Mr. Speaker. I would like to underscore the serious plight of the Somali refugees in east Africa who have fled Ethiopia. House Concurrent Resolution 68. sponsored by the gentleman from Connecticut and the gentleman from Pennsylvania . urges private agencies in the United States to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to Somalia to aid these refugees. The resolution also calls on the President and appropriate Federal agencies to work with other nations to come to the aid of the Somali refugees. As of January 1. over 1 million refugees have entered the Somali Democratic Republic. Most of these refugees are living in refugee camps. homemade huts in semidesert land. Ninety percent of these refugees are women and children under the age of 15. Death of children from measles and diarrhea is common. Malnutrition is rampant. Somalia. with a normal population of 4.5 million people. is one of the poorest countries in the world. with 1 doctor per 12.000 people. The Somali Government. with extremely limited resources. has provided what it can. but it is not equipped to handle this huge influx of people. The refugee problem in Somalia would be the equivalent of 45 to 50 million refugees entering the United States in 1 year. We cannot expect this tiny country to absorband feedall of these needy people. Though we Americans have a great humanitarian tradition and have shared our resources with many unfortunate and distressed people. the United States alone cannot take on the total task.
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refugee refugees