World Vision to expand work with Somali refugees

15 August 2011

World Vision has announced that it is expanding its relief efforts to feed children and families in Somalia.

The international humanitarian aid agency will be establishing a response centre in the growing settlements for internally displaced people in Dolo, which is located within southern Somalia along the border with Ethiopia.

“People are walking for miles to escape famine condition in south central Somalia. World Vision is responding with desperately needed food and medical supplies“ said Helen Keogh, Chief Executive of World Vision Ireland.

Violence and famine

The camp at Dolo is one of the largest transit facilities for Somalis fleeing from violence and famine in other parts of south central Somalia.

The UN announced last week that three further areas of south central Somalia have reached famine.

With several hundred refugees arriving each day, local aid agencies are finding it difficult to cope.

Food, medicine, shelter and sanitation are the most urgent needs that will only continue to grow as more people flood into the region, which is located only 30 kilometres from an area of conflict in southern Somalia.

Children

According to the UNHCR, 270 people have died in Dolo district since March due to the drought – 210 of whom were children.

During its initial assessment, World Vision distributed food supplies, including Plumpy'nut, which is used to treat children suffering from severe malnutrition.

The organisation also delivered medical supplies and talked to local staff and district officials to determine how best to provide assistance.

Transit camps

World Vision will run its Dolo response in coordination with local partner agencies, providing healthcare, temporary shelter and sanitation programmes for refugees remaining in transit camps on the Somali side of the border.

In the coming weeks, World Vision aims to expand these relief activities into the Dolo refugee camps on the Ethiopian side of the border.

The agency is currently staging relief operations in northern Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia.

A report by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) indicates that as many as 140,000 Somalis have passed through the Dolo area on their way to Ethiopia this year.
 

 

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