Alan Whelan
The people of Somalia have suffered through decades of conflict, violence and lawlessness. They now also face a present and future of climate disaster with severe and frequent droughts. Right now, 3.1 million people require life-saving assistance.
Trócaire has been working in the Gedo region of Somalia for twenty seven years. Last year our Somalia programmes helped 210,000 people.
RUNNING FROM CONFLICT IN SOMALIA
Nasra Ali Baale walked 70 kilometres across rock, scrub and desert to reach a Trócaire hospital. She was eight months pregnant. Thanks to Trócaire supporters she was able have a safe birth.
Paul Healy, Trócaire’s Somalia Country Director says many of the women and children who arrive in Trócaire hospitals do so having run from conflict in the surrounding regions. They are often in terrible condition when they arrive.
‘I’ve worked in Somalia for the last four years. I’ve met many mothers like Nasra. And listened to their stories. They live in the midst of violent, lawless, chaos. As you can probably imagine, the fear is constant.’
‘I’ve talked with women whose husbands were shot dead because some militia suspected them of being informants. Mothers whose 10, 11 or 12-year-old sons were abducted and forced to become soldiers in rebel armies.’
GIVING BIRTH SAFELY THANKS TO TRÓCAIRE SUPPORTERS
Paul describes Gedo as a little larger than Ireland. He says, ‘the hospitals and medical centres in this whole region are Trócaire ones. Four hospitals. 21 medical centres. And the only guaranteed source of sanctuary, shelter and nutritional support to people who have been forced from their homes, is Trócaire too.’
‘Support from the Irish public and Irish Aid makes it possible for us provide the medicine to rehydrate exhausted and weakened pregnant mothers. Proper nourishing food to bring them back to health. Life-saving drugs alongside skilled and loving care are what will make safe births possible, and save babies from malnutrition.’
Dr. Abdi Tari Ali works in Trócaire’s hospital in Dollow. He says, ‘Somalia is a very poor country. Even getting basic medicines into the country is a struggle. Medicines most hospitals in Ireland would take for granted.’ He says that with the conflict and drought he is seeing cases of severe acute malnutrition rising steeply.
THE GIFT OF MOTHER AND NEWBORN BABY CARE
This year you can give the Trócaire Gift of Mother and Newborn Baby care to a loved one for €55/£45. This gift will provide antenatal classes for mothers, training for midwives and vital supplies for mothers and their new babies.
PROVIDING AN EDUCATION
Trócaire also supports 15 schools providing quality primary education to 4060 children. We ensure that schools are administered efficiently, teaching and learning material and teachers are provided, and teachers are trained on curriculum development.
Through our school-feeding program, we also provide daily nutritious meals to encourage children especially from poor backgrounds to enrol in school, concentrate in class and complete their education.
Our Gift of a School Kit for €30/£20 will send a child to school, paying their school fees and providing books and pencils too.
WAR IS OVER: PLEASE SUPPORT OUR APPEAL
This year Trócaire’s Christmas appeal is focusing on the people living with conflict in many of the countries we work in.
“Millions of children around the world have known nothing but conflict in their lives. Their lives are on hold because they have been raised in war zones. It seems that in many cases the world has forgotten these children. This Christmas we want them to know that we haven’t forgotten them,” said Trócaire CEO Caoimhe de Barra.
This Christmas Trócaire is asking you to remember the children affected by the conflicts in these countries. Help us to help them by donating to our Christmas Appeal.
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Xafiiska Wararka Qaranimo Online | Muqdisho
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_____________________________________________________________________________________Xafiiska Wararka Qaranimo Online | Mogadishu, Somalia
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