AFRICA:HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES have warned that conditions in two conflict-torn regions of Africa have deteriorated rapidly in recent months, with civilians in Somalia and the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in urgent need of greater assistance.
Trócaire and Oxfam were among 52 NGOs to sign a statement highlighting the deepening humanitarian crisis in Somalia, where almost half the population - 3.25 million people - is now in need of emergency aid. "This is a 77 per cent increase since the beginning of 2008," the statement notes.
"This number has increased dramatically over the past year due to the destructive combination of extreme insecurity, drought and record-high food prices. The situation is expected to deteriorate further with ordinary Somalis bearing the brunt of the cost."
The NGOs said there has been no drop in the level of violence that has led to 1.1 million Somalis being displaced from their homes.
"We are appalled by the indiscriminate and disproportional use of force by all armed parties to the conflict, which is further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis," the statement said. "The international community has completely failed Somali civilians. We call on the international community to make the protection of Somali civilians a top priority."
In a separate statement, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) accused the international community of failing to provide adequate assistance and protection to civilians in the North Kivu province of DRC as violence in the area reaches its highest levels in years.
"The already-disastrous humanitarian situation is dramatically deteriorating, yet most UN agencies and NGOs are failing to provide an adequate humanitarian response," MSF said, going on to accuse the international community of failing to address the ongoing conflict as a priority.