Student

Ubuntu and the Crisis in Somalia The philosophical statement of René Descartes, namely, “Cogito ergo sum” or “Je pense, donc je suis” or “I think, therefore I am” is in stark contrast to the African humanist philosophy of Ubuntu. Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu deftly explains the subtle difference stating “Ubuntu is not, ‘I think therefore I am.’ ‘It says rather: I am a human because I belong. I participate. I share. In essence, I am because you are.’” Ubuntu, therefore, in essence is diametrically opposed to individualism and embraces the fact that human beings cannot exist in isolation, but are somehow rather interconnected to each other. During the recent past, humanitarian disasters like the Indonesian tsunami, Haiti earthquake, Pakistan flood, and Hurricane Katrina have raised worldwide global attention to the devastating effects of Mother Nature’s wrath which have claimed the lives of millions of our fellow human beings. Besides the natural disasters that have wreaked havoc in many parts of the world, we are confronted with an imminent global economic turmoil following the downtrend of US market, making it more difficult for governments around the world to find the necessary surplus resources to be in a position to avert human crisis in disaster stricken areas. Highlighting the consequence of drought and famine in Somalia, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon, is reported to have said that nearly half of Somalia’s population, i.e., 3.7 million people, was in crisis and that a total of $1.6 billion was needed in order to alleviate their plight. However, the volatile political situation in Somalia is also an impediment to emergency relief aid. It was only last year, when the drought was looming that Western aid organizations were forced out of the country and many such organizations are reluctant to come back since many of their aid workers were killed in the recent past. It is precisely why the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, sought security guarantees from the rebel group so that the much needed aid supplies could be delivered to the starvation Somalis. The most affected areas of Somalia are in the south. According to the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) the crisis in Somalia represents the most serious food insecurity situation in the world today, in terms of scale and severity. Caught between conflict and famine, tens of thousands of Somalis have been forced to flee to the Somali capital Mogadishu thereby exacerbating the living as well as the health and sanitary conditions in the make-shift camps that have been set up for the refugees. Visuals of emaciated children keep on beaming around the world, bringing tears to our eyes. Many of these children who find their way to these camps are suffering from severe malnutrition, dehydration, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and kwashiorkor, an acute form of vitamin deficiency affecting mainly children. Paradoxically, famine that is plaguing the inhabitants in the horn of Africa coincides with the commencement of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, wherein Muslims are obliged to fast from dawn to sunset. This long-month exercise to abstain from food, drink and sex is meant to equip Muslims to exercise self control over the instincts of their baser self so that they may grow spiritually and concomitantly identify themselves with those who are living in dire straits and cannot have a square meal a day. While the majority of the Somalis are Muslims and starving, it is heartening to note that many of them who present themselves at the feeding camps, still have the patience not to eat and drink until it is time for them to break their fast. What an incredible feat of faith! While consignments of food are trickling into Somalia from around the world, a South African humanitarian aid organization has embraced the spirit of Ubuntu and mobilized the South African public to open their hearts and contribute generously for the sake of alleviating the sufferings of their fellow brothers and sisters. Four plane loads with tons of food, medical supplies and a team of medical specialists have already left the shores of South Africa en route to Mogadishu, spearheading an initiative of an African response to an African problem. However, the humanitarian crisis in Somalia needs to be perceived as a catastrophe that warrants global intervention in order to alleviate the sufferings of our fellow human beings in that part of the world. There is urgency to save our children in humanity, but alas with the absence of a strategic global emergency aid programme and the looming global economic turmoil, the race to save these children from dying in order to afford them an opportunity to have a future may be elusive.