Emerg Nutrition & Health Care, East Africa Crisis

After two decades of conflict, Somalia is the world’s most fragile state. Successive years of conflict, drought and flooding have put the country in a state of prolonged and chronic humanitarian crisis Population growth, increased pressure on resources, insecurity and prolonged political instability have made it harder for the poorest communities to cope with and recover from successive and recurrent shocks throughout the past two decades, particularly conflicts and droughts. Each shock sends the communities into deeper vulnerability and further erodes their means to prepare for the next crisis.

In 2011-2012, Somalia was badly affected by the first famine of the 21st century, leading for instance to massive displacements across the country. The scale and scope of that disaster has made it still very difficult for populations to recover, considering in particular that the country has faced several smaller-scale but recurrent shocks over the past couple of years: localized conflicts/displacements, flash flooding, IDP camp fires, etc.

For example, over 2013, Save the Children has responded to the following smaller-scale emergencies, in addition to its on-going higher-scale humanitarian programs:

-       Floods and cholera outbreak in Galgaduud;

-       IDP camps fires in Garowe, Bosasso and Hargeisa;

-       Support immediate food security needs in Mogadishu IDP camps

-       Evictions and Displacements

-       Polio and Measles Outbreak Mogadishu and Puntland

-       Floods in Puntland and Somaliland, following the passage of cyclone 03A;

To date, the overall humanitarian situation in Somalia remains critical and is expected to get worse in coming months as the impact of the poor Gu harvest is felt, especially in South and Central Somalia.

One million people still require aid to meet their basic needs and a further 1.7 million who recently emerged from the 2011 drought crisis could fall back into crisis without sustained support[1].

An estimated 70,000 children a year die before their fifth birthday, and 30.5% of women of reproductive age die due to pregnancy related causes.[2]

The ongoing conflict continues to cause death, upheaval and displacement.[3] Some more localized clan conflicts throughout the country also create further displacements and further pressure on scarce resources, for instance in Hiraan end of December 2013.

Food security in South Central Somalia is deteriorating as a result of failed sorghum harvests and a poor Gu harvest. The situation in parts of South and Central Somalia has been described by OCHA in its most recent bulletin as ‘dire’.

[1] http://www.unocha.org/cap/appeals/mid-year-review-consolidated-appeal-somalia-2013-2015

[2] http://www.who.int/hac/crises/som/sitreps/somalia_sitrep_october2013

[3] http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e483ad6

Hawi brought her nephew Ahmed to the Asayita hospital for treatment for severe acute malnutrition. They live in a small rural village in Afar region. Ahmed, two years and four months old, has been in the stabilization center for the past eight days. Ahmed’s mother has just given birth to another child and his father has passed away so his aunt and his grandmother brought him to the hospital on a Save the Children project vehicle from where they live. He is now making progress and is ready for release.

Hawi’s story in her own words

“My name is Hawi. I am Ahmed’s aunt. Ahmed was severely suffering of an illness and was getting weak as days went by. We were referred to come to the Asayita hospital after being assessed at the OTP center in Mamule health post.

Ahmed is now two years and four months old. His mother is at home after having given birth to another child. As she couldn’t accompany him, and is recovering from the delivery, we [myself and his grandmother] brought him here. We came for medication and treatment for Ahmed but also received money, (80 birr/day) which totals 640 birr (USD $36). This has helped us with expenses for ourselves while we stay in Asayita, away from our home.

Ahmed’s father passed away in a car accident while his wife was still pregnant. Their first daughter also passed away very shortly after becoming sick one night. Ahmed didn’t start eating when he reached the age that he was supposed to. He gets sick very often and does not have a good appetite. He doesn’t eat normally. Now, his health condition has been improving as they are constantly giving him nutritious milk [F75] and medication.

We commonly eat mufe [made with corn flour that is baked under-ground like bread]. We used to have a farm before we moved to our village but we had to sell that and our animals to come here to start a better life. Now we buy corn from other farmers for our consumption. We get water from a nearby river. Luckily, it passes by close to our home. There are other people that come from very faraway places to get to this river.

I hope we won’t get hungry. We [women] usually try and go back to corn-harvested farms and pick the remaining shoots of corn that can be collected and sold. This is an extra income for us to support our families.