Somalia and South Sudan to receive £100 million each in UK aid

Brighton Mod said:

Be careful what you wish for, I have considerable experience of Somalia and had seen millions of pounds given there in differing ways and by many conduits. £100m doesn't mean £100m to starving children who become dependent on overseas hand outs, but means £40m channelled through Save the Children, £1 through Oxfam etc etc. The best performers I ever saw were Medicins Sans Frontier and Medicins du Monde. The worst performers I ever saw were the UN and the EU, both self serving, first to run when it became difficult and both just so poorly out of control financially it actually became embarassing. Dig deep to find the real story and you'll find out how little much reaches its target. Aid is a racket and a huge industry now.

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MattBackHome said:

I agree with the rest of your post but am not sure that's entirely fair. The UN have been key in reporting on political developments, the evolution of the war, Al Shaabab and coastal piracy etc. They've brokered numerous peace agreements between warring factions and facilitated the involvement of untold numbers of NGOs. They've coordinated, or been involved in, all of the humanitarian assistance so far since 1990 ish. They've deployed forces, though the im[pact of these in the most hard hit areas is perhaps debateable.

They perhaps could have done more, but the fact that it's a shitpit now doesn't mean that it wouldn't be worse, or a much larger shitpit without the help of the UN.

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e77 said:

Possibly starting with education on the use of Caps Lock?

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Bold Seagull said:

Forgetting the grammar lesson for now, perhaps just take a history one.

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Pretty pink fairy said:

really, all is see is the same situation in Africa time and time again, that's the history I see
regards
DR

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MattBackHome said:

I agree with the rest of your post but am not sure that's entirely fair. The UN have been key in reporting on political developments, the evolution of the war, Al Shaabab and coastal piracy etc. They've brokered numerous peace agreements between warring factions and facilitated the involvement of untold numbers of NGOs. They've coordinated, or been involved in, all of the humanitarian assistance so far since 1990 ish. They've deployed forces, though the im[pact of these in the most hard hit areas is perhaps debateable.

They perhaps could have done more, but the fact that it's a shitpit now doesn't mean that it wouldn't be worse, or a much larger shitpit without the help of the UN.

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Brighton Mod said:

The UN, what a joke they are, I spent six weeks in Somalia attempting to find the then Zone Director of East Africa in the bush with tribal elements and gaining intelligence to find out that he had flown back to Ghana...... along with $1m. You have to see these people to believe the life style they live, the UN representatives are the new colonial powers, spending unaccountably other peoples money. They are poor beyond belief, would you allocate your best ambassadors to the UN? of course not, jobs for the boys.

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Pretty pink fairy said:

HOW ABOUT GETTING THEIR COUNTRYS LEADERS TO GET THEIR HOUSE IN ORDER
regards
DR

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Pretty pink fairy said:

HOW ABOUT GETTING THEIR COUNTRYS LEADERS TO GET THEIR HOUSE IN ORDER
regards
DR

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sjamesb3466 said:

Yet despite all of their efforts Somalia has been in civil war for over two decades, an estimated 500,000 killed in the fighting alone and hundreds of thousands killed in various famines.

The UN has also presided over the Rwandan Genocide, Bosnian Genocide, Sri Lankan Civil War and Ukraine annexation. In Rwanda, Bosnia and Sri Lanka in particular they had the opportunity to prevent the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians and yet their ridiculous rules of engagement wouldn't allow it and they were concerned that by taking civilians out of harms way they would be effectively ethnically cleansing the nation. Instead they sat by and watched as people were butchered on the streets. I understand and agree that they should not take sides during a civil war however protecting civilians should take priority and their is nothing wrong with protecting civilians against anyone trying to attack them.

The UN was set up over 70 years ago to prevent another world war and is simply not fit for purpose in the modern world. It's remit has become too large, full of career politicians who line their pockets as they preach to the world's dictators who pay **** all attention because they know that the puppy doesn't even bark let alone bite. Added to that all the Russians/Chinese have to do is veto a resolution that the rest of the world can see should be implemented but they don't want due to their own political motives (see Ukraine-Crimea/Tibet).

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sjamesb3466 said:

Yet despite all of their efforts Somalia has been in civil war for over two decades, an estimated 500,000 killed in the fighting alone and hundreds of thousands killed in various famines.

