When Somalia was first declared in a state of famine in 2011, awareness skyrocketed and people all over the world were doing their part to aid the country. However, like most crisis, people forgot and moved on to the next international crisis being publicized by the media. We are now in the year 2013 and the crisis is still crucial. In fact, the famine has most affected women and children. Because of the lack of food, women are forced to scavenge and venture far from home in hopes of finding food for their families and this leads to dangerous situations. Men and rebel armies formed from the chaos and conflict a famine creates, use this opportunity to exert dominance and proceed to rape, rob and kill women. A year into the famine, and mothers still feared sexual violence and worried for their daughters’ safety. Women are being displaced at an alarming rate, suffering from the corruption of militias who distort aid distribution to their advantage.
What’s happening in Somalia is telling of the role of women in the country. The treatment of women in Somalia is very similar to that of Sierra Leone, Liberia and many other countries we studies in Jones “War is not Over When it’s Over.” On top of the fact that they are starving and can’t feed their children, they can’t walk outside without being harassed or raped by a man or a soldier. A crisis rarely ever stays within its limits and will spin out of control if not handled. A famine turns into conflict, which can turn into a civil war. In addition, those that have the least rights have even worse living situations in times of crises. From history we know this, so governments should predict this and focus their energy on keeping women, the fruits of society, safe because they always bear the brunt of these crises.
What’s happening in Somalia is telling of the role of women in the country. The treatment of women in Somalia is very similar to that of Sierra Leone, Liberia and many other countries we studies in Jones “War is not Over When it’s Over.” On top of the fact that they are starving and can’t feed their children, they can’t walk outside without being harassed or raped by a man or a soldier. A crisis rarely ever stays within its limits and will spin out of control if not handled. A famine turns into conflict, which can turn into a civil war. In addition, those that have the least rights have even worse living situations in times of crises. From history we know this, so governments should predict this and focus their energy on keeping women, the fruits of society, safe because they always bear the brunt of these crises.
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