In Somalia, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works to save the lives of children, to defend their rights, and to help them reach their full potential, from early childhood through adolescence. The August 2021 snapshot of current needs to support humanitarian response reports that the country’s drought condition has seen 3.5 million people put at risk of food insecurity. By the end of the year, an estimated 1.2 million children are also expected to be acutely malnourished, according to UNICEF. In addition, 389,000 people have been displaced due to drought conditions this year.
As we put drought into perspective, let’s not forget the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which also continues to pose threats to health beyond the impact of the pandemic itself. The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the education of children, affected service delivery, the economy of the country, and other sectors. As of 31st August 2021, Somalia reported 17,466 cases of COVID-19, with 7,977 deaths. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has seen to the administering of 299,037 doses in support of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Somalia. UNICEF continues to ensure the continuity in the provision of essential health and nutrition services amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the reporting period, UNICEF Somalia in collaboration with partners has aided in the provision of counseling with regards to infant and young child feeding to 87,539 mothers and caretakers. UNICEF has also provided access to life-saving health services to 36,279 children and women. In August, UNICEF helped 123,115 vulnerable children gain access to education, of which 46 percent were girls. With regards to mental health, UNICEF also supported 5,806 people (3,045 children, 52% girls) by providing mental health and psychosocial support services to them.
During the reporting period, 101,616 vulnerable people had access to emergency water supply, as opposed to 165,192 in July. Of this number in July, 40,701 were girls while 93,886 were boys. The water supply was through rehabilitation of water points and water trucking. This month’s report records that 16,466 people were reached with Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) interventions as of 31st August 2021.
