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1.7 million people have been displaced across Somalia because of the effects of the worst drought in 60 years. Over 100,000 people have fled to Mogadishu and are living in squalid camps with little of no shelter and no easy access to food. In Sigale camp for internally displaced people in Mogadishu, families are camping out in and between buildings that have been destroyed by the conflict. In some camps 85% of the inhabitants are women and children. Habiba arrived in Sigale camp two days ago with her three children. She says, "I left because of hunger problems. I walked on foot for 10 days walking with my children. I left my husband behind at home because we had no money for the fare for him to travel." The rains due in October will cause havoc for those living in temporary shelter in camps in Mogadishu. Most people have no adequate shelter to keep out the rain making children even more vulnerable to illness and disease like malaria, pneumonia and diarrohea. More than 45% of children in Mogadishu are acutely malnourished meaning they have less resistance to fight off diseases like measles, malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea. As the rains start these diseases will threaten children’s lives further. Less than 30% of Somalia’s population is vaccinated against measles. Living in overcrowded camps in Mogadishu means the rates of transmission are likely to increase. With the influx of people escaping the drought measles has increased by 600%. Save the Children is providing mosquito nets, vaccinations, preventative and curative treatment for common childhood illnesses, antenatal care for pregnant women and vital therapeutic feeding for severely malnourished children in Sigale camp as well as having distributed food vouchers to 2500 families and providing water to 3000 families in Darawish camp. Mogadishu is the tip of the ice burg. Children are dying in horrendous numbers throughout Somalia. More money is urgently needed for aid agencies like Save the Children to get essential life saving aid to children and their families. Find out more: http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/east-africa-appeal.htm
