IMPORTANT NOTE
Please note: Donations made toward IRUSA’s Somalia fund may be used to support important emergency or long-term work across the country, or for Somali refugees in other countries.
Download Africa Donor Report (updated: April 2019)EMERGENCY IN SOMALIA: DROUGHT LEAVES COUNTRY AT RISK
Still recovering from the impact of the 2016-2017 drought, Somalia is currently facing a severe drought that could leave the country at its highest risk of famine yet.
The 2019 Gu rains that were expected between April and June were delayed and way below the average the country needed, worsening the country’s severe water shortage.
Millions across Somalia are now living with or are at risk of:
- Increasing malnutrition and drought-related diseases
- Widespread crop failure
- Accelerating decline in livestock activity
Communities across the country are extremely vulnerable, having reached the end of their coping capacity. Somalia’s government is in dire need of emergency support due to their limited resources.
Islamic Relief USA is working with IR Somalia to provide live-saving support, including food aid and cash assistance. As always, our focus is on the most vulnerable, including women in need, elderly individuals, and disabled individuals.
Your aid is their relief. Donate life-saving assistance now.
Background
Living in a state of ongoing civil unrest, communities in Somalia have had little chance to build institutions and improve living conditions. Human development indicators are low: Life expectancy is 55 years, one-third of children are underweight, and 42% are stunted. One in seven children will die before age 5.
With living conditions already poor and fragile, residents are especially vulnerable to crises such as the severe drought and famine of 2011. Four million people experienced extreme food insecurity during that crisis. Subsequent years have seen steady improvement, due in part to adequate rainfall, lower food costs and humanitarian aid. Still, however, many Somalis continue to live in an emergency situation, and 2 million people struggle to meet their minimum daily needs. Further stress could easily push them back into a food insecurity crisis … like now, with the severe effects of climate change: Learn about IRUSA’s climate crisis aid work for Somalia and other countries throughout eastern Africa.
Islamic Relief has carried out seasonal food distribution campaigns since 1996. Islamic Relief Somalia opened in 2006 to implement and oversee programs that would alleviate suffering due to continued violence, and that would help internally displaced populations.
