If Somalia intends to permit Russia to make a major military base out of Berbera. why did they invite our delegations to come to inspect the Soviet activities? Second. There is every reason to believe that the Somalis are interested in diversifying their sources of outside assistance. President Siad himself emphasized to the congressional visitors that the real reason for his invitation was to point out the refugee problem that his country faces. and not the Soviet facilities at Berbera. With one third of its population on the verge of starvation. and drought plaguing large areas of the countryside. Somalia faces an urgent struggle for physical survival.