Author Archives: cosv

Somalia trusts in future despite political instability and natural disasters

The fragile situation of Somalia makes difficult for people to escape the spiral of insecurity and precariousness that has characterized last decades. Despite the establishment of the Somali Federal Government and the transition to democratic institutions, there are many attempts to mortify the efforts in this direction and several obstacles to stability. Attempts from Al-Shabaab to foment riots and conflicts and natural disasters constantly threaten the slow recovery phase started, putting a strain on the process towards self-sufficiency and the development of local resources.

“In the Lower Shabelle, where COSV has been present for 20 years, the heavy rainfall of the last weeks has caused the flooding of cultivated lands and shelters, worsening the already severe humanitarian crisis in the region” says Fabio Gigantino, regional coordinator of Kenya and Somalia for the COSV. The torrential rains have affected the districts of Merka and Kortunwareey, with devastating consequences: about 700 families fled their homes and fields. The use of contaminated water has caused several cases of acute diarrhea and the presence of stagnant water has resulted in the proliferation of malaria. “Immediately we have made available vehicles and medical personnel for first aid interventions and the distribution of emergency kits containing jerry cans and water purification tablets, items for personal hygiene, mosquito nets and sandbags to build dams in places at risk of further flooding. Unfortunately, the situation is still very critical and some areas remain inaccessible”.

Lower Shabelle area is very exposed to natural disasters and the control of some zones by Al-Shabaab makes it further unstable. “As COSV we were able to mature over the years a positive relationship with local authorities that has allowed us to become a point of reference to ensure basic health services,” said Fabio Gigantino “Our priority is to strengthen local health services with particular emphasis on access to them by women and children who are the most vulnerable”. The maternal and child health is at the heart of COSV projects in this area: the basic health services such as vaccinations, distribution of medicines and basic care are complemented by targeted interventions on maternal and health nutrition and activities to raise awareness on the issues of hygiene. To reach the most remote areas has been also activated a network of home care that guarantees the widespread availability of essential health services.

Despite the critical issues that characterize this area, some interventions are starting to make a difference in the lives of people. Thanks to Treatment clinics and Nutritional Stabilization centers for the treatment of acute malnutrition, the only ones that operate in this region affected by food insecurity, more than 23,000 children and many young pregnant and breastfeeding women have received medical assistance, medicines and therapeutic food in 2012. Health workers call “miraculous survivors” children who are torn to death thanks to the care of these centers, and is truly a miracle in this area that a child under 5 years of age admitted to dying of malnutrition can be saved. The response from the community and local authorities is very positive; they are increasingly aware that these interventions can save many lives and therefore must be supported.

COSV says goodbye to Khadija, victim of violence in Somalia

Khadija Abdi Yarow was 32 years old and worked for COSV as responsible for teaching in the five temporary elementary schools that COSV supports in Mogadishu IDP camps in Zone K; the camps are vast crowded mass of shacks, huts and shelters made with towels and fabrics.

In a country where only 15% of children attend school, and in which the impact of war on the school system has been devastating, Khadija was convinced that one of the great ways to solve the many conflicts that still afflict his people, exhausted by years of war and violence is to start from the young and the responsibility towards the new generations.

A belief that has been reflected in the project she was responsible for, that of temporary schools, strongly backed by COSV to support the crucial sector of primary education, which in Somalia suffers from a chronic lack of funding or discontinuity.

And last Saturday, Khadija was a victim of that violence that continues to disfigure the streets of Mogadishu with impunity.

Kadija was traveling by car with her colleagues to visit the 2200 pupils who attend temporary schools, when a gunfight broke out. Close to death, Khadija was admitted to one of the few hospitals in Somalia that offers emergency surgery, but she did not make it.

In the context of already serious humanitarian emergency, hospital facilities that continue to operate in a partial way are unfortunately limited. In the absence of funding from the international community, hospitals manage to provide basic daily services to the local population only through voluntary contributions from the local community and Somalis diaspora. But the extreme shortage of financial and human resources in which they are forced to work, make it even more difficult to carry on with the activities.

THE PROJECT KHADIJA WAS WORKING ON

The project Khadija was responsible for involves 5 temporary schools, set up inside the 5 refugee camps Madag, Mabda, Maryama, Hersi Ruug and Kabka in Zone K of Mogadishu. There are 2,210 children attending these schools, children deprived of their right to education.

