SOMALIA: Caritas Somalia and Partners Collaborate in Response to Drought Crisis
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Following the protracted drought crisis that has hit the Horn of Africa, leaving thousands of citizens displaced with growing risk of famine, Caritas Somalia and some of its partners have joined forces in response to the crisis by providing humanitarian assistance to affected families.
Sharing with AMECEA online the steps already taken by these Catholic entities to rescue the vulnerable families, the Executive Director of Caritas Somalia Ms. Sara Ben Rached highlighted that Caritas Somalia in collaboration with Caritas partners are identifying priorities for an effective response to the drought crisis.
Currently she said, organizations are “distributing food baskets for 1,800 displaced families in Daynile and 450 families in Brava,” additionally, “Caritas Somalia has built 40 latrines in the Daynile and Kahda districts of Mogadishu, where many of those displaced are being concentrated.”
According to the Director of Caritas Somalia an entity that responds to emergencies including drought, famine and poverty in its various forms, “The drought emergency in Somalia has intensified following an unprecedented fourth consecutive failed rainy season.”
“In June this year, humanitarian partners launched the Drought Response and Famine Prevention Plan covering May to December 2022 to facilitate the scaling up of life-saving, life-sustaining assistance to prevent famine,” Ms. Rached disclosed in her message to AMECEA Online Monday, September 26.
Through an emergency appeal with Catholic Relief Service (CRS) a non-profit organization that engages Catholics to live their faith in solidarity with the poor and suffering people of the world together with Trocaire another Catholic organization based in Gedo region of South Central Somalia which also provides humanitarian support to people since 1992, have more in plan to support the affected victims in the country.
These entities are “planning to intervene in the Hiiraan and Bakool regions with WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) activities,” Ms. Rached said and continued, “This intervention will include distribution of dignity kits, construction of 180 latrines, and distribution of water to around 6,000 families for three months.”
Additionally Ms. Rached disclosed that Caritas Somalia has also delivered 250 cartons of Plumpy’Nut, used in emergency malnutrition cases, to the regional hospital of Banadir and the distributions are planned for various MCH (Maternal and Child Health) centres.”
In the month of August, Pope Francis appealed to various organizations to extend helping hand to Somalia citizens who were in great need of humanitarian assistance.
“I wish to draw your attention to the serious humanitarian crisis affecting Somalia and parts of neighboring countries. The people of this region, already living in very precarious conditions, are now in mortal danger because of drought,” Pope Francis said.
