United Nations in Somalia

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Somalia:

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08 November 2022

Children access education for the first time in their lives at UNICEF supported schools in Somalia

Baidoa, Somalia: The chorus of young voices rises in cadence, a sweet melody of six dozen children, singing the letters of the Somali alphabet – that they just mastered one week ago. Standing before the blackboard and leading this rustic symphony at the Mustaqbal Integrated Primary School is a shy 10-year-old girl named Farhia Abdi Moallim. “I am so happy to learn,” says little Farhia, “I want to be a teacher when I grow big, so I can teach children in my village who cannot go to school.” Her eyes twinkle with glee, radiant under the all-black abaya robe that covers her whole body, leaving only her face exposed, glowing like the hopeful and happy sun after a dark summer storm. This a hopeful beginning because all the children sitting on the benches behind her, had never seen the inside of a classroom until four weeks ago. An ongoing drought has ravaged Somalia for the last four years, drying water-wells, killing crops and livestock, and displacing more than a million people to urban centres like Baidoa in South-West Somalia; where they live in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), surviving just on humanitarian aid. This is on top of the 2 million people displaced by the conflict that has battered Somalia for more than three decades; and also includes IDPs from the famine of 2011 and the drought in 2017. All these factors have had devastating consequences for the children of Somalia. It heightens the learning crisis in a country with more than 3 million children who were not in school, even before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Alongside other humanitarian interventions, UNICEF and education partners are working with the Ministry of Education to provide learning opportunities for children displaced by drought and conflict. UNICEF/Giri 13-year-old Abduwali says he knows all the alphabets. In another classrooms at the end of the same one-roofed structure, we meet 13-year-old Abduwali Derow Aden. He walked for two days with his parents and six siblings to Baidoa and has been attending Grade 1 since the school reopened six weeks ago. “I know all the alphabets now,” he says proudly, a big smile on his face. “I like learning mathematics and I like my school.” At the Mustaqbal Integrated Primary School, UNICEF is working with local partners to increase the capacity of the school to handle the influx of new children. UNICEF/Giri Principal Habiba says they will teach all the children who come to their school. “We have more than 1,500 students, and we are receiving 3 to 5 new students every day,” says Habiba Ibrahim Aden, the Principal and one of the founding members of tiny primary school. Rows of boys and girls squat on the floor just outside the classrooms, a patient look on their faces. “These are children who have just arrived in the last week. Although we have no space, we cannot turn them away - we will teach them in shifts,” she says. Established seven years ago, this school has expanded rapidly in the last two years, with children of IDPs who have converged on Baidoa to escape the conflict and drought. UNICEF is supporting the school through education partners to ensure that all children receive basic education. This support includes teacher training, provision of furniture and teaching materials, and financial incentives for teachers. With funding from the GPE Accelerated Learning Programme, UNICEF and World Food Programme (WFP) are also supporting a school feeding programme, whereby children receive two meals a day. UNICEF/Giri Fatuma says she likes learning about science. “I like my school and I want to learn,” says 12-year-old Fatuma Noor, another girl in Grade 1. “I have made many friends here, and science is my favourite subject.” To handle the large number of students, the schools operate in two shifts: one from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, and the afternoon shift from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Habiba the principal, says that none of the children leave school before the end of the school day. “The children enjoy coming to school, and thanks to our donors we provide them with meals, and they are more focussed in the classroom,” says Habiba. As part of the response to the ongoing drought in Somalia, UN partners including UNICEF and other NGOs are accelerating delivery of humanitarian supplies and services including food and shelter, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation to mitigate the worst of this climate induced disaster. Providing these children an opportunity to learn is a major concern for UNICEF. Alongside the existing support from the Global Partnership for Education, UNICEF will also roll out an Education in Emergencies programme in Baidoa soon, specifically targeted at children of IDPs. Link to the original story.

