Drought and on-going conflict in Somalia have forced over one million people to leave their homes. Around 400,000 people have been living in internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camps in the coastal town of Mogadishu.
ShelterBox has been working in partnership with Women And Health Alliance (WAHA) International to set up tents at IDP camps near medical centres to house patients and their families, particularly hospitalised women who cannot leave their children. These ‘medical villages’ offer shelter, comfort and dignity to those most vulnerable.
Eric Otieno is WAHA International’s Medical Co-ordinator and he has been helping put up the tents at the camps.
‘There has been heavy rain in Mogadishu over the past few days therefore the displaced people have greatly benefited from the ShelterBox tents,’ said Eric. ‘So far 60 tents have been set up at Forlanini Hospital camp and 35 tents have been set up at Badbadoo Camp.
‘Approximately 6,000 families reside at Badbadoo IDP camp. Many have heart-wrenching stories of how the war uprooted them from their farms. Almost every family has lost a relative, or has a relative injured by the effects of war.’
Rebuilding lives
With the recent rainfall, 50 ShelterBoxes have been set aside to assist agricultural families who need to return to their homes to tend to their farms. A ShelterBox will provide each family with items to help them start rebuilding their lives, including a tent, tools, cooking equipment, waterproof ground mats and a children’s activity pack.
Further shelter has been provided with over 300 ShelterBox tents set up at Rajo camp, one of the areas worst affected by the downpours.
‘Old shelters constructed of tarpaulin and sticks have been replaced with ShelterBox tents,’ explained Eric. ‘The joy on the faces of the beneficiaries was quite telling. The tents came just in time!’
See the latest slideshow from Somalia here
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