American Refugee Committee reaches out to aid Somalia

by Tom Crann, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — African leaders pledged nearly $380 million to help famine-hit families in the Horn of Africa during a donor conference Thursday.

It first step by other governments on the continent to aid victims of a devastating drought that has been compounded by civil war and instability in Somalia.

World aid organizations have been in the region to help famine victims but have been unable to reach them inside Somalian borders.

Minneapolis resident Said Sheik-Abdi is working with the American Refugee Committee in Mogadishu, Somalia. He spoke with Minnesota Public Radio' Tom Crann about the relief efforts.