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23 December 2021

Somalia is on the path of recovery, but real challenges remain

I arrived in Somalia in September 2019, two decades after having worked here previously. I knew that I was taking up a challenging assignment, but I was also looking forward to seeing Somalia’s progress. Afflicted by decades of conflict, recurrent climatic shocks, disease outbreaks and poverty, Somalia was often called a ‘failed state.’ The narrative is now changing, and although fragile, Somalia is on a path to stability and the resilience of the Somali people is second to none. That said, we are not under any illusion: significant challenges remain, and we must work even harder to preserve the gains made to date. Somalia’s upward trajectory is evident in the construction boom, as one analyst noted -- the sound of the hammer is replacing the sound of gunfire in Somalia’s capital. The UN has been closely supporting the Somali people since the birth of the Republic in 1960. Currently, the UN's various mandates are implemented through 26  Agencies, Funds and Programmes (both resident and non-resident), one political mission (UNSOM) and one logistical support mission (UNSOS). The UN’s commitment towards the Somali cause is articulated in detail in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2021-2025), mirroring the priorities of Somalia’s Ninth National Development Plan (NDP-9). At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN marshalled support to help the Somali government respond to the virus outbreak. We continue to support the Somali authorities in seeking to defeat this pandemic and encouraging people to get vaccinated. Elections are also on-going in Somalia. The UN is supporting the process to ensure that elections are held in a peaceful and transparent manner, while at the same time advocating for 30 per cent women’s quota in the Somali legislature. While these are encouraging signs of progress, we must not forget Somalia’s long-standing challenges. According to UN’s projections for next year, an estimated 7.7 million Somalis (nearly half of the country’s population) will require humanitarian assistance and protection. Women and children continue to bear the brunt of Somalia’s complex humanitarian crises, especially among the internally displaced communities. In light of the current serious droughts, the Somali government declared a humanitarian state of emergency on 23 November. Yet, neither the government nor the humanitarian community has adequate resources to respond. With a few days remaining in the year, the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan which seeks US$1.09 billion remains only 70 per cent funded. Additional resources are urgently needed to prevent the dire humanitarian situation from becoming a catastrophe, so we continue to engage partners on this subject. In this regard, I undertook missions to Europe in October and to the Gulf in September. Throughout my interactions with partners, I stressed the need for additional funding to address Somalia’s escalating humanitarian crisis and elaborated on how inaction not only risks a reversal of the gains but puts the lives of millions of Somalis in jeopardy. Through my field visits in Somalia, I have also seen first-hand the grim realities of adverse climate conditions. Somalia is no doubt on the frontline of climate change. The recurrent droughts and floods are driving widespread displacement, rapid urbanization, hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Climate change is also increasingly seen as the driver of conflict and a threat to the country’s security as the struggle over meagre resources deepens divisions. In addition, the loss of traditional livelihoods makes people vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups such as Al-Shabaab. Somalia is currently experiencing a third consecutive season of below-average rainfall, with nearly 80 per cent of the country experiencing drought conditions, water shortages and livestock deaths. One in five Somalis does not have enough water to cover his/her basic needs. On a positive note, as part of the efforts to mitigate the climate emergency, the government, with the support of the United Nations, has recently adopted an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution to achieve global climate targets, in which Somalia committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. Somalia’s crises are multifaceted, and they require comprehensive solutions from all stakeholders. It is our collective responsibility to support the efforts of the Somali people to cope with these crises and find lasting solutions that build resilience against future shocks. We must not fail the people we pledged to serve. Adam Abdelmoula, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, held a press conference on Monday, 20 December on the situation in Somalia, where the UN and partners is launching a nearly $1.5 billion Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). Roughly 7.7 million people in the country will need assistance and protection in 2022, a 30 per cent rise in just one year. Written by Adam Abdelmoula, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia

