Save the Children 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, Save the Children Canada is helping to meet the basic humanitarian needs of 49,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) around the capital city of Mogadishu. Project activities include: (1) establishment of and support to two health centres providing basic healthcare services, including maternal and child health services and outpatient therapeutic care for acutely malnourished children; (2) recruitment and training of 30 midwives and 40 nutrition outreach workers; (3) provision of training to 50 local health professionals (on case management protocols etc.); (4) provision of safe water through the establishment and maintenance of a community borehole; (5) construction of 80 community latrines, with hand washing stations; and (6) provision of community training / awareness campaigns regarding proper hygiene knowledge and practices.