Mogadishu, Somalia – The European Union (EU) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have successfully completed a one-year transformative six million Euro project, providing life-saving assistance to more than 920,000 displaced persons and host communities in Somalia.

Somalia has been facing one of the most severe droughts in decades which has displaced more than 1.6 million people and left 6.4 million without sufficient access to safe water. The recent Gu rainy season, occurring from late March to June, further worsened the situation forcing an additional 419,000 individuals to leave their homes due to flash floods. 

In response to this urgent humanitarian situation, IOM focused its efforts on providing essential aid to affected individuals residing in displacement sites across Somalia. IOM delivered camp services, water, hygiene kits, shelter solutions and cash assistance to those in need. The response was tailored to meet the specific needs of displaced individuals, making use of data collected through New Arrivals Tracker.

Through the project, 100,00 people living in drought-affected areas were able to access clean and safe water. This was made possible through rehabilitating five motorised shallow wells, constructing four boreholes and providing water trucking services. These efforts ensured that a total of 14,580,000 litres of water were accessed per month. 

 To promote sanitation, hygiene kits consisting of soap, jerry cans and water container lids were distributed to 6,000 individuals. Additionally, girls and women received sanitary pads. Camp health promoters conducted hygiene awareness sessions to reinforce the importance of proper hygiene practices in maintaining good health.

 In response to the urgent need for shelter, emergency assistance was provided to 10,000 families in the form of plastic sheets, offering protection from harsh weather conditions and ensuring privacy for the displaced persons. Moreover, 4,000 families received much-needed cash assistance which they utilized to purchase food, essential items and to repay debts incurred during their displacement.

As part of the project’s initiative, the Biometric Registration and Verification (BRaVe) system was upscaled, allowing for the efficient and accurate door-to-door registration of 7,000 families. This facilitated easier distribution of aid and support to those in need.

 For more information contact: smsom-media@iom.int