APNU, AFC deeply troubled by famine in Africa

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) joined with president Bharrat Jagdeo in expressing deep concern and solidarity with the suffering people of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, who are experiencing the worst famine on the African continent in 60 years.

In a statement, APNU acknowledges that the details of this event are still troubling and disturbing, which have been reiterated in the international media: 12 million people in need of urgent help; children dying of starvation; children so weak in the arms of their mothers that they cannot return a handshake; and the bleached carcasses of animals dotting a bleak landscape.

The refugee camps established at Dadaab and Lowar in Kenya, Badbaad and Galkayou in Somalia and Kobe in Ethiopia are valiantly struggling to cope with the consequences of this unprecedented tragedy.

According to APNU, countries, such as Guyana and those which are members of the “developing” world do not have the resources or the logistical capacity to make an immediate impact on the famine situation in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. But they do have the capacity to keep the global community focused on this issue until there is the kind international cooperation which can bring hope and relief to the peoples of the Horn of Africa.

“In this regard, we wish to offer the suggestion that as the international community seeks to deal with the famine, they should look at the deeper reasons for its cause or causes and opt to find solutions to them. Surely, in the first decade of the 21st century, humanity as a whole, richly endowed with the developments in science, the methods of governance, and the experience of humanitarian crises, can use our collective will and wisdom to help solve the tragedy in the Horn of Africa,” APNU emphasised.

The party said in Guyana, we can take a number of small steps to raise global consciousness about this tragedy. “We can call on the regional community to declare that our common humanity demands that we declare solidarity with the peoples of the Horn of Africa and join the international community in finding solutions. We can also start a fund for the Horn of Africa locally and invite regional participation.

We can also see whether we cannot afford to send medical personnel to assist such organisations, as Medicin Sans frontiers, which is doing commendable work to help the peoples of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. Above all, we cannot remain silent or inactive in the face of this tragedy on a continent with which Guyana has an historical association.” APNU said it is prepared to make this declaration open to all political organisations which agree or subscribe to these views.

Meanwhile, the Alliance For Change in its weekly press conference on Wednesday called on the international community to abandon its relative indifference and prioritise the deteriorating situation in Southern Somalia.

“The AFC submits that there is solid and sober justification for referring this case to the International Criminal Court,” the party declared.

According to the statement issued at the briefing, if the claims of the witnesses that they were prevented from leaving the region by armed groups are true, then this could constitute a solid basis for an indictment for crimes against humanity.

“The AFC submits that members of the (UN) Security Council need to act. They don’t need to authorise military force – just a criminal investigation. They don’t need to accept any of the inspirational theories about famine as a violation of international law. They only have to read the legal definition of crimes against humanity,” the party noted.