Somalia |
Disaster Assistance at a Glance
Recent Disaster Declarations:
Complex Emergency
OFDA Response:
Agriculture and food security, coordination, emergency relief supplies, health, logistics, nutrition, protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene
Latest OFDA Report:
Somalia Complex Emergency Situation Report #1 (58kb PDF)
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Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Complex Emergency, 10-31-2008
Since 1991, widespread violence, endemic poverty, and recurrent droughts and floods have led to a complex emergency in Somalia. Ongoing fighting since December 2006 between the Somalia Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Ethiopian forces, and armed militias has led to a further deterioration of humanitarian conditions. Increased attacks on aid workers have restricted humanitarian access and impeded response efforts. According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, 1.2 million people remain displaced, including longer-term IDPs, as well as individuals displaced by increased fighting since February 2007.
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A woman draws water from a well using a hand pump installed with USAID funds. |
In August 2008, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization reported that more than 3.2 million people, representing 43 percent of the population, required humanitarian assistance as a result of the cumulative affects of drought, continued civil conflict, rising inflation, and ongoing food insecurity. USAID’s Famine Early Warning Systems Network reported increased malnutrition rates countrywide, including approximately 180,000 acutely or severely malnourished children in southern and central Somalia.
On October 31, 2008, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Michael E. Ranneberger redeclared a disaster due to the ongoing complex emergency in Somalia. USAID/OFDA’s focus in Somalia is addressing the basic humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable populations through agriculture and food security, health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene activities. Since 1991, USAID/OFDA has provided nearly $240 million for humanitarian assistance to Somalia.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses in Somalia, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
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