Provide Lifesaving Relief to Drought Victims

International Medical Corps has operated in Somalia since 1991, when it became the first American non-governmental organization to arrive in the war-torn Somali capital of Mogadishu after the overthrow of President Siad Barre. Since May 2012, International Medical Corps has been addressing a critical and growing gap in accessible healthcare services for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable populations in Mogadishu. In 2013-2014, International Medical Corps received funding to respond to the IDPs’ emergency water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs in Kismayo, Lower Juba Region. International Medical Corps has, as a result, been able to improve access to sanitation facilities by constructing 50 communal ventilated pit latrines in 20 IDP camps within five Kismayo settlements. In addition, International Medical Corps’ hygiene promotion activities, which began in July 2014, have benefitted more than 18,000 people.

Recently, International Medical Corps rehabilitated four shallow wells, one each in Hamdi 1, Wamo 1,Haji Pollo and Nageye IDP camps. Most of the people living in these IDP camps are people displaced by either insecurity or floods, or people who lost their livestock herds – and their livelihoods – as a result of drought. A total of 614 households – or a total of 3,684 individuals – benefitted from improved access to consistent sources of safe water from the four rehabilitated shallow wells.

Fatuma is a resident of Nageye IDP camp in Kismayo lower Jubba region, Somalia. She says that the long two-hour queues have disappeared. She now needs to wait a mere 10 minutes at the well rehabilitated by International Medical Corps. The replacement of the defective hand pump, the raising of the well apron, and the deepening of the well have significantly improved both the quality and quantity of the water. Before the rehabilitation, the well apron was open and the community used an improvised lifting device – a plastic container tied to a rope – which exposed the well to contamination. The water management committee identified a volunteer attendant to oversee the appropriate use of the well. According to Fatuma, when the well is not in use, the attendant locks the hand pump using a chain fixed to the well head. Xawo, a 24-year-old woman, confirms Mrs. Fatuma’s experience: “I take just a few minutes to draw water now, unlike the previous long queues and lack of an adequate amount of water. We are much better off now.” Another woman, Fartun, adds, “Since the well has been rehabilitated and elevated, and is no longer open, we don’t need to worry about the safety of our children.”

In a surprise visit to rehabilitated wells at Hamdi and Haji Pollo IDP camps, International Medical Corps staff had the opportunity to meet Halima, a 34-year-old resident of Haji Pollo IDP camp who was drawing water. She told them that previously the well had a lot of cracks, and dirty water from outside was dripping into the well and contaminating it. The well was also dangerous: seven months before a child fell into the well and had to be rescued, and children were able to easily drop debris into the well since it was always open. The community is grateful to International Medical Corps and the generous support of its donors, as both the quantity and quality of the water have significantly improved along with the safety of the well itself. Halima added that the elected water management committee was overseeing the smooth running of the well and educating the IDP camp members on proper hygiene. “We are very much appreciative of International Medical Corps’ initiative.” It is with the generous support of GlobalGiving and other donors that International Medical Corps is able to complete such critically needed projects.