Horn of Africa Famine Relief

Relief International (RI) has been on the frontlines of development efforts in Somalia since 2007.  When the UN declared that Somalia was in a state of famine, Relief International was one of the first humanitarian organizations to respond to the crisis.  Since then, in partnership with donors from GlobalGiving, Relief International has been hard at work disbursing immediate aid; and now, RI is shifting efforts to development programming, addressing the issues of healthcare and nutrition in Somalia in the long-term. 

Facing the largest and most severe food and nutrition crisis in the world today, four million people in Somalia require immediate food assistance. Low availability of and accessibility to food, quality of diet, incorrect infant feeding practices and micronutrient deficiencies have lead to high rates of malnutrition in vulnerable communities—and particularly, in children.  In parts of South Somalia, health services are virtually nonexistent, and the few available facilities have limited accessibility and constrained supply.  

Relief International’s Health and Nutrition Intervention is a sustainable, solution-oriented program that builds the capacity of local partners and institutions to facilitate the continuation of effective long-term programming for the Somali people. Through its efforts, Relief International is reaching 36,503 drought and conflict-affected individuals, including 18,297 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).  RI is also preventing and controlling epidemic-prone and communicable diseases, providing measles immunization coverage and other basic life-saving health services to over 35,000 beneficiaries.

In the short-term, Relief International’s health and nutritional services are reducing morbidity and mortality in Somalia.  With the focus on sustainable development programming, RI is now building household resilience and local capacity for the long-term, as well.  Relief International’s goal is to ultimately leave the Health and Nutrition programs in the hands of the people, making a lasting difference and empowering communities in Somalia to take ownership of the solution.