Brasília – This Monday (15th), the International Committee of the Red Cross opened a current account to raise donations from Brazilians to the victims of the armed conflict and drought that are plaguing Somalia. The institution had already announced that it needed 67 million Swiss francs (roughly US$ 86 million) to provide humanitarian aid to more than 1.1 million Somalis who find themselves in a “dire situation.”
The donations made to the Committee through account number 01034-73, branch 1276, of HSBC will be used mainly so that the Red Cross may distribute food to those most in need. According to the institution, this will allow thousands of people who are now extremely vulnerable and unable to flee the region to survive hunger until the next harvest, due December. The organization has been active in the African country since 1977.
In July, the Red Cross distributed enough food supplies to last 162,000 a month. Still, the situation is considered so critical that the organization has decided to expand its operation in the southern and central areas of the country and offer aid to 1.1 million people who are suffering with food and water shortage and the armed conflict.
The United Nations Security Council reinstated its concern over the situation in Somalia and called on its member states to heed the emergency. The council stated that it has not raised the necessary funds to help the Somali population yet. In late July, the Brazilian foreign office (Itamaraty) announced the donation of 38,000 tonnes of foodstuff to Somalia and 15,000 tonnes to refugee camps in Ethiopia.
During a press conference, the chairman of the council, Indian ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, called on the parties involved in the armed conflict to enable and ensure the access of humanitarian aid to those in need.
“The members of the Security Council call on all parties and armed groups [involved in the conflict] to ensure unrestricted and safe access to humanitarian workers, so that they may aid Somalis in need,” declared the diplomat.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
