Somalia

More than twenty years of persistent conflict has ruined Somalia’s economic infrastructure and forced a generation of people from their homes.

Somalia experiences frequent natural disasters, including the ongoing 2019 drought that has caused widespread crop failures and left millions at risk of starvation. The number of people displaced and desperately in need of food continues to climb as Somalia’s most vulnerable populations struggle to cope with the devastating effects of recurring droughts, floods and famine.

Relief International is not currently active in Somalia, but between 2009 and 2022, we provided critical healthcare, education, water and sanitation services to internally displaced Somalis and those who fled to other countries but have now returned home. During that time, we had more than 100 field staff working out of six strategically placed offices across Somalia.

The 14 healthcare facilities we supported screened children for malnutrition and administer life-saving vaccinations, provided critical ante- and post-natal care to mothers, and treated waterborne disease spread by lack of access to clean water sources.

We also collaborated with students, parents, teachers, community leaders and government ministries to enroll tens of thousand of girls, transforming an educational system that traditionally provides little opportunity for girls to learn and had poor graduation rates. More than 90% of girls enrolled in our programs stayed in school for three years or more, and we helped educate more than 115,000 students in 2022.