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26 March 2023

A round-up of activities of the UN system in Somalia in February 2023

Education | UNICEF provides displaced children with access to learning The prolongated drought in Somalia has exacted an extensive toll on access to education, with an estimated 3.85 million children and school personnel requiring humanitarian education assistance, and some 1.7 million of them being displaced. As part of the Emergency Drought Response Programme, UNICEF and partners are providing 16,732 displaced children with access to learning in schools and temporary learning spaces across 12 drought-affected districts. The programme is focused on teaching Accelerated Basic Education level one curriculum and bringing learning to children in sites of displacement. It includes emergency support, temporary learning spaces with gender sensitive water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, drinking water, teaching and learning materials, as well as training and support to teachers. Click here for more Climate change | UNDP launches solar programme to increase energy access UNDP and the Federal Government of Somalia launched the Somalia arm of the Africa Minigrids Program (AMP) to increase access to electricity, bring new development opportunities to rural communities and contribute to putting the country on a sustainable development path. Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the Africa Minigrids Program is a regional energy access programme led by UNDP, in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Institute and the African Development Bank. The AMP works with 21 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to promote scaled-up investments in solar minigrids with the aim of increasing access to sustainable, affordable energy while supporting climate action. The AMP Somalia project will be implemented by UNDP in partnership with the country’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and the private sector. Click here for more Infrastructure | UNOPS holds groundbreaking ceremony for Criminal Investigation Department premises UNOPS held a groundbreaking ceremony in Mogadishu for the new Criminal Investigation Department (CID) facility for Somalia’s police force. The event was attended by the State Minister for Interior Security, Mohamed Ali Haga; the country’s Police Commissioner, General Sulub Ahmed Firin; a representative from the European Union, Veronique Geoffroy; and the acting Country Director for UNOPS in Somalia, Sayed Mohammad. The CID, a critical component of the Somali Police Force, operates throughout the country and is responsible for handling investigations, fingerprinting, criminal records, immigration matters, and passport services. Click here for more Humanitarian | OCHA facilitates launch of 2023 Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan OCHA facilitated the release of the Somalia 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) to help the millions of Somalis in urgent need of humanitarian aid. The event was jointly launched by the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, the Federal Government of Somalia, and international donors and partners. The HRP seeks $2.6 billion to assist 7.6 million people, who make up more than 90 per cent of the 8.25 million people who need life-saving assistance. The number of people in need stems from a projection based on the 2022 post-gu assessments and may change with future assessments, according to OCHA. Click here for more Development | UNIDO supports second Italy-Somalia trade forum UNIDO plans to support the holding of the second Italy-Somalia Business and Trade Forum, which was announced by Somalia’s Minister for Commerce and Industries, Jibril Abdirashid Haji. The forum will take place in Rome in May, and will aim to promote Somalia as a destination for business for international companies. The announcement came during a visit to Italy by the President of Somalia, at a roundtable also attended by the Ambassador of Italy in Somalia, Alberto Vecchi. The roundtable also covered the state of business relationships between Italy and Somalia, as well as the progress made by UNIDO’s on-the-ground support, which includes investment promotion and trade fairs, and which is funded by Italy. Click here for more Female Genital Mutilation | UNFPA collaborates with stakeholders to end female genital mutilation On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, which is marked on 6 February annually, UNFPA participated in the ‘Dear Daughter’ Campaign working group which aims to help end the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Somalia. The working group’s meeting was organised by the Ifrah Foundation and the Embassy of Ireland, and it brought together experienced and committed partners to support the scale-up and rollout of the ‘Dear Daughter’ campaign against FGM. The working group's members work together to plan appropriate actions and identify resources necessary to achieve the goal of ending FGM in Somalia, in addition to providing a space to share expertise, knowledge and collaboration on specific issues tied into the practice, such as anti-FGM legislation and building community awareness and outreach. Click here for more Migration | IOM launches appeal to support one million vulnerable migrants IOM and its partners are appealing for $84 million to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance, protection interventions and development support to one million migrants and host communities on the route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen and the Gulf, known as the ‘Eastern Route.’ Every year, more than 250,000 migrants, including young men, women and children, leave their countries in the Horn of Africa, including Somalia, for the Gulf nations in search of better livelihood opportunities. According to IOM, recent trends indicate an increase in the movement of young women and children who are at high risk of gender-based violence, trafficking and violence along the route. The devastating effects of climate change, conflicts and overall, poor socio-economic conditions remain the key drivers of migration. IOM’s actions in the appeal come within the context of its role as the coordinator of the multi-agency regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen. The appeal is a joint effort with the governments of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and Yemen, and 48 partners made up of UN agencies and non-government agencies. Click here for more Development | UNSOM supports launch of national plan for women in Somali maritime sector UNSOM supported the launch of a new national action plan for enhancing and empowering Somali women in their country’s maritime sector. “The Women in Maritime Sector (WiMS) National Action Plan will help to ensure that women operating across the maritime domain are provided increased visibility and opportunities to not only participate in, but also benefit from, the sector,” the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, Anita Kiki Gbeho, said in her remarks at the launch event in Mogadishu. Somalia’s maritime domain is widely considered as providing immense economic opportunities in the ‘Blue Economy.’ However, there is a critical shortage of maritime skills due to the lack of educational and institutional capacity, and a significant gender inequality. Click here for more Drought response | UN-Habitat provides water and cash assistance to displaced people in Baidoa As a response to the ongoing drought, temporary water trucking was delivered to 410 drought-affected households living in the ADC area of Baidoa for a duration of two months, ending in February this year. During this time, beneficiaries were able to collect 10 litres of water per day/per person for drinking and domestic use by using a voucher system. Alongside this, UN-Habitat also provided unconditional cash assistance to 200 families for the same period. This was designed to mitigate the effects of the recent spike in arrivals of internally displaced people (IDP) to Baidoa, which resulted in further water scarcity in IDP settlements. UN-Habitat also made external partnerships to secure two more water bladders to promote access to water and increase the number beneficiaries being supplied with water. Click here for more Education | FAO and EU launch livestock scholarships for young people in Somalia More than 100 young women and men have received scholarships to study livestock programmes to bolster technical capacity within this key productive sector of Somalia. Supported by FAO and the European Union (EU), through the ‘Resilient Fisheries and Livestock Value Chain for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in Somalia’ (RAAISE) project, the initiative enables young people to study at the Somali National University in Mogadishu for three years, covering the costs of their tuition fees and graduation projects. The last group of students will graduate in January 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Medicine and Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry. The new scholarship programmme underlines the importance of tertiary education in building capacities in sustainable livestock management, and recognizes the sector as a critical avenue of development in Somalia, requiring joint commitment and a strong skills base that can meet the challenges of the future. Click here for more

