Somali Government Requests Help for Malnourished Children

July 27, 2011 - PRLog -- July 26, 2011: The severe drought affecting parts of Africa has contributed to serious malnutrition for an estimated 14,000 children living in 50 displaced persons camps in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. The government has appealed for help to assist the 1,000 of these children who are in critical condition.

Aden Ibrahim, the Minister of Health in Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government, told IRIN news service that the government is focused most on children under five who are suffering from measles, diarrhea, and malnutrition.

These unfortunate Somali children are part of more than 500,000 severely malnourished youngsters across the Horn of Africa who are at risk of imminent death, according to UNICEF.

Of Somalia’s 3.7 million people, 1.85 million children need urgent humanitarian assistance, a UNICEF representative told IRIN. That number grew by one million children since January of this year.

SOS Children's Villages in Somalia to Help

Delivering humanitarian aid to Somali families in need has been challenging, but international NGOs work with local partners to do what they can. SOS has had a presence in Somalia since the mid-1980s.

Somalia’s uncertain security situation makes life difficult, especially for women and children. SOS relies on the goodwill of the local populace and authorities to carry out its humanitarian work and will continue to do so despite trying conditions.

In mid-July SOS Children’s Villages assessed the needs of families in its service area near the city of Baidoa in south-central Somalia. Following the recommendations of its assessment team and working within the framework of what is possible on the ground, SOS will take concrete steps to alleviate the devastating hunger and illness afflicting displaced children.

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For over 60 years, SOS Children's Villages has been dedicated to the long-term care of children without parental care. Through our SOS Children's Villages and other initiatives, SOS impacts the lives of over 1 million people each year.