Sir, – John O’Shea of Goal is absolutely correct (July 26th). The famine in the Horn of Africa is far too serious a humanitarian problem for political “dithering”.
Perhaps if the word went out that a major oil deposit had been found in the region, aid Agencies such as Goal and Concern would have no problem in ensuring immediate action from the major powers.
Surely we should relearn the basic truth of that oft-quoted phrase “enlightened self-interest”. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – While he is in reflective mode, John O’Shea might reflect on the images of US servicemen’s corpses being dragged through a Somali street, and then reflect on why outside powers are not overly anxious to get involved in internal Somali politics. – Yours, etc,
EOIN DILLON
Ceannt Fort,
Mount Brown,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – Fundraising for global emergencies is co-ordinated, very effectively, in the UK through the Disasters Emergency Committee. It has been operating since 1963 and consists of 14 charities, including Oxfam, Save the Children, Christian Aid, Concern and Cafod.
Isn’t it high time that we had a similar organisation in Ireland to obviate the duplication of fundraising and advertising expenditure by the main Irish charities, such as Trócaire and Concern, etc, each time we have a disaster, such as the current famine in Somalia? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Regarding the famine in Somalia, we must recognise that a certain amount of the cause of this and other famines in the past is the political situation in that country. While we must of course do all we can to alleviate suffering by sending aid immediately, we should also recognise that unless UN peacekeepers go into this country to set up some kind of stability, there will be many more famines in the future. – Yours, etc,