Yahoo! News spoke to a reporter who is in Somalia
and has seen first-hand what it’s like in the refugee camps
of the war-torn and famished country.
“There was no food, no help. There are kids dying left and
right—I'm not exaggerating. They buried 12 on the day I visited,”
said Jason Straziuso, a reporter for the Associated Press.
“The most touching thing so far has been when this small child
waved at me yesterday. I stuck my head in her tent and she was
lying, motionless, flies flying everywhere and she sort of stuck
her head up and waved at me,” he said. “That put a lump
in my throat because I don't know that she's going to get better,
in fact I think she has a good chance of not getting better.”
African Union forces have launched an offensive to keep aid
agencies safe as they bring food and supplies to the thousands
of refugees in Mogadishu.
Below
are organizations that are working on relief and recovery
in the region:
International
Medical Corps: The group has mobilized
teams in Kenya, Ethiopia
and Somalia -- three countries expected to bear the brunt
of the drought -- to respond to this growing humanitarian
crisis. Donate
here.
Save
the Children: Save the Children has launched
a major humanitarian response in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia,
feeding tens of thousands of children, providing life-saving
medical treatment, and getting clean water to remote communities.
Donate
here.
World
Vision: World Vision has established 6-month
response plans for Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. Donate
here.
American
Red Cross: The American Red Cross' disaster
relief efforts help those affected by the drought and current
humanitarian emergency in Horn of Africa. The group is working
to develop community resilience to help mitigate the effects
of future crises. Donate
here.
US
Association for UNHCR: UNHCR
is working in Somalia and neighboring countries to provide
security, shelter, medical care, food, clean water and basic
necessities. Donate
here.
Oxfam
America: Oxfam has set up water and sanitation
facilities in the camps and is providing therapeutic feeding
to women and children, and distributing food aid. Donate
here.