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16 February 2023

Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement visits Somalia

Baidoa, 15 February 2023 – The United Nations’ top adviser for finding solutions for internally displaced people completed his first visit to Somalia, which included meeting with both senior government officials and displaced Somalis. “I have come to listen to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and understand their situation and learn from the UN family and our partners like the NRC [Norwegian Refugee Council] on how we are supporting you in this challenge,” the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement, Robert Piper, told IDPs when visiting a settlement for them in the city of Baidoa. “We sat with IDPs themselves and listened to their stories. We heard about some of the progress that has been made on their behalf. Above all many of them said they now feel safe. Those we spoke to now have a title on the property they live in which is a life changing development,” he later added. Mr. Piper’s visit, from 12-15 February, was aimed at familiarizing himself with the issues in Somalia, as well as advocating for the operationalization of the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement. Somalia is one of the 16 UN Member States selected to pilot the Action Agenda. Three goals Released in June 2022, the Action Agenda has three overarching goals: helping IDPs find a durable solution to their displacement, better prevention of new displacement crises from emerging, and ensuring that those facing displacement receive effective protection and assistance. According to the United Nations, the three goals are inextricably linked as no solution is sustainable if another crisis is looming, no assistance will be sufficient if underlying drivers of displacement remain unresolved, and prevention cannot succeed if past crises have not been addressed. Decades of conflict and violence coupled with recurrent droughts are the main triggers of internal displacement in Somalia, which currently has more than three million IDPs. While in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, Mr. Piper met with the country’s Prime Minister Hamze Abdi Barre, to discuss the government’s plans to help the country’s internally displaced and efforts to tackle the root causes of internal displacement. Baidoa visit During a field mission to Baidoa, the largest city in Somalia’s South West State, Mr. Piper met with government officials, including Baidoa’s mayor, and visited the Goorisane 2 and Yarabi settlements to see how the UN and non-governmental partners are supporting government efforts to address immediate and long-term needs of displaced communities. He also interacted with the settlements’ residents. “It is one thing to have a house, it is another thing to make sure that people have a livelihood. It is one thing to have a health centre, but it needs to be good enough to meet the needs of everyone 24/7 not just in the daytime for light medical care,” Mr. Piper said. “It’s humbling to realize how much more there is to do,” he continued, “but we need to take the lessons from Somalia and apply them across the globe.” The Action Agenda builds on the report of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement and sets out 31 commitments by the UN system to better resolve, prevent and address internal displacement crises.

