In 1989, just before the collapse of Siad Barre’s regime, Dr. Hodan Ali, then a child, left Somalia with her family to settle in Canada. The family made its new home in Hamilton, Ontario, where she later studied at McMaster University for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a postgraduate diploma in health care. Her interest in the plight of newcomers to Canada remained strong, and in 2011 she co-founded the first immigrant and refugee general health practice in Hamilton.  Returning to help  But Dr. Ali’s interest in Somalia also remained just as strong. Some 22 years after she left, she returned in 2011 as part of a Canadian medical team deployed to assist during a famine plaguing the capital, Mogadishu, and its surrounds. Her experiences reinforced a long-held dream of returning for longer and doing more for Somalis as they rebuilt their country.  “When I arrived, I was deeply troubled by the incredible pain and suffering amid the high insecurity in Mogadishu. Nearly a quarter of a million people died during that period because of the famine – many of them children and women. At that time, I was unable to stay, but had committed to returning to take part in the recovery and state-building process,” she recalls.  Given her professional background, helping rebuild Somalia’s healthcare system was Dr. Ali’s primary focus.  “I always wanted to return home and support the health system of the country given my training – improving access to primary healthcare. Too many Somali children die prematurely because of preventable and treatable diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, etc,” she notes.   “Somali mothers continue to have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world because of a lack of prenatal care and safe labour and delivery services, not to mention various common treatable diseases that contribute to the high rate of morbidity and mortality we see across the country,” she adds.  In 2016, Dr. Ali returned and took up various government roles.  “I had initially worked with the National Drought Committee as a medical advisor during the 2016-17 drought. I was pleased to see that compared to 2010, this time we were able to save thousands of lives and avert famine – a testament to the country's systems beginning to function and greater coordination with international partners,” she states.  Displaced people  The plight of internally displaced people (IDPs) soon caught – and dominated – her attention.  “I've served as the Senior Policy Advisor on internal displacement to the Mayor of Mogadishu Municipality since 2018. As you are aware, over the past 30 years of conflict and natural disasters, nearly one million people have fled to the capital and become internally displaced across the city,” she says.  In 2019, in response to the challenges faced by IDPs, she supported the municipality in establishing a new office, known as the Durable Solutions Unit.  “The unit’s objective is to build the capacity of the local government to effectively address internal displacement and the rampant human rights violations taking place in the IDP camps. The unit developed the first regional IDP policy, evictions prevention guidelines and the regional durable solutions strategy. Through the European Union-funded project, the unit spearheaded the design and implementation of the first social housing project in thirty years,” Dr. Ali says.  Solidarity movement  But Dr. Ali’s care for fellow Somalis extended beyond the health sphere – she also engaged in activism centred on Somali women having a greater role in the country's future, stemming from her belief that women's political participation is necessary for Somalia's political, economic, and social development.  With other activists, she established a grassroots women’s political movement called LeadNow.  According to her, LeadNow is a women’s solidarity movement dedicated to increasing Somali women's participation in political and public life, and amplifying all existing and new women’s networks.  "To achieve this, LeadNow acknowledges that Somali women are diverse, and we aim to redefine women’s collectives by ensuring we are inclusive and champion all Somali women as we strive to achieve a common goal for fair representation in public office,” Dr. Ali says.   “We are a broad network of women,” she continues, “including women's rights advocates, female politicians, civil society members, academia and elders ready to engage all stakeholders tasked with selecting parliamentarians in the 2020-21 Somali parliamentary elections.”  Naturally, the current electoral process has become a major focus for LeadNow.  “The immediate goal is to ensure that in this election cycle, by preserving the women's quota so we do not lose the gains made in the 2016 elections which resulted in 24.5 per cent of the people elected to parliament being women. Unfortunately, to date, we do not have any concrete commitments and mechanisms to ensure women will have a level playing field in the elections. Instead, we have non-binding verbal commitments from FMS [Federal Member State] Presidents – not exactly a comforting prospect for contesting women,” Dr. Ali says.  She also noted that the international community, especially donors involved in the electoral process, must take the issue of women’s parliamentary quota seriously.  “In light of recent experiences by Somali women candidates in Somaliland which saw no women being elected to parliament because there was no required quota, it is imperative that the quota is guaranteed with clear mechanisms similar to that of the 2016 process for Somalia’s general elections” the medic says.   “Given the tumultuous nature of Somali politics, and the predisposition to favour men in all matters, the international community, the financiers of the elections, must make the quota conditional to disbursement of election funds. Without this measure, I am afraid Somali women stand to lose gains made in the political process,” Dr. Ali adds.   Dr. Ali believes that without women’s representation in the country’s legislative bodies, the country will see further erosion of the rights of girls, women and vulnerable groups.  “It is imperative that the Somali government continues its commitments in ensuring women and minority groups are not excluded in nation-building, and that the rights of all citizens are protected constitutionally. Equally important is the international community using every tool at its disposal to guarantee political participation and inclusion of vulnerable groups now before it's too late,” she notes. More broadly, Dr. Ali said that unity among Somali women is the determining factor for their success in politics.  “The political landscape has changed dramatically. Each election cycle brings its own challenges and opportunities. Women must begin to think of politics as an all-year, every-year event and not just during election season. Women must also understand politics is about power and opportunity that must be seized unapologetically. Power is always taken and never given. This will require experienced leadership that centres on the collective interest rather than individual self-interest. It is essential we study history and move forward with a clearly-articulated agenda,” she stresses.  “With more women in leadership roles and with political influence, we will see security improve, economies grow, more children attending schools, public health improve, more harmony among communities and less conflict,” she adds.

