Due to the failure of the "Gu" seasonal rains, the Ogaden is currently undergoing a severe drought the likes of which have not been witnessed for decades. The populations of Liiban, Afdheer, Shabelle, Qorahay and Wardheer provinces are experiencing severe strain due to lack of rains and drying water wells. We are beginning to see widespread signs of extreme malnutrition with children and the elderly who have started to die throughout Ogaden.
Livestock is also being affected by the drought. Sheep, Goats and cattle populations are being depleted and competition for grazing land among pastoralists is increasing as remaining livestock is moved outside the traditional grazing areas of their owners, while thousands are trekking to the refugee camps of Kenya. The situation is further exacerbated by the Ethiopian regime's embargo on aid and trade with Ogaden and its severe restrictions on humanitarian organizations seeking to assist our people including any and all organizations which are operated by the Ogaden Diaspora.
The extent and nature of this drought require that such a corridor be set up immediately by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in order to prevent countless deaths. The regime of Melez Zenawi simply can not be trusted with the lives the people in Ogaden as the casualties of this drought increase daily. Meles Zenawi publicly declared during his press conference on Tuesday, that the rains were good and the government had everything under control, instead of appealing to the international community for help to alleviate the situation.
The ONLF strongly appeals to the Security Council to take bold action on this developing drought in Ogaden and the Horn of Africa in general. Not to act, given this imminent catastrophe would be to sow the seeds of increased instability in the Horn of Africa.
Issued by Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)
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