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05 February 2023

A round-up of activities of the UN system in Somalia in January 2023

Development | UN-Habitat installs streetlights to promote access and security in Berbera UN-Habitat started installing solar streetlights on a six kilometre road leading to the Batalaale beach in Berbera, Somaliland. The lights are aimed at increasing accessibility and safety while using the public space. Even before completion, there had been a reported increase in activity at the beach with people engaging in sporting activities and leisure walks at night. The installation is a component of the larger Berbera Beachfront Development initiative that is underway and which aims to help provide a vibrant public space for residents and visitors to enjoy. Click here for more Humanitarian | OCHA finalizes Somalia 2023 Humanitarian Needs Overview On behalf of Humanitarian Country Team and partners, OCHA finalized the 2023 Somalia Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), which provides a shared understanding of the country’s humanitarian crisis, including the most pressing needs and the estimated number of people who need assistance. It represents a consolidated evidence base and helps inform planning; OCHA is finalizing the 2023 Humanitarian Plan. According to the 2023 HNO, an estimated 8.25 million people – 1.3 million women, 1.8 million girls, 1.8 million boys, 1.5 million children under five, one million men and 412,000 elderly – require humanitarian assistance and significant segments of the population are on the brink of famine. Click here for more Humanitarian | UNFPA partners with All Africa Music Awards to raise funds and awareness UNFPA partnered with All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) to raise awareness and funds for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia, with a specific focus on the impact of the drought on the lives of Somali women and girls. During AFRIMA’s eighth awards ceremony, held in Senegal, Ifrah Ahmed, a Somali-Irish activist and founder of the Ifrah Foundation, presented the case for Somali women and girls – on behalf of UNFPA – following the screening of a brief documentary highlighting the dire need for increased aid and support. UNFPA also managed a stall at the event, where visitors were encouraged to donate and spread the word on #HopeForSomalia. AFRIMA is one of the most high-profile events in Africa, attracting thousands of visitors from across the continent and the world. According to UNFPA, the partnership will have a significant impact by raising awareness and funds to provide aid and support to those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Somalia. Click here for more Rule of Law | UNDP trains 300 ‘Darwish’ officers on human rights UNDP trained 300 federal Darwish officers on human rights in the Lower Shabelle region in Somalia's South West State. The training provided the Somali police officers with a more practical understanding of how to respect human rights while providing policing services and engaging with communities; how to apply legal frameworks, ethical standards, and best practices in their daily work; and how to ensure the protection of fundamental human rights and the application of international standards of conduct within the police. According to UNDP, it is fundamental that the Somali Police Force receives the necessary human rights training to serve communities without violating human rights. The training is also expected to improve the officers’ law enforcement capacity to deal with practical situations within the confines of the law. Click here for more Security | UNSOS supports ATMIS handover of Maslah military base UNSOS supported the official handover of the Maslah Forward Operating Base, located on the outskirts of the capital, Mogadishu, from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to the Federal Government of Somalia. ATMIS had operated from the base since 2012. The handover was in line with the joint Concept of Operations and the Somali Transition Plan, which were developed by the Federal Government of Somalia, ATMIS, the UN and development partners to guide the transition process in which prime responsibility for Somalia’s security will be taken over by Somali forces. Click here for more Health | UNICEF supports integrated measles and nutrition campaign UNICEF carried out a five-day integrated measles and nutrition campaign in Somaliland, in collaboration with its Ministry of Health Development and WHO. The campaign provided measles and polio vaccines, vitamin A supplementation, deworming and malnutrition screening. It involved social mobilizers fanned out across the region to create awareness and mobilize communities while mobile teams reached out to nomadic and pastoralist children in hard-to-reach areas. A total of 620,657 children under the age of five were vaccinated against measles and 659,274 children received polio vaccines. More than 500,000 children received nutrition services that included Vitamin A, deworming and screening for malnutrition using the MUAC (mid-upper-arm circumference) method. According to UNICEF, multi-package interventions like this campaign ensure that children are protected from deadly diseases and their general health and wellbeing improves, especially in times of drought. Click here for more Political | UN and international partners welcome Somali efforts to advance peacebuilding In a joint statement, the UN in Somalia joined more than two dozen of Somalia’s partners in welcoming efforts by Somalia’s leaders to advance priorities on peacebuilding and state-building, including through the regular meetings of the National Consultative Council. In particular, they welcomed the renewed focus on the constitutional review process, federal resource-and power-sharing, and reconciliation, all of which are crucial to ensuring Somalia’s long-term stability. They also called on all stakeholders to engage constructively in these efforts, and to resolve any differences through dialogue and consultation; and indicated that they remain committed to supporting Somalia in achieving its state-building priorities; the foundation for an inclusive, prosperous and peaceful Somalia. Click here for more Development | UN supports growth of Somalia’s fisheries sector In a meeting with Somalia’s Minister for Fisheries and Blue Economy, Ahmed Hassan, the UN Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, re-affirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting the growth of the country’s fisheries sector and blue economy. In their discussions, Mr. Abdelmoula, who also serves as the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, noted that while the offshore sector may provide the most immediate profit for fisheries management, Somalia’s small-scale and artisanal sector also offers untapped potential that can be harnessed for improved livelihoods, food security, employment and income generation. Click here for more Drought response | FAO supports families with cash and agricultural tools The ongoing drought in Somalia has affected crop production for small-scale farmers. These farmers have been struggling to feed their families let alone produce sufficient crops for local consumption. To help them overcome these struggles, FAO and the Government of Sweden implemented a project meant to improve food security and nutrition for more than 7,500 smallholder farmers and their families. The project seeks to strengthen the resilience of communities to shocks and crises in Hirshabelle and South West State, and involved support for 30 farmer cooperatives in in the two Federal Member States with training to increase the capacity of smallholder farmers to produce crops. Click here for more