The project includes several components in order to take care of the whole life of children in the camps: from activity in class to psychosocial interventions, from moments of recreation to peace building path. The kids are also involved in activities to acquire knowledge and skills related to various aspects of daily life in terms of health, personal hygiene and risk behaviors.

The camp schools are provided with educational materials and free nutritious food for students, whereas the headmasters and teachers receive salary incentives and pedagogical training to ensure the highest quality education. To ensure a healthy environment, school facilities are provided with bathrooms, separate for males and females, and all students can benefit from free health screenings, provided by 5 mobile clinics run by COSV in the area K of Mogadishu.

To promote the inclusion of girls in schools, there are information campaigns with the communities of the camps.

SOMALIA THESE DAYS

The continuing conflict and natural disasters were among the main causes of almost two decades of chronic emergency in Somalia, and the repercussions were felt on the functioning of the education system: only 30% of school-age children were enrolled in primary schools. In southern and central Somalia, the most afflicted areas, school enrollment rate drops to 22%. Besides, in 2012 with renewed conflict and internal displacement of the population, school drop-outs has worsened.

A report by the Education cluster shows a dropout of 78% among children and young Somalis aged between 5 and 17 years (out of a total of 2.3 million). The causes are primarily ascribed to the state of perpetual insecurity and population displacement: UNHCR has registered an increase of 12,000 displaced persons from April and of particular concern is the situation in K area, home to over 120,000 internally displaced persons. The number of people arriving in the area K is increasing, and it is mainly constituted by women and children.

In the refugee camps, lives of children is particularly exposed to risks: far away from the family circle of protection, are at risk of sexual abuse, exploitation and recruitment into armed forces. All the world of childhood is destroyed, without access to education and no appropriate opportunities, children are forced to grow up and face responsibilities and tasks of adults.

The current movement of displaced persons from Kismayo further impacts on the educational system of Mogadishu: it is not possible to accommodate all the children and the risk of leaving school grows further. And in the absence of a governmental service, the responsibility for basic education of children lies with the community. But the humanitarian crisis has pulled to the limit the cooperative support system of the camps communities, greatly reducing the ability to offer assistance.

Another generation of children deprived of education – the foundation not only of the individual livelihood, but also of the sense of collective citizenship and of future leaders – will leave Mogadishu and Somalia without a sustainable path toward peace.

For women in Kulbus: maternal and child health services in West Darfur

2012 has been a tough year for West Darfur, with a yellow fever outbreak and not enough funds for immunization campaigns. The health situation has further deteriorated for women, already exhausted by living conditions that charge them of all family responsibilities and field works. Women live a daily life made of struggles and insecurity and they often have to cope with health problems; in case of maternity, they are at constant risk of miscarriage. Moreover, maternal and child health is exposed to additional menaces because of the lack of awareness of the importance of pre-and post-natal care and family planning: that’s why women and children’s care is the focus of THINK project.

Childbirth is a particularly critical for women living in the province of Kulbus, where THINK takes place: for traditional and cultural reasons, women are reluctant to go to health centers and the 98% of them give birth at home , assisted by traditional figures without specific training. Only the most serious cases are addressed to the hospital – the only one in the province, with lack of facilities and scarce staff , but often it is too late for an intervention.

Despite the dramatic situation, thanks to THINK positive results have been registered in maternal and child health. Through awareness-raising initiatives and training courses for health staff, a greater number of local women can and decide to give birth still at home, but with the assistance of qualified staff. Over the past two years, supervised deliveries have increases of 15%, covering 65% of cases in 2012. Women, more aware of the importance of pre-and post-natal care, have begun to ask for these services to the local health units. In addition, last year 526 women attended family planning programs: an important starting point to break through traditional reserve.

In the province of Kulbus, women’s lives are also threaten by gender violence. The issue is very sensitive and with THINK project we have been able to start training activities for health staff and workshops for community leaders. A network for the victims of violence has been strengthened: it’s made by the Hakama women, traditional Sudanese figures respected within the community. The Hakama are adequately trained to protect victims against the social stigma and to report cases to the competent authorities.

Although domestic violence is fairly common, the reported cases are few, a dozen in 2012. Women often passively accept violence and do not report it to the police, making it very difficult to implement protection measures. Even if slowly, educational activities will shake awareness within communities and lead to greater protection of women’s rights.