Minnesota Somalis raise $100K for cyclone aid

Leaders from Minnesota's Somali community say they've raised more than $100,000 to help people in Somalia affected by a tropical cyclone earlier this month.

But they say more money is needed to provide food, clothing, medical care and livestock to the northeastern part of the country, where the United Nations has confirmed at least 80 people died in the Nov. 10 storm.

Local government officials in the semi-autonomous Puntland region say the death toll has reached several hundred. They also estimate as many as 150,000 head of livestock have died.

The disaster in the horn of Africa reverberates in Minnesota, Somali Disaster Relief Committee member Ali Warsame said.

"There are neighborhoods in Minneapolis that have been affected majorly by what's happening in Somalia, because we're all inter-connected," he said. "Every single Somali here has family one way or another in Somalia."

The committee is directing donations to the Texas-based Amoud Foundation. The American Refugee Committee and the Red Cross also are providing relief to storm victims.