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26 January 2023

Alternative basic education programme rekindles learning opportunities

In the Hiran region of Southern Somalia, conflict makes it difficult for people to access enough food. This, coupled with a severe drought, has made life extremely difficult for many families. Nasro Cali Ibrahim, a 9-year-old girl, is one such individual affected by these harsh conditions in Beletweyne. She and her family were forced to flee their village of Sigalow due to conflict. This displacement has made it difficult for Nasro to attend school. Making matters worse, Nasro lost her father to an illness that could have been treated if medical care had been more readily available. Nasro also contracted polio when she was a baby. Her mother, Mako Mukhtar, was unable to get medical care for her daughter, and as a result, Nasro become paralyzed from the waist down. Despite her disability, she is able to express herself and use her hands. The lack of basic needs like food and medical care, coupled with the loss of her father, has made life extremely difficult for Nasro. “She was not born with the disability,” Mako says. “This issue started when she was six months old. The girl got very sick, and we had just lost her father.” Mako could neither access nor afford quality medical care for her daughter, and so with no one to assist her or turn to, she found herself even lacking basic nutrition. UNICEFSomalia/Hassan Nasro in school with classmates and her teacher. “Having been displaced from their village, they were saved and taken to the Wabi Shabelle internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Beletweyne district,” the teacher said. “This place is safer and with a closer learning center, making it a haven for Nasro. She is very delighted because the school she attends is within the IDP camp.” Nasro’s eyes beam with hope as the teachers says, “She is happy her future looks bright. She is bright too. Back in her village before the conflict, she could not attend school. There are no special schools for the disabled.” UNICEF, supported by European Union’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), has assisted the Hiran Regional Education Committee (HREC) to construct user friendly toilets and classrooms for persons with special needs, fitted with ramps and handrails. HREC also provided Nasro with all learning materials and enrolled her in Level 1 of the current Alternative Basic Education (ABE) programme at the Wabi Shabelle IDP School. “I hope to study until the university level. I will work very hard to fulfill my dream of becoming a doctor. I want to be able to help other children not to become disabled like me and also those who have become disabled due to lack of medical services or lack financial support,” Nasro says. She continues to receive school supplies, such as books, pens, pencils, erasers and sharpeners through the education drought response program by the UNICEF. Nasro is grateful for the support of her teachers, who are well-trained and have been of great help to her. She is eager to learn how to read and write in Somali and is working hard to make her dream of becoming a doctor a reality. UNICEFSomalia/Hassan Nasro answering a question on the chalkboard. Link to the original story.

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16 January 2023

New shipment of medicine and medical supplies arrives in Somalia

Somalia is facing a historic drought that is affecting 8.3 million people across the country, particularly children and women. To help address this crisis, UNICEF Somalia has received a shipment of approximately 30 metric tons of medicine and medical supplies from the UNICEF Supply Division in Copenhagen. These supplies will be used to support lifesaving health services in the most affected areas. UNICEF Somalia/Hirsi UNICEF Somalia team receive the shipment of medicine and medical supplies. At the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, the shipment was received by Dr. Maryan Mohammed Hussein, State Minister of Health, and Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Somalia Representative. "The arrival of this shipment is critical for Somali children and families who are facing significant challenges due to the drought and associated outbreaks of cholera and measles," said Wafaa Saeed. Children and women make up over 80% of Somalia's displaced population, and children are among the most severely affected, with 5.1 million in need of humanitarian assistance. These challenges are compounded by outbreaks of cholera and measles, which further increase vulnerability. By providing essential medicines, midwifery kits and other medical supplies, UNICEF and its partners will be able to reach approximately 1.3 million people in need and ensure that they have access to lifesaving health services. Dr. Maryan Mohammed Hussein expressed the government's appreciation for UNICEF's continuous efforts to save the lives of children impacted by the drought. "This medical supply kit consists of medicines and supplies for mothers and childcare and emergency kits to reach drought-affected areas. It is meant to support our Somali people in need of humanitarian assistance," she said. UNICEF Somalia/Hirsi Medicine and medical supplies arrival. UNICEF is working with the Government of Somalia and implementing partners to target famine-risk districts that are particularly vulnerable as many children, mothers, and people with illnesses or malnutrition in these areas may be unable to access healthcare. UNICEF's top priority is to sustain a robust response to this crisis and provide an integrated package of services, including lifesaving health care, immunizations, treatment for severe acute malnutrition and access to safe and adequate water and sanitation to the most vulnerable children. "This shipment of medicine and medical supplies is in addition to our ongoing efforts to respond to the drought and provide necessary assistance to those in need," said Saeed. Thanks to the generous support of donors like the UK Government (FCDO) and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), this shipment of medicine and medical supplies will help to ensure that vulnerable children and their communities in hard-to-reach areas have access to essential healthcare services during this critical time. Link to the original story.

