Madam, - Your editorial "Saving Somalia" (August 21st)highlights the grave risk of conflict and political strife in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. The mixture of long-standing rivalries between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, radical Islam and various foreign interventions is very dangerous. The International Crisis Group has recently warned that Somalia is on the verge of a new war which can only be contained if both sides and the international community take urgent steps to put together a government of national unity.
The deteriorating political situation is compounded by the seriousness of the humanitarian situation. The Economist magazine recently produced a report on the Horn of Africa which it titled "The Path to Ruin".
Drought, high levels of malnutrition, the destruction of the livestock pastoralist economy, environmental degradation and rapid population growth combine to leave this region uniquely vulnerable. If the political situation continues to slide towards war, we could be faced with a massive humanitarian problem.
What is to be done? Your conclusion that the Arab League must get peace talks started in Khartoum is an obvious first step. Progress in these talks could lead to a government of national unity, involving the Transitional Federal Government and the Islamic Courts, who have gained control of the capital, Mogadishu, in recent months.
The UN Security Council and the African Union must each play a more assertive role in working towards political stability.
But political stability is not enough. If this region is to be helped overcome its difficulties, the root causes of poverty must also be addressed. Humanitarian aid to help the region recover from last year's serious drought is necessary.
This aid must be complemented by sustained help to provide water, restore the natural environment and rebuild the livelihoods of the pastoralists.
If this twin track approach of political and economic development is not followed, we face the prospect, as the Economist warns, that "whole stretches of the Horn will come to look as wretched as Darfur in Sudan, with its people fighting over water, grazing, firewood and other natural resources".
There are compelling humanitarian reasons to avoid this scenario but its avoidance is also the best contribution the international community could make to longer-term political stability. - Yours, etc,
TOM ARNOLD, Chief Executive, Concern Worldwide, Camden Street, Dublin 2.