Somalia has been in a constant state of turmoil, fighting and anarchy since the collapse of Siad Barre’s regime in 1991. It remains one of the worst humanitarian situations in the world, with 3.2 million people in need of assistance and 1 in 7 Somalis having fled their homes.
Whilst peace and stability has been established in the north-eastern independent region of Somaliland, south/central Somalia remains unpredictable. Clan warfare and attacks on aid workers continue to block relief efforts.
Humanitarian Update
The number of people in need of aid in Somalia has increased by 77 per cent since the start of 2008, affecting a total of 3.2 million people – 43 per cent of the entire population. A recent food security report, released in August 2008, stated that the humanitarian crisis in Somalia has deteriorated to one of the worst levels in the last 17 years.
HOW MERLIN IS HELPING:
Merlin has been working in Somalia since 2003, however the precarious security situation means that most programmes are currently being remotely supported from the regional office in Nairobi. Merlin works in partnership with other agencies and the Somalia Support Secretariat.
We are currently implementing a communicable disease control programme in Puntland, three programmes addressing HIV/AIDS and TB in Puntland, malaria throughout the country, and an emergency health and nutrition programme in central Somalia. We are also partners of the Gedo Health Consortium, a support programme that seeks to address key primary health care needs in five districts of Gedo region, southern Somalia.
Emergency health and nutrition
We are helping 275,000 people
In Galgadud region, central Somalia, and Awdal region, Somaliland, Merlin is responding to the nutritional needs of malnourished children under five, working to improve access to critical primary health care services and enhancing the capacity of health workers to effectively deliver aid. The programme focuses on community-based therapeutic care, nutrition education, supplementary feeding, therapeutic feeding, health education, maternal and child health, and EPI.
In Gedo Region, southern Somalia, Merlin is part of the Gedo Health Consortium, providing technical assistance to improve the health local people by supporting communities to develop and implement a regional health programme with strong local management.
Malaria
We are improving services for three million people
Merlin is supporting the Ministry of Health to develop a national malaria control strategy. Working with local partners, we are helping to build up capacity to control malaria and reduce the risks of disease outbreak.
Controlling HIV/AIDS and TB
We are helping 9,000 people
Somalia has one of the highest incidences of TB in the world. Our project aims to decrease death and sickness due to TB in Puntland. We are also working to decrease the incidence of TB and prevent the development of acquired drug resistance, making future treatment of TB easier and more affordable.
HIV awareness in Somalia is extremely low. Merlin supports three integrated prevention treatment and support sites in urban areas of Puntland, where HIV prevalence is highest, and has enlisted local NGOs to promote the uptake of services.
Key achievements
• Despite adverse security conditions, Merlin has successfully started up an emergency response in Galgadud district, central Somalia, where recorded malnutrition rates are extremely high and few other NGOs are operational
• Disease surveillance activities have been rolled out and as the UN health cluster lead in Puntland, we are working very closely with the Ministry of Health and other key partners. This renewed partnership and leadership has been recognised by the WHO and the Ministry of Health
Donors supporting Merlin's work
DEC, Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNICEF, WHO, World Vision, Caritas, STDA
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