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Press Release

26 March 2023

New study finds that 43,000 “excess deaths” may have occurred in 2022 from the drought in Somalia

Mogadishu, 20 March 2023 – A new report released today by the Federal Ministry of Health & Human Services, WHO and UNICEF suggests that an estimated 43,000 excess deaths might have occurred in 2022 in Somalia resulting from a deepening drought when compared with 2017 and 2018 drought crisis. Half of these deaths might have occurred among children under the age of 5. The findings of the report were released today by the Minister of Health of the Federal Government of Somalia, Dr Ali Hadji Adam Abubakar, in the presence of Mr Adam Abdelmoula, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Ms Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Country Representative of Somalia and Dr Sk Md Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Representative for Somalia. For the first time, a scenario-based forecast model was also developed from the same study to enable anticipatory action and avert drought-related deaths. The forecast spanning from January to June 2023, estimates that 135 people might also die each day due to the crisis, with total deaths projected to fall between 18,100 and 34,200 during this period. These estimates suggest that, although famine has been averted for now, the crisis is far from over and is already more severe than the 2017-2018 drought crisis. These figures are derived from a statistical model which estimated that the crude death rate increased across Somalia from 0.33 to 0.38 deaths per 10 000 person-days over the period January–December 2022; the rate in children younger than 5 years was nearly double these levels. For 2023, the crude death rate is forecasted to reach 0.42 deaths per 10 000 person-days by June 2023. Commissioned by UNICEF Regional Office and WHO country office of Somalia and carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London, the study presents retrospective estimates of mortality across Somalia from January to December 2022. The highest death rates were estimated to have occurred in south-central Somalia, especially the areas around Bay, Bakool and Banadir regions, the current epicenter of the drought. The study, the first in a planned series, received support from the Federal Ministry of Health & Human Services of the Federal Government of Somalia and Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, was funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom. While releasing the findings of the report, Dr Ali Hadji Adam Abubakar commented, “We continue to be concerned about the level and scale of the public health impact of this deepening and protracted food crisis in Somalia. At the same time, we are optimistic that if we can sustain our ongoing and scaled-up health and nutrition actions and humanitarian response to save lives and protect the health of our vulnerable, we can push back the risk of famine forever. Else, those vulnerable and marginalized will pay the price of this crisis with their lives. We, therefore, urge all our partners and donors to continue to support the health sector in building a resilient health system that works for everyone and not for the few. Building a healthier and happier world for all Somalis remains at the heart of our government.” WHO Representative to Somalia and Head of Mission, Dr Mamunur Rahman Malik while commenting on the study findings, said that “We are racing against time to prevent deaths and save lives that are avoidable. We have seen, deaths and diseases thrive when hunger and food crises prolong. We will see more people dying from the disease than from hunger and malnutrition combined if we do not act now. The cost of our inaction will mean that children, women and other vulnerable people will pay with their lives while we hopelessly, helplessly witness the tragedy unfold.” Dr Malik added that “From the very beginning of this drought, World Health Organization (WHO) has clearly stated that the drought is a health crisis as much as it is a food and climate crisis. WHO’s main concern has been to prevent excess deaths directly or indirectly attributed to drought with a special focus on women and under five children. As such, WHO has stepped up its life-saving integrated health interventions throughout 2022 and would continue to do so in 2023 to avert every preventable death in Somalia.” “These results present a grim picture of the devastation brought on children and their families by the drought,” said UNICEF Representative Wafaa Saeed. “We are saddened by these deaths, and we know there could have been many more deaths had humanitarian assistance not been scaled up to reach affected communities. We must continue to save lives by preventing and treating malnutrition, providing safe and clean water, improving access to life-saving health services, immunizing children against deadly diseases such as measles, and providing critical protection services.” Somalia is enduring five consecutive seasons of failed rains, the longest in recent memory, which has left five million people in acute food insecurity and nearly two million children at risk of malnutrition. The United Nations needs more than US$2.6 billion to meet the priority needs of 7.6 million people in 2023.

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Press Release

26 March 2023

On International Women’s Day, UN congratulates Somali women for their contribution to building a better Somalia

Mogadishu – On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the United Nations in Somalia today congratulated Somali women for their continued contributions to their country’s development. “From peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts, to the stabilization activities in areas recently recovered from Al-Shabaab control and the humanitarian response to the ongoing drought – Somali women continue to contribute significantly in all facets of public life,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, Anita Kiki Gbeho. Somali women’s contributions include organising the provision of humanitarian support – such as food and other essential supplies, and accommodation – for people affected by conflict and the long-running drought. The United Nations in Somalia recognises the ongoing efforts of Somali women over the years and urges all Somali stakeholders, particularly the country’s leaders, to ensure greater inclusion, voice and participation of women in all national and state-level bodies as part of efforts to realise and sustain peace, prosperity and development in Somalia. The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality,’ and aims to highlight the importance of digital technology as an opportunity to narrow gender gaps by enhancing women’s access. If women are unable to access the Internet and do not feel safe online, they will not be able to develop the necessary digital skills to engage in digital spaces. The United Nations in Somalia encourages Somali women to embrace the use of technology in their work to help build a better Somalia. Somalia's rate of internet usage has been climbing steadily over the past few years and rose by 16.4 per cent from 2021 to 2022, according to digital usage tracking firm DataReportal. International Women’s Day has been observed around the world since 1975 when the United Nations started marking the occasion to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality.

