The days during this Ramadan is set to be my longest yet. Approximately 18 hours and 24 minutes long. No food. No water.  During the summer month of August.  But whilst many maybe dreading the lack of food; I cannot help but consider myself lucky. I know that at the end of the day I will be blessed with a feast that many of us expect to have after a long day of fasting. But what about those that don’t even have the means to break their fast with a date?

The crisis in east Africa has become front page news and has stationed itself at the forefront of my mind. Whilst we count down the hours until iftar they count down the days that they think they still have to live. Many trek through harsh conditions to neighbouring countries with the hope of food and water, but nothing is ever promised.  These roads are becoming known as roads of death with those not able to cope dying along the way. Countless women have even had to leave behind their children to die.

Endless devastating stories and horrendous pictures often leave me feeling helpless. Being from Somalia originally I could not help but imagine one of the starving children being one of my younger siblings. I found myself constantly questioning what I would do if 4 of my 6 children were to die.  

When my moments of despair and questioning temporarily subside, I figure out ways that I can help. Perhaps not help everyone but help a few. Donating is the first thing that comes to mind, followed closely by fundraising. But these are just short term solutions. It is believed that a generation could be lost within east Africa, and those that do survive could be deeply affected. So what can we actually do to help?

Obviously the main aim is to save people during these difficult times but we must be careful in the ways that this occurs. We need to ensure that it occurs in a sustainable manner, otherwise what will happen when Somalia is no longer considered in a state of crisis and the famine is considered to be over? When aid is no longer given? History has shown us that the crisis will never truly be over. Somalia’s history in particular shows us that although the UN definition of a crisis may be over, the crisis in the eyes of the people is far from over.

We must remember that a lot of the crisis within Somalia and the other east African nations are due to climate change. Our constant need for all things electrical means that fossil fuels are being used at an alarming level resulting in greenhouse gases being emitted in vast amounts. These warmer temperatures are causing other changes around the world, such as melting glaciers and stronger storms; and the case of east Africa severe droughts. People are causing these changes, which are bigger and happening faster than any climate changes that modern society has ever seen before.

However, rather than thinking that individually we cannot make a difference we must think positively and understand that each individual step makes a difference. By simply doing things such as turning off the lights when leaving the room (when no one else is left in of course!) and recycling we can and will make a big difference. Turning off the taps whilst brushing your teeth, and taking showers rather than baths also saves a considerable amount of water.

So this Ramadan why not pledge to make a difference. Be that catalyst for change and really help our brothers and sisters in need; and “Be a community that calls for what is good, urges what is right, and forbids what is wrong: Those who do this are the successful ones” (Qur’an 3:104)

By Hanna Abdi