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.
