SomaliaSomalia is a country located in the Horn of Africa, with a huge eastern coastline on the Indian Ocean. With a mostly arid landscape and scattered settlements with nomadic traditions, Somalia has experienced prolonged humanitarian crises with the absence of a functioning central government since 1991. The mostly Muslim Somali society is based on a complex clan and sub-clan structure extending into Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti. Clan identity —a combination of family lineage and social ‘reconstruction’— has become particularly important since the collapse of the state.
Only about 13% of Somalia’s land is arable while about 45% is suitable for livestock keeping. Localized inter-clan conflicts, especially in south-central Somalia, frequently disrupt farming activities. Families face chronic food shortages and high levels of malnutrition, low access to healthcare services and safe drinking water.
Years of civil war, generalised lawlessness, lack of basic services and recurring droughts, floods and famines have made Somalia one of the world’s most unsafe places for children.
|
| Child - Friendly Spaces The effects of growing up in a warzone can be severely and permanently damaging for children.
Psychological trauma can lead to children becoming withdrawn, unable to concentrate on school lessons, prone to aggression and other unhealthy behaviours.
World Vision’s Child Friendly Space in southern Somalia provides a place for children to play, laugh and heal. In this safe environment, children receive support from trained counselors to deal with rape, violence and other trauma associated with being a child in Somalia.
|
World Vision in Somalia World Vision has been working in Somalia since 1992 to improve people's livelihoods, raise education and health care standards, build water and sanitation systems -– and help communities to resolve their conflicts peacefully. World Vision is currently providing essential services (including water, education and livelihoods) for around 550,000 people in south and central Somalia and in Somaliland (which declared itself independent from Somalia in 1991, and has a functioning government although not recognised internationally). World Vision is also:
• increasing access to high quality, affordable primary health services for all, especially vulnerable women and children. These services include treatment of common illnesses, child vaccinations for children, maternal and childbirth care, health education, treatments for tuberculosis and malnutrition.
• providing shelters, blankets, cooking pots,clean water and sanitation services to thousands of people displaced by fighting.
• assisting communities to resolve their conflicts. Sporting events (especially football) are organized to bring youths together to build links between different communities and promote peace.
• addressing the psychosocial needs of children with vocational training and social and health education.
|
