A bill to legalise child marriage has been presented to the Somali parliament. At present there is no law mandating a minimum age for marriage in Somalia. Deputy speaker Abdiweli Mudeey’s bill provoked criticism from other lawmakers when they realised it would legalise marriage at puberty. For some girls, this would be when they were Read more
Over six million people in Somalia are likely to starve to death this year. That is nearly half of Somalia’s population in urgent need of humanitarian help. In addition, about 275,000 malnourished children are at risk of starvation, according to aid and development agencies, says Bishop Giorgio Bertin of Djibouti. He says Caritas Somalia is Read more
In Somalia, drought and ongoing conflict have reached crisis levels and affect over half of the population. More than 250,000 Somalis have fled their country in 2011 alone. The mass movement of rural Somalis across the border to Kenya has put significant pressure on already overcrowded refugee camps in Kenya.
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The British public has raised NZ$80 million for Somalia in just over three weeks, but three more regions have been hit by the famine, so much more is needed. Brendan Gormley, chief execution of the British Disasters Emergency Committee said: “To raise NZ$80 million in just over three weeks is a wonderful demonstration of public Read more
Pope Benedict has been following news of drought-stricken Horn of Africa, especially Somalia with “deep concern”. Benedict is urging the international community to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to the drought-stricken area. “Innumerable people are fleeing from that tremendous famine in search of food and assistance. I hope the international community will increase its efforts to Read more