Somalia: We need safe access to those affected by famine

21 July 2011

As the UN declares famine in two regions of Somalia, and warns of others to follow, World Vision is calling on the international community to scale up efforts to seek assurances from the various armed groups regarding safe humanitarian access so it can increase support to the South Central region where millions of children are in urgent need of food and assistance.

“As a child-focused relief, development and advocacy organisation, we are driven by the humanitarian imperative – to seek to alleviate the suffering of those most in need. But when those who are most in need live in places we cannot safely access, we are unable to assist them.” said World Vision East Africa Leader, Charles Owubah. “We are urgently asking all those who have influence to assist.”

Famine

The United Nations declared today that famine exists in two regions of southern Somalia: southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle.

Across the country, nearly half the Somali population – 3.7 million people – are living in crisis, an estimated 2.8 million of those are in the south.

Access

Consecutive droughts have affected families across the country and the ongoing conflict has made it extremely difficult for organisations such as World Vision to operate and access communities in the south of the country.

World Vision worked in south central Somalia directly implementing humanitarian programmes from 1992 until the Al-Shabaab group demanded it leave last August.

“We continue to implement programmes in Somaliland and affected areas in Puntland" said World Vision Somalia Operations Director Graham Davison. "But we would like to extend our help to those affected by the drought and famine in South Central Somalia.”

“We have been told of heartbreaking conditions of families’ daily struggles to survive in areas where we used to work, which is motivating us all to work faster to do all we can.”

Failed Rains

In Puntland, where World Vision is working, many families are suffering from the seventh consecutive failed rainy season. Most of the water catchments have dried up, forcing people and animals to consume water from the same areas and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.

World Vision is assisting local people affected by the drought in Puntland through water, food, sanitation and disaster risk reduction projects. Since March 2011, more than 80,000 people have benefited from water projects there through the Cash for Work initiative.

“We expect that there will be further arrivals of those affected by drought in the coming days and weeks, putting further strain on coping mechanisms, so we are preparing teams and supplies to scale up our work in response,” said Davison.

 

 
 

 

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