Mogadishu – A three-day public outreach meeting to drum up support for the adoption of a new, permanent Constitution of Somalia has concluded in Mogadishu, with a call to ensure that the views of youth, women, elders and persons with disabilities are taken into consideration when finalizing the document.  “We are hopeful that after the national elections are over, there will be one big national forum to review all the feedback received. What is remaining for the completion of this process is dialogue. It is for the leaders to converge and agree in order for the constitutional review process to be completed,” said Salah Ahmed Jama, the federal Minister of Constitutional Affairs.  “Such public consultations are critical,” added Minister Jama. “This is why we keep coming back to you for your views and recommendations, so that they are captured into the final document.”  Organized by the federal Ministry of Constitutional Affairs (MoCA), with the support of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), the event was attended by over 70 participants including legal experts, political scientists, scholars, and representatives of the youth, women, elders and persons with disabilities.  Abdifatah Hassan Kalga’al, a participant at the event, welcomed the review process for being inclusive of the perspectives and priorities of vulnerable or marginalized persons, and of those with special needs. “The rights of persons with disabilities should be guaranteed in the Constitution. These rights include political representation, rights to education and employment, as well as access to public buildings and social amenities. We are here to lobby for these rights. If the Constitution does not clearly stipulate everyone’s rights, some of us may suffer in the end,” observed Kalga’al. Discussed during the three-day forum were some of the contentious articles contained in the provisional Constitution. These include articles on justice, representation, power sharing, the status of Mogadishu and fiscal federalism. MoCA shared a report detailing its performance from April 2017 to March 2020, which was the foundation of discussions regarding advances made in the review of the Constitution, and will be used to guide the process going forward. “A Constitution is what brings order and binds regions, districts and states together,” noted Suldaana Ahmed Mohamed, a women’s rights activist. “If there is no Constitution then the rights of many citizens, but especially the vulnerable, are at risk. We are keenly following this review process and we welcome the opportunity for us to make contributions.”  In closing the three-day meeting, Abdikani Ali Adan, MoCA Public Outreach Director, noted that the people of Mogadishu had shown a huge interest in safeguarding their rights by keenly participating in the constitutional review process. “I especially urge the youth and women to remain engaged in the review process. We hope that this process will deliver a permanent Constitution that helps to bring peace and prosperity to our country,” Mr. Adan said. The three-day meeting is part of an ongoing nationwide outreach campaign that will enable citizens to contribute to the Constitution-making process. The campaign events will be held in Baidoa, Jowhar, Dhusamareb, Kismayo and Garowe.

A delegation led by the South West State Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Abdinasir Arush, and including the Director General of Somalia’s Ministry Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Ahmed Abukar Ahmed, the Xudur District Commissioner, Mohamed Maalim Ahmed, and UN officials recently visited Xudur on a humanitarian assessment mission. The delegation visited Daleeley, Shiidley and Madahwaraabe sites for internally displaced people (IDPs), a maternal and child health care facility and feeding centre, a water pump station, checked on the progress of ongoing projects and interacted with displaced families. Fatuma’s situation is compounded by an aid blockade. Al-Shabaab has besieged Xudur and neighbouring towns in Bakool region for the last seven years, cutting off road access for humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations. According to media reports, on 4 June, the situation escalated when Al-Shabaab killed six traders and torched 11 trucks laden with food aid bound for Xudur. As many as 4,000 people are reported to have arrived in the area since then. The blockade has caused food prices to surge in Xudur town, further exacerbating the situation of the displaced families who depend on humanitarian assistance. Flying in this life-saving support is currently the only safe way to provide relief, and recently humanitarian partners managed to airlift food and other supplies into the besieged area. As a result, people who urgently needed humanitarian aid were assisted and the price of a bag of rice dropped from US$50-69 to $26. Displaced people in Xudur receive $70 per family, medical assistance, non-food items and food rations. The money and food are insufficient as more people continue to arrive, thus putting a strain on available assistance. “My request to the donors is that I am a displaced person who lives here. We depend entirely on humanitarian agencies and God for our survival. We are really suffering. We request food, decent shelter and a school. We need a lot of support,” said 75-year-old Mohamedkheyr Nur, a father of 10 living in Daleeley site for displaced people. According to Minister Arush, humanitarian response has improved the living conditions of displaced families, though there is a need to scale up interventions. “These displaced people have many challenges. They were forced to flee their homes where they lived for many years and had their livelihood. They now have no proper shelter; there is also little food in the town due to the blockade. Water is also scarce. These basic needs are