A report from inside Somalia
Concern Worldwide is one of the few aid agencies who operate in Somalia. The country is being devastated by the worst drought in 60 years, affecting 10 million people.
I visited a camp in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu and spoke to a number of families who have been displaced by the drought. Concern’s nutrition team are there, registering those most in need for nutrition support.
There are about 2,000 families living in the camp. There are graves of children in small mounds in the soil. Six of these children died from malaria and there are at least five or six dying every day.
Watch footage from the camp:
A shocking sight
During my visit, I glanced into a tent where the bodies of five children were lying on the ground. I actually thought they were dead. I went to see if the family needed assistance and the mother, Darfuro, spoke to me about what had happened since she was the only one who could get up.
The desperation in their eyes was harrowing. The children were so dehydrated, they couldn’t even cry.
Devastating journey
The family come from the Bay region and walked most of the way to Mogadishu. During the journey they lost one child to hunger. It took them 28 days to get here.
Darfuro said:
I am worried we have no food or shelter. In the rain it’s wet and too cold in the night. We desperately need food. We left the area because of drought and hunger; we had nothing there so we had to leave. We have problems here and we had problems there, we need your help and the world’s help.
Concern gave the family a food ration to last them a month and will also provide shelter, cooking utensils and other essential items.
Suffering and trauma
All around I see families like this one, suffering hunger and mental trauma, listless and desperate for help. It’s hard not to be affected by these scenes, but I somehow managed to contain myself because I know Concern and just a few other agencies are here now. But the scale of this unfolding catastrophe is enormous and so much more help is needed.
You can help
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Find out more
- Read a list of frequently asked questions about the crisis.
Comments
I don't mean to offend anyone but I feel I need to say this... every evening I put on the news while I make dinner for my family... Looking back at me are starving babies.100's dying everyday..... We are asked for money to help feed them and their children.... In my opinion it would seem vital that the money be spent on contraception!!! The resources need to be used on family planning to stop dying baby after dying baby being born into this mess.... I don't understand how this is not the first point of help. The mothers can't provide basic needs for themselves to survive yet still they bring more babies into the world!! It's shocking to me and more upsetting than anything else!!!!!! To this I would donate!
hello and thank you for the hard work you are doing all over the world. i am a resident in the uk particulary london. i am ver amazed at the job you have done in gedo especially my onw village or town dhamasa. and the sarounding villages. you have even saved money in my own pocket by suplying water to my brother's animals. thanks again for working hard. I am hundred percent happy with the job you have done i would like to see secendry school in dhamasa and i was working hard to build one but one finger cannot wash a face. and that is where i am stuck. i would be willing to help you to help me in building this school. may i list some of the jobs you have done in gedo somalia feeding animals with water and other products making water available for the most affected people and animals, creating small economy by using the locals to do the job. woow that is a wonderfull job i cannot explian because my language is not enough to express what i saw with my eyes.
i would like to appreciate the work done by concernworldwide particularly the staff who have sucrificed their lives to advocate for the voiceless thats the vulnerable group.(women,children,and the elderly).its therefore incumbent on us to always give back to the voiceless in terms of better healthcare,education,food security .and overall stop torture and descrimination of any nature..
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