Skip to main content
Home International Committee of the Red Cross
Find help Donate
Back
  • Happening now
    Happening now

    Discover what’s new

    Stay updated with the latest news and ongoing initiatives of the ICRC.

    Latest operations

    Featured

    • President Mirjana Spoljaric speaks in the UN Security Council.
      ICRC president: “It is possible to protect civilians in war”
    • ICRC flag with black ribbon attached
      ICRC grieves two colleagues killed in strike in Gaza
    • Damaged areas of the Selydove Central City Hospital. ICRC
      Ukraine: ‘We lost a part of our soul, not just a hospital’
  • Who we are
    Who we are

    We are the International Committee of the Red Cross

    Neutral, impartial, and independent. Discover our values and mission.

    Discover who we are
    • About us
      Our rich history, our mandate and mission, and our Fundamental Principles are behind the work we do to protect and save lives.
    • How we are run
      Our President and leadership, our finances and our accountability ensure the integrity of our humanitarian operations.
    • International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement
      The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the largest humanitarian network in the world.
  • What we do
    What we do

    Our work to protect people affected by conflict

    The ICRC responds quickly and efficiently to help people affected by armed conflict.

    All our activities

    In focus

    • ICRC working with the Myanmar Red Cross Society to support people displaced by violence in Pin Laung and Hsi Hseng, to provide emergency aid. Photographer: Thang Khan Sian Khai
      Protection: Upholding the rights of people in conflict
    • Reconnecting families: Preventing separation, searching for the missing, reunit…
    • Helping detainees: Protecting and assisting people deprived of their liberty
  • Where we work
    Where we work

    Explore our global reach

    We have offices in over 90 countries around the world, providing assistance and protection to people affected by conflict.

    ICRC around the world

    Key operations

    • Afghanistan
    • Democratic Republic of the Congo
    • Ethiopia
    • Israel and the occupied territories
    • Myanmar
    • Sudan
    • Syria
    • Ukraine
    • Yemen
  • Law & Policy
    Law & Policy

    Law & Policy

    Gain insights into the ICRC's role in developing and promoting international humanitarian law and policy.

    Discover more
    • Geneva Conventions and the law
      Even wars have rules. The Geneva Conventions are at the core of international humanitarian law.
    • Topics, debates and disarmament
      Weapons and disarmament, protected persons and other contemporary challenges for international humanitarian law.
    • Teaching IHL, research, Advisory Service and other resources
      We support the teaching, learning and implementation of humanitarian law principles.
  • Support us
    Support us

    Partner with us

    We invite organizations, institutions and philanthropists to join us in our mission to alleviate the suffering of those affected by armed conflict.

    How to partner with us

    Support us

    Find out how you as an individual can contribute to our humanitarian efforts to help people suffering because of armed conflict.

    How to support us
    • Ukraine: the crisis continues
    • Urgent: Israel-Gaza emergency appeal
    • Myanmar_Red Cross earthquake
      Urgent help needed: Myanmar earthquakes
  • Find help
  • Donate
  • Events
  • Contact us
  • Report an incident of misconduct
  • Work with us
  • FAQ
ICRC Websites
Photo gallery
12-12-2017

Somalia: Food support for 90,000 people affected by drought

  • Somalia

Share

  • Share on X
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Anisa Hussein

Abdullahi Abdrahman waits for the food distribution exercise to begin. The 70-year-old walked over 200km in the past months in search of food, water and pasture for his family and remaining frail livestock. He has lost 450 goats, cattle and sheep since the beginning of the drought. Abdullahi is one of the 90,000 people who received food in Galgaduud region.

CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Anisa Hussein

Women come out in large numbers to receive food on behalf of their households. Each household received food rations of 50kg of rice, 25kg of beans, 12.5kg of porridge and 10 litres of oil to help them cope through the drought.

CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Anisa Hussein

A Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) volunteer helps Fatuma Ali carry a bag of rice provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross. She moved from Beletweyne town five months ago due to prolonged drought which killed her herd of livestock.

CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Anisa Hussein

It is lunch time in Farhiyo Mohamed’s household! She migrated from Hiran region to Galgaduud due to the prolonged drought and clan clashes over grazing land. She is now living in a camp in the outskirts of Guriel town and trying to take care of nine children. Her husband took their few remaining livestock to the north of Somalia for pasture and water.

CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Anisa Hussein

In preparation of a lunch meal, Hawa Khalif prepares porridge to her seven children. The contents of super cereal porridge helps prevent nutritional deficiencies in the bodies of growing children and can be used by both pregnant and lactating women to protect their children.

CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Anisa Hussein

Three-year-old Fadhumo takes the super cereal porridge prepared by her mother Hawa Khalif. The corn and soya blend porridge is rich, nutritious and valuable to children under the age of five and lactating mothers.

CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Anisa Hussein

Displaced people living in Sayla camp in Guriel town received food and essential household items consisting of basins, jerrycans, tarpaulins, kitchen utensils, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and hygiene parcels.

Pastoralists in Somalia have been accustomed to severe harsh conditions, but a prolonged drought has brought many to the edge of starvation. With the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross, 90,000 people living in towns and internally displaced camps recently received food. Among them are 9,000 displaced families who also received sleeping mats, kitchen utensils, basins, jerrycans, tarpaulins, mosquito nets and hygiene parcels.

Related articles

Photo gallery
09-04-2025

Tool on African Traditions and the Preservation of Humanity in Warfare

Des équipes chirurgicales débordées
Photo gallery
17-03-2025

DRC: Goma surgical teams overwhelmed

Celebrating 75 years of the Geneva Conventions
Photo gallery
12-03-2025

The ICRC in Bangladesh: 2024 in images

More photo galleries

Topic-dedicated ICRC websites

Explore our blogs, apps, reviews and other resources dedicated to humanitarian impact, insight, law and policy.

ICRC Websites

Direct access

  • Find help
  • Donate
  • Events
  • Contact us
  • Report an incident of misconduct
  • Work with us
  • FAQ

Newsletter

Fields marked with * are required
To learn how we process your data, visit our Privacy Notice.
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Privacy policy
  • Tax deduction
  • Privacy Settings
  • Community guidelines

Terms and conditions - ICRC ©2025 - All right reserved