Somalia Polio Outbreak - UNICEF Appeal 2013

(September 2013) Already home to one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world Somalia is currently facing its first outbreak of polio since 2007. So far in 2013 108 cases of the disease have been reported in Somalia as well as 12 in the Somali refugee camps in Kenya and 1 in the neighbouring Somali region of Ethiopia. The existence of at least 1 million unvaccinated children in strife-torn southern Somalia combined with the high mobility of Somali populations between Somalia and its neighbours make this a potentially explosive situation which could pose a threat to the entire east Africa region. In part with Canadian support UNICEF is helping to prevent a potentially catastrophic outbreak of polio amongst the already extremely vulnerable Somali population and by so doing preventing the further spread of the disease throughout the rest of the east Africa region. Specific project activities include: the procurement and distribution of polio vaccine; several rounds of immunization activities targeting unvaccinated children; a social mobilization campaign to raise awareness and encourage communities to accept the vaccine; and the rehabilitation of the 'cold chain' infrastructure in Somalia to facilitate routine immunization.

Expected results include: - an estimated 2.8 million children under 10 years old in all accessible areas of south central Somalia Puntland and Somaliland vaccinated against polio; - increased awareness of risk and dangers of polio amongst Somali community; and - improved and routinized polio immunization systems within Somalia. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people particularly women and children.