Lifesaving flood response in Somalia

In 2024, Help a Child and Medair brought lifesaving Health and WASH services to flood-affected communities in Baardheere and Kismayo in Somalia. Over 33,700 people received essential support, including maternal and child healthcare, immunizations, antenatal services, malnutrition referrals, and improved hygiene and shelter assistance.

Health workers trained in integrated childhood illness protocols operated three mobile clinics that reached remote villages cut off by floodwaters. Three flood-damaged health facilities were repaired to bolster local healthcare capacity. A new Postnatal Care ward was constructed in Shaqalaha, and an additional room was added at Abdalla Birole to handle the growing patient load triggered by the influx of IDPs.

The fight against Cholera
To combat cholera, a new treatment unit and three oral rehydration points were established, serving nearly 1,800 patients and keeping fatalities below 0.2%. In parallel, 3,000 hygiene kits were distributed, reaching 20,360 individuals, while 2,000 IDP households received shelter kits, benefiting 13,340 people. Community health workers, supported with training and incentives, played a key role in raising awareness of cholera prevention, safe water use, and sanitation. Aditionally, gender and protection concerns were integrated, focusing on women-headed households and training staff in basic protection guidelines.

The holistic approach of combining mobile outreach, facility rehabilitation, and WASH measures has strengthened resilience in Somalia’s hardest-hit regions. Through this collective effort, Help a Child and Medair have ensured that families facing displacement and ongoing floods could access the vital support needed for recovery.