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Dhobley Vaccination Campaign

Somalia

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Our commitment to accessing and assisting people in need in Somalia remains steadfast.

Over the past four decades, our teams have responded to recurring humanitarian and health emergencies caused by conflict, climate-related events such as widespread flooding and recurring droughts, as well as outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, measles, and COVID-19. 

Today, we continue to work in hospitals in Somalia and Somaliland, providing obstetric and paediatric care, in- and out- patient nutritional support, emergency services, and tuberculosis care. Our teams also run mobile clinics providing basic healthcare in camps for internally displaced people and host communities. 
 
We carry out vaccination campaigns and respond to nutritional crises where feasible. MSF also provides resources to conduct ‘eye camps’, which reach thousands of people with eye diseases. 

A major part of our work involves specialised training for healthcare staff and capacity building, along with rehabilitating hospitals, and expanding and improving the state of water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Our activities in 2022 in Somalia and Somaliland

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2022.

MSF in Somalia and Somaliland in 2022 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) responded to the severe malnutrition crisis in Somalia in 2022, while also tackling deadly outbreaks of measles and cholera.
Somalia IAR map 2022

In 2022, Somali communities in the Horn of Africa experienced an unrelenting drought, the worst in 40 years, with more than 1.3 million people displaced by the end of the year, amid a conflict that has been going on for decades and recurrent disease outbreaks.  

In Baidoa city in Southwest state, we ran 20 mobile nutrition clinics and 32 nutrition monitoring sites and referred severely malnourished children to the inpatient therapeutic feeding centre in Bay regional hospital.  

Malnutrition in children was exacerbated by measles, an extremely infectious disease that can be fatal. Measles rates increased dramatically in the overcrowded camps and informal settlements in towns and cities where people had fled from violence, or after they had run out of food and water in their villages. We treated children with measles in MSF-supported health facilities in Baidoa, Jubaland, Hargeisa and Las Anod. 

In July, we partnered with Somaliland’s Ministry of Health Development to conduct a mass measles vaccination campaign, including for people in displacement camps and the surrounding communities. 

In April, we responded to a cholera outbreak in Baidoa city, setting up 15 oral rehydration points and a cholera treatment centre. To prevent the disease spreading, we improved access to clean water by trucking it in, drilling boreholes and installing chlorine dispensers.  

Our teams worked in hospitals across Somalia, focusing on maternal, paediatric and emergency care, nutrition support, and the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and multidrug-resistant TB, as well as mental health care and health promotion. We also ran mobile clinics in remote areas, delivering care to people in displacement camps and the surrounding communities.  

In partnership with a local medical organisation, we ran five ‘eye camps’ in several locations, conducting screening and surgical interventions for common eye conditions that cause blindness if left untreated, and distributing medical eye-glasses.

 

in 2022
 
Somalia

MSF treats victims of fighting in central Somalia

Project Update 8 Jun 2009
 
Somalia

As intense violence once again rocks Somalia's capital, MSF teams continue working throughout the country

Project Update 3 Jun 2009
 
Kenya

Somali refugees imperilled in overcrowded camps in Kenya

Press Release 18 May 2009
 
Somalia

MSF forced to close a clinic due to heavy fighting in Mogadishu, Somalia

Press Release 15 May 2009
 
Somalia

Two abducted MSF staff released in Somalia

Press Release 28 Apr 2009
 
Somalia

Somalia abductions - expressions of public support deeply appreciated

Project Update 23 Apr 2009
 
Somalia

Abducted aid workers in Somalia in good health

Project Update 21 Apr 2009
 
Somalia

Two MSF staff members abducted in Somalia

Press Release 20 Apr 2009
 
Somalia

MSF confirms abduction of three international staff in Serif Umra, Darfur, Sudan

Statement 12 Mar 2009
 
Somalia

Intense fighting in Mogadishu, Somalia - MSF treats 121 wounded in 24 hours

Project Update 26 Feb 2009
 
Somalia

MSF projects keep running in the Somalia turmoil

Project Update 3 Feb 2009
 
Somalia

MSF calls on combatants to respect medical facilities in Guri El

Statement 27 Dec 2008
 
Global

'Top Ten' humanitarian crises reveal growing insecurity, neglected health needs

Press Release 22 Dec 2008
 
Somalia

MSF sees surge in wounded and displaced as violence increases in Mogadishu

Press Release 2 Oct 2008
 
Somalia

MSF Country Coordinator describes Somalia's current situation

Voices from the Field 2 Oct 2008
 
Somalia

Unacceptable security risks oblige closure of MSF clinic in Mogadishu

Project Update 2 Sep 2008
 
Somalia

Trapped Somali populations need immediate life-saving assistance

Press Release 26 Jun 2008
 
Somalia

Malnutrition in Somalia increases drastically as assistance dwindles

Project Update 26 Jun 2008
 
Somalia

First-hand account of Somalia catastrophe

Voices from the Field 26 Jun 2008
 
Yemen

Violent conditions faced by thousands of Somalis and Ethiopians crossing the Gulf of Aden

Press Release 19 Jun 2008
 
Somalia

MSF vehicle damaged in explosion in Mogadishu; no MSF staff injured

Project Update 13 Jun 2008
 
Somalia

MSF closes medical project in Bossaso

Press Release 7 May 2008
 
Somalia

MSF has treated 850 people wounded in Mogadishu fighting since January

Project Update 7 May 2008
 
Somalia

MSF closes medical project in Kismayo

Press Release 3 Apr 2008