Press Release

U.S. Contributes $3.8 Million in Assistance to Somalia

Nairobi, Kenya  | Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), has contributed $2 million in emergency assistance to vulnerable communities in conflict torn Somalia, in addition to $1.8 million to conduct nutritional surveys and support UN transport of passengers and cargo.

Following an escalation of fighting in Mogadishu in October, nearly 100,000 people have been displaced, including an estimated 46,000 in Afgoye. USAID/OFDA’s support will allow implementing partners to provide nutrition, sanitation and health assistance to these vulnerable populations.

USAID/OFDA has provided $2 million to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to respond to the needs of displaced or vulnerable communities, particularly to Internally Displaced People in settlements along the road from Mogadishu to Afgoye, and to those threatened by natural disasters such as floods and potential outbreaks of disease. The funding will enable UNICEF to focus on four interventions: the provision of safe drinking water and sufficient sanitation facilities; improved access to proper health and nutrition care; the mobilization of communities to protect women and children against violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination exacerbated by displacement and conflict; and the distribution of non-food items including plastic sheeting, blankets, cooking utensils, jerry cans and soap.

USAID/OFDA has also given UNICEF $800,000 for the UN Common Air Service (UNCAS) to allow USAID/OFDA partners to fly passengers and cargo to and within Somalia. Ongoing support of UNCAS is important due to limited access on commercial flights and the high cost of charter flights.

USAID/OFDA has provided a $1 million grant to the Nutritional Surveillance Unit of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) to enable nutritional assessments and surveys to be conducted throughout Somalia, specifically of children under five years of age. The surveys will also help to identify pregnant and lactating women in need of nutritional support services.

For more information about USAID/OFDA’s assistance efforts in Somalia, please visit: http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/

For details on how USAID is working to address emergency needs in Somalia, please visit: http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/somalia/