Hello jay - I'm passing along this message to you from Adan Adar, the American Refugee Committee’s Somalia Program Director. Also - I'm not sure if you saw the news today - the UN has declared famine in Southern Somalia.
- Daniel (ARC President)
Greetings from Mogadishu - The drought ravaging the Horn of Africa has left people across the region struggling to survive. Somalia has been particularly hard hit. About 2.85 million people are in acute need of help. As many as 60 children are dying every day. A steady stream of destitute families, weak and starving adults and largely malnourished children are arriving in Mogadishu. It is estimated that 66,318 new people have arrived and are residing in impromptu camps – 300 new families stream into these camps every day. Hundreds of displaced families are residing in Mogadishu’s half-demolished houses and in makeshift huts. The number of aid agencies on the ground is very limited. The response from the international community has been too slow and too late for the many children on the verge of dying. The American Refugee Committee’s team in Mogadishu works closely with the transitional government’s Drought Relief Commission and with local organizations based there. Last week we worked to provide technical support to the DRC and to support our partner, the American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa, as they provided mixed food packages for 300 families. This week, we are focused on minimizing life-threatening conditions and will carry out the following activities: - Assist the DRC in developing a camp layout plan for the construction of basic services.
- Assist with the proper registration of displaced families and improve the coordination of the drought response activities to maximize resources.
- Construct kitchens and separate latrines for men and women in the new camp situated in the vicinity of Hosh compound.
- Distribute mixed food packages and other essentials, such as tents, plastic sheets, bedding, utensils, soap, etc., to more than 400 needy families.
Your help is needed. Adan Adar
ARC Somalia Program Director www.ARCrelief.org
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