Somalia

About the Situation

Years of civil unrest has created dire living conditions for Somalia’s 10 million residents. More than one million Somalis have been internally displaced over the years because of violence,  according to the Central Intelligence Agency—they do not have shelter, food or access to clean water.

While violence has also hindered relief organizations abilities to get inside the country to gauge the condition of the people, all agree that the on-going instability has created extreme poverty and malnutrition rampant in the region.

In addition to civil unrest, Somalia is susceptible to extreme weather conditions and natural disasters, including floods and drought, hindering the population’s ability to harvest land for food and to build a strong agricultural industry for income. The impoverished Somali community also suffers from high rates of infant mortality and illiteracy.

How Islamic Relief is Helping

Islamic Relief^TM has been carrying out seasonal food distribution campaigns since 1996. Islamic Relief opened a field office in Somalia in 2006 to implement and oversee programs that would alleviate suffering due to continued violence, and that would help internally displaced populations.

Here are some currently and recently completed programs in Somalia:

• Emergency relief
  Islamic Relief has been on the ground in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya to provide vital aid to survivors of the 2011 drought—considered the worst drought to hit the region in 60 years. IR has been providing water, food and health care services to thousands in the region.
• Orphan support
• Ramadan food distribution
• Udhiyah/Qurbani meat distribution

HOW YOU CAN HELP