Somalia Drought - Water and Health Response - American Refugee Committee 2017

September 2017 - The Somaliland and Puntland regions of northern Somalia while not facing the same political and security challenges as the rest of the country have been heavily impacted by a Horn of Africa-wide drought. Acute food insecurity the proliferation of water-borne disease and widespread livestock deaths have forced more than 300 000 people in these regions to leave their homes in search of food and water and pushed many areas to the brink of famine. Overall in Somalia some 6.2 million people (roughly half of the population) now require humanitarian assistance. With GAC support the American Refugee Committee is providing support for emergency water sanitation and hygiene and health interventions for an estimated 88 000 people in the badly drought-affected Sool Sanaag and Togdheer regions of northern Somalia. Activities include: (1) rehabilitation of water points and sanitation facilities; and (2) support of one health centre and three mobile clinics to address the cholera outbreak and other medical needs.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to safe water and sanitation; and (2) improved access to medical services for drought-affected Somalis. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.