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The impacts of climate change and the absence of
Somalis |
Mogadishu,
Somalia December 24, 2009 :: For almost
two decades Somalia has not had a central government and Somalis are
under violent behaviour since the collapse of Siad Barre regime in 1991.
Somalia has experienced dramatic environmental shifts following two
decades of insecurity and chaos in the country.
The
protracted crisis has led to an unsustainable use of the country’s
resources. Corrupt businessmen, warlords, and other violent radical
groups, with the help of external spoilers, have contributed to
deforestation and depletion of Somalia wildlife resources.
Today
the entire people in this world are fighting to solve the climate change
and most of international and regional climate campaigners are busy how
it can be easy to solve without doing critical approach.
However, In 2007 the climate has been particularly harsh in Somalia:
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first, the heavy
rains at parts in the caused flooding in central Somalia as well as
the droughts in the other parties caused a lot of problems that
affected the people and the animals. But the rainy season itself was a
disappointment, and water shortage made it impossible to replenish the
reservoirs. Cereal production this year of 2009 is at 30% of the
average for the last decade.
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secondly, clashes
between Islamist-led insurgents and Somalia government along with
AMISOM forces pushed many Somalis to flee their homes and some
displaced persons in camps are victims of the December 2004 tsunami
who lost their fishing boats and came to towns inland hoping for help.
Their
villages and communities were almost 5,000 kilometres from the epicentre
of the earthquake that caused the tsunami, and yet they were not spared.
The
cutting of trees and the making of charcoal have led to deforestation
and desertification and, as a result, made the country more vulnerable
to the impacts of climate change. The lives and livelihoods of Somalia
farmers and of the local communities have been seriously affected by the
impacts of the climate change.
It is
also believed, that toxic wastes are being dumped into the unprotected
Somali territorial waters. Dead fish and closed barrels with chemical
contents have been seen floating over the Somali territorial waters.
The
impacts of the climate change are already causing coastal erosion and
possibly a rise in the level of Somalia seas. The lives and livelihoods
of Somali fishermen along Somalia 3333-km coast are being seriously
jeopardized.
Somalia, coastal infrastructures are being affected. The displacement of
people and the proliferation of piracy constitute a very serious dilemma
for a country that is trying hard to bail itself out of the predicament
that has lasted for a long time.
Somalia continues to witness extreme weather events, changes in weather
patterns, floods and droughts, and the vanishing of its biodiversity.
Agricultural production, food security and access to water resources are
being severely compromised by climate change. Human health is also
impacted by the climate change. Malaria and other vector-borne diseases
are now prevalent in areas that were not previously endemic. This is
indicative of the fact that the impacts of climate change have altered
the ecology of the vectors that transmit certain virulent pathogens that
cause some of the most debilitating diseases in the country.
Apart
from that, Somalis are also suffering. From late 2008 up to the present
time foreign helicopters patrolling warships in Somali waters have been
poaching and stealing wildlife from the coastal villages in North
Eastern Somalia and some Elders and nomadic families of the coastal
villages in Puntland, a self-declared state in northeastern Somalia, are
suffering from foreign helicopters that are hunting and stealing
wildlife on the outskirts of the villages in coastal areas. The most
targeted areas by the flying poachers are Nugal, Karkar and Mudug
regions.
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