January 24, 2005, 13:30
Njongonkulu Ndungane, the Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, has criticised the media and African Union (AU) for doing very little to highlight the plight of Somalia after the devastating tsunami. Speaking in Cape Town today, Ndungane said it was unfortunate that the emphasis was on Asia, while the plight of Africans was forgotten.
Ndungane returned last week from a mercy mission to Somalia where he donated R450 000 raised in Anglican churches all over the country.
He says he is compiling a letter to national government requesting that they redirect at least some of the disaster funds released to Somalia. Before the devastating tsunami hit, he says, the people of Somalia were already suffering from abject poverty.
Ndungane released a statement by the Somalian government, which states hundreds of people were killed as a result of the tsunami and the damage to property stands at $23 million. The report also states that about 10 000 families in the coastal towns of Somalia have no food money or shelter.
Ndungane says the tsunami was just the latest of disasters with Somalians also having to contend with drought, torrential rain and widespread disease.
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