their biggest challenge,” he noted. Somalia has one of the highest numbers of displaced people in the world. Some 2.9 million people - nearly 25 per cent of the population - is displaced. Climate-related shocks have exacerbated the humanitarian situation in the country. For instance, there are 350 internally displaced people’s sites in South West State, making it one of the worst-hit by displacement Federal Member States. Shiidley residents too, echoed this sentiment – even if the security situation improves, the drought has taken their crops and livestock so returning home would bring a different set of challenges. Displaced people face risks of eviction, marginalisation and exclusion, and lack of access to essential services like shelter, water and sanitation. The humanitarian community has prioritised assistance for 4 million of the most vulnerable people in Somalia in 2021. The 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan seeks $1.09 billion to provide life-saving assistance and livelihood support to those most affected. However, only $432 million (40 per cent) of the required funding is available, the lowest in six years. Xudur District Commissioner Mohamed Maalim Ahmed said his administration has resettled IDPs and provided safety; but urged for more humanitarian support from international funding partners. “The problem of displacement has been recurring. But what these IDPs here need most is security. They need their safety to be guaranteed, having been forced to leave their homes by conflict. Secondly, they need humanitarian assistance. We appeal to the donors to support them,” he added. The Strategic Communication and Coordination Officer in the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Olga Cherevko, said the situation could worsen if additional resources are not mobilised soon. “The already existing gaps could increase because more people fleeing conflict and drought are arriving on a daily basis,” Cherevko noted.

What is more painful isn’t the beatings and injuries inflicted on me, but rather the psychological trauma I underwent after the assault,” says Muna Abdi*. Muna, 23, a mother of three, who resides in Walag 1 camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Baidoa, was injured by her husband on the morning of 14 May 2021. She had reportedly engaged in a verbal altercation with him over domestic-related issues that went awry and which ultimately resulted in physical assault and abuse by him. “I vividly recall what happened that Friday morning. My husband physically assaulted me and caused serious injuries to my body. I left the homestead to seek medical help as well as to escape from him,” narrates Muna after she had fully recovered from her wounds. Muna, 23, a mother of three, has just undergone psychosocial support. UNFPA Somalia provides technical and financial support to the Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization (READO), a non-governmental organization, to provide comprehensive care to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The support includes medical, legal and psychosocial services either within one location, a hospital or a stand-alone centre or through a referral system that links services. Luckily for Muna, the READO GBV team was conducting a regular field monitoring visit in the IDP camp on the same morning of the ordeal. They got to learn from community leaders about the incident. “We looked for Muna and found her. We assessed her case after following the normal procedures of consent taking,” said Siyad Abdirahman Mohamud, READO GBV field coordinator. According to Mohamud, the team supported Muna with medical services at the one-stop centre operated by the READO medical and GBV team. “We also provided her with psychosocial counselling,” he said. UNFPA is one of the UN’s lead agencies working with partners like READO to further gender equality and women’s empowerment and address the physical and emotional consequences of GBV. UNFPA’s programmes offer psychosocial assistance, medical treatment and rape kits to survivors and promote the right of all women and girls to live free of violence and abuse. Between 25 and 30 different GBV cases are supported, and hundreds of people are mobilized among IDPs in Baidoa each month.  “Somalia continues to face a complex humanitarian crisis. About 5.2 million people need humanitarian assistance, and this contributes to the occurrence of GBV,” said Abdullahi Abdirasak, Humanitarian Programme Analyst for UNFPA Somalia. He said the number of displaced people across the country is at 2.6 million, with 340,000 women and girls at risk of GBV. “There continues to be a need for the protection of vulnerable groups. We put all our efforts to fill gaps in GBV response in the best way we can,” said Abdirasak. With UNFPA’s support, READO is stepping up the provision of psychosocial support services to women and girls affected by GBV, harmful practices including rape, physical abuse, sexual assault, and child and forced marriages. Meanwhile, Muna is back in her home. READO continues to counsel her while carrying out follow-up visits with her. Muna also received a dignity kit upon return to her home. UNFPA also supports the procurement and distribution of dignity kits; they contain basic hygiene necessities, including soap and detergent, a toothbrush and toothpaste, underwear and menstrual pads. The dignity kits are distributed to women and girls affected by humanitarian emergencies. “I very much appreciate the support given to me by the team from this organization,” said Muna, pointing at the logo of READO on a jacket won by the psychosocial expert counselling her on the trauma she underwent. “The continued counselling and support from this organization has helped me regain my self-esteem and courage,” she added. *Name changed for privacy and protection. Link to the original story.