Minnesotans for Somalia

Somalia is facing its worst drought in 60 years and thousands are in need of life-saving food assistance. The conditions are horrific and for the first time since 1984, the UN has officially declared a famine. For more on the issue, read Misery Follows as Somalis Try to Flee Hunger, an article in the nytimes on the unspeakble struggles people are experiencing.

Please help those impacted by the drought by donating to ARAHA, a local nonprofit that is aggressively working on the ground to provide relief to displaced individuals and families. A $100 contribution to ARAHA will feed a family of 6 for a month. Give what you can to help those impacted by this devastating drought.

From ARAHA's website:

Our office in Mogadishu has just sent us a chilling report on the situation of the displaced families pouring into the city every day. The number has reached an overwhelming 4,360 families as of July 13, 2011 and it continues to rise by the hour.

Most of these people were forced to leave everything behind as they began the 3-4 day walk from parts of southern Somalia to the dangerous Mogadishu area. Many had little or nothing to eat, and it is reported that children and adults weakened by malnutrition have died on the way to refugee camps and other areas where displaced persons gather. So far, ARAHA has been the only organization to help by delivering food baskets to the first established group of those recently displaced. ARAHA meets the accountability standards set by the Charities Review Council's "Meets Standards" Seal based on its operations. Visit www.araha.org for more.

More on the topic:

- Kristin Davis' remarks on her recent trip to a Kenyan refugee camp
- Kate Downing Khaled's heartfelt blog post on the topic
- Somalia Drought: 300 Children Left For Dead On Journey To Refugee Camp via Huffington Post
- Somali children, clinging to life, hit hard by drought via the Washington Post