Reality gives idealism the finger yet again.

I am sure that you have seen videos on your local TV stations that call for donations to help stop the famine in Somalia? That brought in celebrity speakers to endorse the program. There was even a catchy abbreviation too. But looks like that this will be futile since the militant groups are preventing aid and aide groups from working.

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Somali militant group al-Shabab on Monday banned 16 aid groups — including a half dozen U.N. agencies — from central and southern Somalia, a decision likely to harm Somalis already suffering from drought and famine.

The banning of the aid groups falls in line with the group’s skeptical view of the outside world, but will worsen the suffering of the hundreds of thousands of Somalis who have come to depend on aid in the Horn of Africa country’s worst famine since 1991-92.

Oh don’t worry since talking to the leaders of these groups will sort this out wiht a heart to heart discussion. Then know what the true priorities are during this crisis are right?

Al-Shabab accused the 16 aid groups of disseminating information on the activities of Muslims and militant fighters, financing, aiding and abetting “subversive” groups seeking to destroy the basic tenants of the Islamic penal system, and of “persistently galvanizing the local population” against the full establishment of Shariah law, a harsh and punitive interpretation of Islam.

Al-Shabab carries out amputations, stonings and beheadings as punishment. The group also frequently recruits child fighters.

Because of its policies limiting the work of aid groups in its territory — especially the work of the World Food Program — areas under its control were declared famine zones by the U.N. in July. Some of those famine declarations have since been downgraded, but the U.N. says 250,000 still face the immediate risk of starvation.

Yea, so send in that money because it is getting better and better.

Category: Breaking News