Oxfam Canada

Published purpose

March 2015 - Somalia remains home to one of the longest-running humanitarian crises in the world. The effects of chronic drought, decades of political instability, and ongoing international military efforts against Al Shabab insurgents have left an estimated 3.2 million Somalis in need of humanitarian assistance. More than one million Somalis remain internally displaced and a further one million are living in neighbouring countries as refugees. Malnutrition rates remain some of the highest in the world, well above the emergency threshold of 15%, and access to basic services – such as safe water, adequate sanitation facilities, and essential medical care - is extremely limited. With DFATD’s support, Oxfam Canada is helping to meet the basic needs of 67,000 conflict-affected people in the Bay and Gedo regions of Somalia. Project activities include: (1) rehabilitation of two boreholes, 12 water pans, and 12 shallow wells, serving a total of more than 60,000 people; (2) training of water management committees in targeted communities; (3) distribution of household water filters to 2,900 families; (4) construction of 105 community latrines; (5) distribution of hygiene kits and sanitation tools and promotion of community hygiene awareness; (6) cash-for-work activities to provide household income and improve food security; and (7) distribution of cash grants / vouchers to vulnerable food-insecure households that are unable to work.