The UN has also presided over the Rwandan Genocide, Bosnian Genocide, Sri Lankan Civil War and Ukraine annexation. In Rwanda, Bosnia and Sri Lanka in particular they had the opportunity to prevent the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians and yet their ridiculous rules of engagement wouldn't allow it and they were concerned that by taking civilians out of harms way they would be effectively ethnically cleansing the nation. Instead they sat by and watched as people were butchered on the streets. I understand and agree that they should not take sides during a civil war however protecting civilians should take priority and their is nothing wrong with protecting civilians against anyone trying to attack them.

The UN was set up over 70 years ago to prevent another world war and is simply not fit for purpose in the modern world. It's remit has become too large, full of career politicians who line their pockets as they preach to the world's dictators who pay **** all attention because they know that the puppy doesn't even bark let alone bite. Added to that all the Russians/Chinese have to do is veto a resolution that the rest of the world can see should be implemented but they don't want due to their own political motives (see Ukraine-Crimea/Tibet).

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Lord Bracknell said:

In the case of South Sudan, it has only been an independent nation for less than six years, having gained its independence from Sudan, the Arab nation to the north in 2011. Sudan left a heritage of civil war that lasted on and off for over twenty years. Establishing peace is a huge challenge for a new nation was starved of investment throughout its domination by Sudan and, before that, Britain.

"Get your house in order" is an easy shout from the sidelines. The new nation needs all the support it can get. I'm pleased that Britain is at least making a modest contribution.

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Bold Seagull said:

If only you could look outside your tiny bubble of existence, you may enlighten yourself.

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sjamesb3466 said:

Yet despite all of their efforts Somalia has been in civil war for over two decades, an estimated 500,000 killed in the fighting alone and hundreds of thousands killed in various famines.

The UN has also presided over the Rwandan Genocide, Bosnian Genocide, Sri Lankan Civil War and Ukraine annexation. In Rwanda, Bosnia and Sri Lanka in particular they had the opportunity to prevent the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians and yet their ridiculous rules of engagement wouldn't allow it and they were concerned that by taking civilians out of harms way they would be effectively ethnically cleansing the nation. Instead they sat by and watched as people were butchered on the streets. I understand and agree that they should not take sides during a civil war however protecting civilians should take priority and their is nothing wrong with protecting civilians against anyone trying to attack them.

The UN was set up over 70 years ago to prevent another world war and is simply not fit for purpose in the modern world. It's remit has become too large, full of career politicians who line their pockets as they preach to the world's dictators who pay **** all attention because they know that the puppy doesn't even bark let alone bite. Added to that all the Russians/Chinese have to do is veto a resolution that the rest of the world can see should be implemented but they don't want due to their own political motives (see Ukraine-Crimea/Tibet).

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sjamesb3466 said:

I just hope the food and water gets to the people that need it and it doesn't fall into the hands of either side in the civil wars as it will undoubtedly be used as a recruiting tool to further their cause (join us and your family can eat).

Whilst I do think that the UK needs to be part of the international community that helps in these situations I find it very depressing that those in power in these countries still seem to find the money to buy guns and ammunition.

Somalia has been in ruins for over 20 years with little sign of improvement, what the solution is I don't think anyone knows. A perfect example however of how pointless an organisation the UN is.

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Brighton Mod said:

Be careful what you wish for, I have considerable experience of Somalia and had seen millions of pounds given there in differing ways and by many conduits. £100m doesn't mean £100m to starving children who become dependent on overseas hand outs, but means £40m channelled through Save the Children, £1 through Oxfam etc etc. The best performers I ever saw were Medicins Sans Frontier and Medicins du Monde. The worst performers I ever saw were the UN and the EU, both self serving, first to run when it became difficult and both just so poorly out of control financially it actually became embarassing. Dig deep to find the real story and you'll find out how little much reaches its target. Aid is a racket and a huge industry now.

Click to expand...

sjamesb3466 said:

The UN was set up over 70 years ago to prevent another world war and is simply not fit for purpose in the modern world.
...

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sydney said:

200 million quid......and where the flying **** is that gonna come from ......complete and utter joke.......!!!

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