Horn of Africa update: 25th April 2012

Muslim Aid Somalia is actively celebrating the African Vaccination Week by participating in events across the country. A radio message for Malaria awareness has been running on air since the 19th April 2012. In collaboration with the UNICEF, the organisation is holding an awareness event today in the Madina District, Mogadishu that will showcase posters about Malaria control and hold discussions around interventions.

Muslim Aid is committed to bringing down malaria death due to, especially amongst the vulnerable section of the society, including pregnant women and children. Malaria is one of the most common reasons behind miscarriage in many African countries. Muslim Aid has established many malaria prevention and treatment centres in the Horn of Africa, such as Somalia, which also includes educational and awareness programmes to help people who live in remote areas. Last year, the charity distributed 7,000 mosquito nets to pregnant women and children under five in Somalia.

Horn of Africa update: 24th Jan 2012

In the war-torn nation of Somalia, which has recently suffered a major drought, children have missed on their early education at all levels.Muslim Aid's education programme for the societies affected by wars and drought in southern Somalia has succeeded to enrol 8,596 students in 36 primary schools and 24 child friendly centres for the 2011-2012 academic year. Almost 50% of the students are girls. To ensure that families are not hindered in sending their children to school due to financial difficulties, Muslim Aid’s Equal Access to Education project is providing education to children for free. In an aim to empower the community and create a stable and bright future, Muslim Aid is continuously persuading parents to send their children, both girls and boys, to schools.

Horn of Africa update: 10th January 2012

Muslim Aid supported hundreds of malnourished children in the Lower Juba region, Kismayo and Jamame through therapeutic feeding centres and additional healthcare.

Horn of Africa update: 10 October 2011

On 10th of October 2011, Muslim Aid Somalia reported the occurrence of rain in a number of regions including Hiran, Bay, Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle amongst other parts of Somalia.

Muslim Aid Somalia launched a feeding programme for malnourished children from draught affected families in IDPS camps in Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, Lower Juba and other affected areas. This program aims to target 2,400 children for 3 months and at 8 feeding centres. Also in order to provide the basic health services Muslim Aid is funding two mobile outreach clinics in Mogadishu and Afgoye corridor to theIDPs in the camps.

Horn of Africa Update: 3rd September 2011

The UN has warned that up to 750,000 people could die as Somalia's drought worsens in the coming months. Bay becomes the sixth area to be officially declared a famine zone.
Families in Jamame district of lower Juba region near Kismayo have been severely affected by the drought. On 3rd September Muslim Aid delivered food aid to 1400 families.

Food items being delivered to distribution point in Jamame district of Lower Juba

Muslim Aid's food distribution in Jamame district of lower Juba

Horn of Africa update: 29 August 2011

Muslim Aid distributed food aid to 260 families inside Baidoa. Muslim Aid is also running nutrition programme(s) in centres based in Madina and Afgoye corridor as well as Lower Juba, which has reported to have received high numbers of women and children seeking treatments.

The numbers of IDPs in Mogadishu still remain high and new refugees are arriving each day in fairly large numbers. The prices of food are continuing to rise at an alarming rate. Acute water diarrhoea, malaria, anaemia, malnutrition and scabies remain the top of the diseases amongst the IDPs.

a child getting treated at a centre where Muslim Aid is running nutrition programme

Muslim Aid is running nutrition programmes in centres based in Madina and Afgoye Corridor as well as Lower Juba

Horn of Africa update: 28 August 2011

Muslim Aid distributed food items to over 1,600 families in the following areas: Garowe, Puntland; Tarbuunka and Wardhigley camp, Mogadishu; and Hargeisa, Somaliland. The Muslim Aid Somalia team also met with Mercy Malaysia team, who visited one of Muslim Aid’s relief distribution points.

Mercy malaysia team visiting one of muslim aids distribution points

Muslim Aid's relief distribution in mogadishu on 28th august 2011

Horn of Africa update: 27 August 2011

Muslim Aid distributed emergency food items to 1400 families, which were funded by OIC (Organisation of Islamic Conference) in the regions of Jamame District in Lower Juba. Muslim Aid also distributed food items to 972 families in Kismayo, Lower Juba and to 250 families in Abudwaq, Central Somalia under its Religious Dues programme

Beneficiaries await for relief distribution

Muslim Aid somalia staff speaking to some of the beneficiaries

Update from Somalia - Muslim Aid is on the ground delivering aid

Muslim Aid began distribution of emergency aid on July 10 in Mogadishu, handing out food packs, water and kitchen utensils to around 1000 people on the first day of distribution. The first stage is targeting IDP camps in Mogadishu and Afgoye corridor, a region of Somalia with already alarming high numbers of internally displaced people. After Afghanistan and Iraq, Somalia is the third largest refugee-producing country in the world.

There are acute levels of hunger and malnutrition as food prices continue to escalate, with women, children and elderly increasingly vulnerable. Muslim Aid’s Country Director Ahmed Abdi Muhummed said: ” currently the drought is resulting in around 2500 people entering Mogadishu every day. Many people are travelling hundreds of kilometers on foot; one lady left her house with six children, sadly she arrived with only two.”

Please continue to donate and help save lives.

Muslim Aid has launched an urgent emergency appeal to provide humanitarian relief to people affected by the severe drought and malnutrition occurring in the countries of eastern Horn of Africa.

An estimated 10 million people in Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan are at risk of starvation. A shortage of food, water and medicines, made worse by persistent drought conditions in the region have forced thousands of people to flee their homes and seek refuge in camps in Mogadishu, as well as on the border of Northern Kenya and Ethiopia.

Launching the appeal, a Muslim Aid spokesperson said: “The onslaught of draught in eastern Horn of Africa is not an overnight disaster event. It has been building up for months. Food and water reserves in these countries have depleted to the extent that governments are unable to meet the needs of their populations. Livestock are dying and food supplies have collapsed. Hundreds of villages have been totally abandoned. The time has come for the international community to take notice of this alarming situation and act fast to help the affected people before it is too late.”

“Muslim Aid Field Offices in Somalia and Kenya are providing relief to the refugees. Muslim Aid appeals to its donors and partner institutions to urgently come to the aid of the victims of drought and save precious lives.”