Somalia
Violence, coupled with severe drought in some areas, continued to aggravate the grievous humanitarian situation for millions of people throughout Somalia in 2009. Despite critical medical needs, the response remained grossly insufficient as attacks against international and Somali aid workers repeatedly thwarted humanitarian efforts. Meanwhile the public health care system remained in near-total collapse. In this challenging context, MSF continued to deliver health care to hundreds of thousands of people thanks to its committed Somali staff, who were supported by a management team in Nairobi, Kenya.
Workers attacked – but needs persist Canadians’ contributions allowed MSF to maintain programs in Somalia, without government funding, in a highly volatile and political environment. Abductions and killings of international and Somali aid workers and ongoing insecurity remained the biggest obstacles to MSF’s efforts throughout the country. Such incidents caused MSF to close activities in the Bakook region, and to suspend activities in its pediatric hospital in Northern Mogadishu and a nutrition treatment centre in Jilib. In December, two mortars hit Belet Weyne Hospital, injuring two MSF staff. In June an MSF employee died in an explosion in the Hiraan region that also killed 30 other people.
Canadian donations specifically supported activities in Afgooye, Dinsor, Marere and Jilip and North and South Galcayo, covering primary and secondary healthcare including tuberculosis treatment, treatment for malnourished children, emergency surgery and emergency response. In the North and South Galcayo regions MSF teams treated approximately 3,500 outpatients/month, 180 inpatients per month, averaged 670 ante-natal care consultations per month, conducted 51 major surgeries (we did not have a surgeon in the project for the first six months), and treated approximately 700 children per month for acute lack of nutrition.
Private funds: $1,000,000
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