Ahead of Eid al-Fitr, SOHDA-Mogadishu calls for more action to end hunger in the horn of Africa.
More than 400 people majorly orphans and IDPS in Mogadishu benefited from SOHDA-Mogadishu food packages distributed by SOHDA management during the holy month in 2023 – one of the largest Ramadan food distributions in the organization’s 7-year history, despite the huge challenges of drought and global inflation.
Packs containing essentials such as sugar, beans, dates and oil have been distributed to selected households majorly the very needy. Distributed food was supported and financed by Somali diaspora communities in UK, Canada, Sweden and USA.
A new river bank broke at Buurfuule, Maandheere and Raqeyle villages in Jowhar, district, Middle Shabelle region according to local authorities who shared with SOHDA team in Jowhar.
People in Maandheere, Buurfuule and Raqeyle villages in Jowhar fled for their lives and belongings to a to safer places as the speed of the water is got tougher.
The breakages is still open as the village’s community leaders told SOHDA Somalia and asked for humanitarian assistance for the villagers.
It flooded to the nearby farms although the community and farmers are working very hard to close the breakages.
Finally, SOHDA calls for an urgent humanitarian assistance for the affected communities and farmers in these 3 villages Maandheere, Buurfuule and Raqeyle.
The armed conflict between SNA forces and Al-Shabaab (AS) that erupted in the eastern villages of Balcad district, Middle Shabelle region, in which reportedly nine civilians were killed and even more injured. Huge displacement occurred following the arson committed by AS against civilian dwellings. SOHDA assesment reports found out that, the Government forces launched an attack against AS in Dhagaxow, Hawadley, Jameeco, Shanlow, and Yaqle villages in the eastern part of Balcad district, which were their biggest bases in the district, particularly Hawadley village.
As retaliation, AS attacked Mukadhere and Mareerey villages in the east of Balcad, following direct conflict with the government soldiers, who retreated. AS started burning houses claiming that the owners work with the government by supporting government forces and resisting AS’s attack. Almost all houses were burnt in Mukidhere, Xanlay and Bananey, as well as the private clinics, schools, mosques etc. This conflict caused the deaths of nine civilians and displaced residents to Balcad town. According to reports that OCHA is receiving from partners and the local authority in Balcad, most of the recent conflict-displaced communities reaching Balcad town in the last few days have settled in one of the old government buildings called Ex-Imamu-Nawawi school and its compound in Balcad town, while some of the new IDPs from four villages attacked.
Aproximately1,557 households (approximately 9,342 individuals) newly arrived. The local community and local traders are contributing with support by providing food, as the local administration called on locals to assist with food and clothes. The local administration has also organized a youth group who were ready to cook and distribute food twice-a-day. Reports indicate that these families access water from the district hospital shallow well and the nearby school building. There are reportedly poor hygiene conditions as these families are sharing very few latrines and children are openly defecating. There are no hygiene materials available, which increases the risk of disease outbreak due to poor hygiene conditions and overcrowding. There are also reports of some IDPs moving to Mogadishu where their relatives are.
SOHDA is appealing for funds to renovate Ali Gaddud Primary and Secondary and restore learning now that peace has been restored.
Twenty one young girls forcefully underwent Female Genital Mutiliation in Kismaayo last week. FGM which inflicts more pain on girls has been on rise practiced by traditional elders in various regions of Somalia with many girls being victims each year.
In Somalia, over 90% of young girls and women, are subjected to FGM annually despite the practice having devastating health ramifications for women and girls including pain, bleeding, permanent disability and even death.
During the pandemic and war, children across many parts of Somalia are lacking education and aids that can help them improve their knowledge. While the most schools are still shut due to insecurity, underprivileged children like children at IDP camps, urban slums are mostly affected. To address this, SOHDA through the Free Primary and secondary Education project donated books to the students.
Alphabet books, Number system, General knowledge, Arabic basic language and many other useful books were distributed to 250 children from different grades. Children were very curious and eager while the Director distributed them the books. The priceless smile on the face of these children was the return gift.
On this #WorldHumanitarianDay we celebrate the humanitarians in Somalia working daily to assist those affected by #Drought & displacement. We salute their dedication and courage.
World Humanitarian Day is a reminder to all of us that saving the goodness of this world lies on all of our shoulders only. Warm wishes on this special day to everyone!
If you ever get a chance to do anything good then don’t hesitate to do it. As this world needs much more goodness today.
A team from SOHDA visited yesterday Galgalato, Gubadley and El’Adde locations under Gubadley environment adminstration and met new arrivals of drought affected people displaced from Adalle and Balcad of Middle Shabelle region.
Around 500 HHs reached these locations.
Situation of the displaced people reached to Galgalato, El’Adde and Gubadley was very bad and unacceptable.
Newly displaced people are in need of food, water, sanitation, protection, shelter, non-food items and many other services.
Somalia is experiencing its worst drought crisis in a decade, with millions going hungry and being forced from their homes in search of food and water.
The impact on families is being felt more severely this season due to the result of multiple, prolonged droughts in quick succession, a worsening security situation, desert locust infestations, soaring food prices, reduced remittances – and less money committed by donors to respond.
Somalia has experienced three major drought crises in the past decade: in 2011/12, 2016/2017, and now in 2021/22
As part of the feed the fasting Project, SOHDA-Mogadishu distributed food packs to 250 households the neediest and internally displaced people in Mogadishu Somalia during the blessed month of Ramadan.
This intervention aims to save lives and share the joy and happiness of the holy month of Ramadan with deprived and underprivileged people in Somalia. The target groups of this intervention were the drought affected IDPs and host community Families in Brava, including and most vulnerable people, including women, children, elders, and minorities.
We provided essential food items to the drought victims and disadvantaged needy families to prepare iftar (meal for breaking fast) and suhoor (pre-dawn meal) during the holy month of Ramadan in April 2022. These food packages consisted of Flour, Sugar, Cooking Oil and Dates enough to feed an entire family member of 1-6 People for one month of Ramadan in the Brava district of Lower Shabelle region in Somalia.
In total, 250 households, including internally displaced people (IDPs), received emergency relief. Overall, SOHDA-Mogadishu food distribution reached 1500 people.
Thanks to our supporters and everyone who made this possible. Your kindness means the world to us. Please continue to support us with your donations.
The support provided by SOHDA-Mogadishu to the drought-affected communities in had come at the right time and alleviated the burden of the vulnerable, minority and marginalized community in Mogadishu town. The activities under this intervention were completed successfully, and the target community appreciated the support.
SOHDA-Mogadishu believes that peacekeeping operations are a vital means to ending conflicts and laying the groundwork for building stability, and SOHDA has been part of peaceful campaigns among the communities in Somalia.
SOHDA participated in the Peace Keeping and stability Links Africa meeting that was held on 24-25 June 2014 in Hilton, Adisababa whereby the lessons learnt there have been very vital in peaceful transformations SOHDA has been engaging in.
SOHDA-Mogadishu distributed Reading glasses in Jowhar Middle Shabelle Region Hirshabelle State of Somalia.
The program was aimed at helping restore sights and assist those in the community whose roles had been paralyzed by the loss of sight and could not afford the optical care due to extreme poverty.
It was supported by Eyes on Africa USA and about 300 People benefited from the project.