Libya needs food: The challenges of humanitarian aid

Since the turmoil in Libya carries on, the situation grows progressively desperate for Libyans in need of humanitarian aid. Ships from the United Nations' World Food Program have been turned away from loyalist ports, as Col. Moammar Gadhafi is using food shortages as a weapon against famished rebels. The United States and U.N. are undergoing Libyan humanitarian aid efforts at this time. Post resource - Libya needs food: The struggles of humanitarian aid by MoneyBlogNewz.

Gadhafi plans for refugees to 'invade Europe'

Gadhafi has made it very clear in his comments and proclamations that he plans to fight until death, although many reports about the anti-Gadhafi repels vs. Gadhafi loyalists would suggest a compromise could be in the near future for Gadhafi. Gadhafi has warned that if he falls, thousands of Libyan refugees will “invade Europe,” states Reuters. Many individuals have been leaving to Tunisia. Tunisia is not even a stable country right now.

As hospitals in rebel-held cities like Misrata are drastically short of supplies - and rebel areas in general face food shortages - Gadhafi's prediction that a massive wave of refugees will throw themselves upon the mercy of any country that can offer humanitarian aid may prove to be an accurate one. Reuters spoke with military analyst Shanshank Joshi from Britain’s Royal United Services Institute who said that even though the fighting skills of rebels are “reasonable competent,” they will not likely win

"Government forces have more mobility than the rebels thanks to airlift and a decent amount of road transport,” said Joshi.

Getting Libyan refugees help from United Nations

Valerie Amos is a U.N. aid coordinator. She explained that there are already over 1 million Libyans needing humanitarian aid while more are being taken out of their homes and need it each day. Rebel towns like Misrata, which was recently home to 300,000 people, are considered high-priority areas by the U.N.

"Humanitarian organizations need urgent access now," said Amos. "People are injured and dying and need help immediately."

After announcing the institution of a potential no-fly zone over Libya, United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that the United States has pledged $10 million to help Libyan refugees. The U.N. World Food Program is where donors should be contributing to the trigger.

Libya needs food and a diverse economic climate

Agriculture is challenging to sustain in Libya, writes Christopher Albon for The Atlantic, so the nation has to import much of its food. Considering that food prices have risen 50 to 75 percent in war torn areas of Libya, the panic of food shortage has set in. The suggestion Albon had was that the U.S. should provide food deliveries to the rebel side of Libya. The Benghazi seaport would be where this could be done. The United States likely could avoid getting involved militarily with this move which might reflect well on Obama.

Citations

The Atlantic

theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/03/how-food-could-determine-libyas-future/72097/

Army Times

armytimes.com/news/2011/02/ap-clinton-us-sending-aid-forces-near-libyan-borders-022811/

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/03/07/us-libya-protests-idUSTRE71G0A620110307?pageNumber=1

World Food Product

wfp.org/donate/fillthecup_getinvolved

The Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/news/wikileaks-files/libya-wikileaks/8294883/HEAD-OF-LIBYAS-ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT-BOARD-U.S.-LIBYA-RELATIONS-NOT-JUST-ABOUT-OIL.html

U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya (via Wikileaks) Al Jazeera reports: Using food as a weapon in Libya

youtube.com/watch?v=OfF7DmCGhmU