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Press Release

09 February 2023

Humanitarian partners seek US$2.6 billion to assist 7.6 million people in Somalia

Mogadishu, 8 February 2023 – Today, the United Nations and humanitarian partners in Somalia together with Federal and State Governments released the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Somalia, which seeks US$2.6 billion to assist about 7.6 million people. An estimated 8.25 million people, nearly half of the population, need immediate lifesaving humanitarian and protection assistance. Famine is a strong possibility from April to June and beyond if humanitarian assistance is not sustained and if the next rains underperform, as current forecasts indicate. “The efforts of local communities and the scale up of humanitarian assistance prevented famine thresholds from being surpassed in 2022, but millions of lives remain on the line,” said Mr. Adam Abdelmoula, Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia. With five consecutive poor rainy seasons, the longest and most severe drought in Somalia’s recent history is devastating the country. The drought has displaced more than 1.4 million people and killed at least 3.5 million livestock, destroying livelihoods and reducing children’s access to milk. Even though technical famine thresholds have not been reached, the situation is extremely alarming: prolonged and extreme conditions have resulted in higher-than-normal deaths and excess mortality will continue to accumulate unless assistance is further scaled up and sustained in crucial sectors. Amid an anticipated reduction in funding for humanitarian assistance, 8.3 million people will likely experience high levels of acute food insecurity between April and June, including more than 727,000 who are likely to face catastrophic conditions. About 8 million people lack access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services. Reported cholera and measles cases have surged compared to recent years, and acute malnutrition has increased. Conflict and insecurity continue to drive needs and hinder humanitarian access. “The people of Somalia are paying the price for a climate emergency they did very little to create create,” said Mr. Salah Jama, Deputy Prime Minister, Federal Government of Somalia. “The Federal and State governments, local communities and the Somali private sector and diaspora are working with the international community to assist the most vulnerable people in the areas with highest needs. I urge all partners to support these lifesaving efforts.” Humanitarian organizations, local communities and government authorities have ramped up responses and reached 7.3 million people in 2022, but they need additional resources and unhindered access to people in need. “I thank our donors who generously funded the 2022 HRP and urge more donors to step up and frontload their support. Any delay in assistance is a matter of life or death for people in need,” said Mr. Abdelmoula. “We must also invest in livelihoods, resilience, infrastructure development, climate adaptation and durable solutions to break the cycle of chronic and recurrent humanitarian crises in Somalia and ensure that those affected can adapt and thrive.”

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Press Release

08 November 2022

Somalia Humanitarian Fund allocates US$17 million for famine prevention

The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mr. Adam Abdelmoula, launched a new allocation of US$17 million from the Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF) to provide immediate assistance to communities in areas at highest risk of famine. “Famine is knocking on the door in Somalia and millions of people are at risk of starvation unless humanitarian assistance is scaled up and sustained,” said Mr. Abdelmoula. “This allocation is critical because the number of people affected by drought has more than doubled since the beginning of 2022 and humanitarians urgently require additional funds to meet increased needs.The drought in Somalia has affected at least 7.8 million people, including more than one million people displaced from their homes in search of water, food, and pasture." The $17 million allocation will fund immediate life-saving activities at a time when humanitarian operations are struggling to keep up with the scale, scope and severity of needs. The allocation will promote an area-based integrated response and focus on the worst-affected communities in Bay, Bakool and Mudug/Galmudug. Target districts will be prioritized based on needs, response gaps, partner presence, accessibility, and existing opportunities to leverage ongoing inter-sectoral interventions. The allocation will complement the ongoing SHF reserve allocation of $9.5 million that was launched in July and supplement resources from the Central Emergency Response Fund that are providing unconditional cash transfers in tandem with emergency livelihood inputs, health, camp coordination and protection activities. The SHF’s comparative advantage in providing funds to national NGOs will ensure the presence of partners in key drought hotspot locations, advance localization and strengthen capacity building of local partners. The revised 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requires $2.27 billion to respond to the needs of 7.6 million people in Somalia. Donors have contributed $1.07 billion (47 per cent), enabling partners to reach about 6.5 million people with some form of assistance, but more funds are required to keep up with increasing needs, as we are in the middle of a fifth consecutive failed rainy season with a possibility of a sixth at the beginning of next year.

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