Sir, – Your editorial “Famine in Somalia” (July 25th) outlined in some detail the crisis in the Horn of Africa, alluding particularly to the plight of upwards of four million of the worst-affected people trapped inside Somalia, to whom aid cannot be delivered because al-Shabaab militias will not allow aid agencies to operate there.
I agree wholeheartedly with your plea that the world should “realise its moral imperative to save lives” in Somalia. However, I was disappointed that no indication was given as to how you imagine this moral imperative might be advanced.
In essence, we have a situation in Somalia where the fate of millions of drought-stricken, starving people is being decided by a terrorist group. Either the world acquiesces in that, or does something to change the situation. I would argue that it has a moral imperative to do the latter.
With time being a critical factor, there is of course only one avenue open to the international community: that is for the UN to go into Somalia, face down the terrorists and establish enough safe corridors for aid personnel to mount a meaningful relief effort. – Yours, etc,