Somalia/ Somaliland > Programme description
1. How long has Medair been in the country?
Providing nutrition to malnourished children under the age of five.
Medair completed a one-year programme in Somalia from 1993 to 1994, focusing on health services and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). We exited the country when the projects were completed. In March 2008, Medair began establishing a new integrated health and WASH programme in Somalia/Somaliland to respond to the high level of needs among the vulnerable population.
We worked in Cadale, Somalia from July 2008 to 30 November 2010, supporting communities with health services, nutrition, and water and sanitation (WASH) activities. In December 2008, Medair established an ongoing emergency nutrition programme in Burao, Somaliland, along with health and WASH projects in the same area.
2. What is Medair doing in the country?
Medair’s overall goal in Somalia/Somaliland is to provide high-quality humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities by improving access to health and nutrition services, safe water supply, and adequate sanitation.
Our programmes focus on IDP camps in urban and rural areas where conflict- or disaster-affected populations have not received sufficient humanitarian assistance, or where current humanitarian capacity is insufficient to address the most critical needs.
3. Where are we working?
Somaliland (Togdheer Region):
The nutrition situation in Burao town, Togdheer region of Somaliland, remains alarming. A Medair nutrition survey showed a sustained very-critical nutrition situation, above emergency thresholds. There remains a strong need for the treatment of acutely malnourished children through selective feeding and outreach programmes, and active case-finding to prevent further deterioration.
Medair is working in Burao to assist the urban poor and those displaced people who fled to the urban centre due to drought or conflict in other regions.
The main programme provides nutrition to malnourished children under the age of five, as well as health and WASH activities in the most vulnerable camps and settlements in and around Burao town.
4. How many people are working for Medair in Somalia/Somaliland ?
Medair currently employs 11 international and Kenyan staff, and 29 national staff.
