Ben Knapen wanted to see for himself what the Netherlands could do to help.

The humanitarian situation in Somalia is disastrous. It’s a race against time, says the Deputy Development Cooperation Minister after a visit to a refugee camp close to Mogadishu.

Security
The drought and above all the unending civil war are the main causes of the food shortage in Somalia and the region. The situation is worsened by the absence of a strong central authority in Somalia, and the lack of basic amenities like health care. Over the years millions of people have been forced to flee war and famine.

Mr Knapen met with President Sharif Ahmed and Prime Minister Abdiwali Mohamed Ali. They told him that security in and around Mogadishu has “greatly improved”. The radical Islamic Al-Shabaab militia, who have been terrorising and destabilising the country for years, have partially withdrawn from the capital. Their positions have been taken by soldiers from the African Union peace-keeping force AMISOM.

Hopeful
This has also come to the ears of the refugees. Recently half a million displaced persons have arrived in Mogadishu, in the hope of finding food and health care. Until now deals have had to be struck with Al-Shabaab and warlords to get aid through to the people. But Mr Knapen is hopeful. “Now Mogadishu is no longer in the hands of Al-Shabaab, I wanted to know what possibilities there were to help people who have fled here because of hunger. And I see there are plenty of possibilities.”

Central and southern Somalia are still inaccessible, so around two million people are not receiving any food aid. International and Somali organisations that have been working there for years, and know the local circumstances and how to deal with pressure from Al-Shabaab, are trying to reach these people as best they can.

Dutch interest
The Netherlands is coordinating aid to Somalia with the European Union. And it’s not just a matter of charity, because the Dutch have a major interest in stability in the Somalia, Mr Knapen says.

“We’re training AMISOM troops in Burundi, we’re involved combating piracy, and of course in the Netherlands we feel the consequences of the chaos in Somalia through the large numbers of refugees that come from Somalia to the Netherlands.”

The Foreign Ministry is considering making extra funds available for emergency aid to the region. Apart from the 155 million euros distributed via international organisations, the Netherlands had also reserved 15 million euros extra for famine relief in the Horn of Africa. Of that sum, six million euros was specifically destined for Somalia.

The Dutch aid is going to projects like the Somali Young Doctors Association, which distributes food to more than 5000 malnourished children and 6000 pregnant women. Or to the Norwegian Refugee Council, which has had 1400 latrines built in Mogadishu for 21,000 displaced people.

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Radio Netherland

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