News release

Somalia: Red Cross begins Ramadan food deliveries for detainees

Nairobi (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launches food deliveries in Somali prisons for the month of Ramadan. Over the next four weeks, it plans to distribute dates, goat meat, rice, beans, milk, and tea to detainees across Somalia. In cooperation with the authorities, the ICRC will provide the items weekly to ten places of detention for thousands of people deprived of liberty who are regularly visited by the ICRC.

“Ramadan support has become a tradition for the ICRC in Somalia and part of our efforts to ensure detainees receive humane and dignified treatment,” said Pascal Cuttat, the head of the ICRC in Somalia. “For us, this is a gesture of respect for the significance of the holy month of Ramadan for detainees, their families, and the Somali community.”

The ICRC has regularly visited places of detention across Somalia. It works with the detaining authorities to ensure humane treatment and living conditions for detainees. 

Visiting detainees is a core component of ICRC’s work around the world. The organization aims to secure humane treatment for all detainees, regardless of the reasons for their arrest and detention. It strives to ensure that detainees can maintain contact with their families and that detention conditions are respectful of their dignity.

For more information, please contact:

Abdikarim Mohamed Abdullahi, ICRC Nairobi,
tel: +254 770 171756 (English Somali), email: mabdikarim@icrc.org

Anisa Hussein, ICRC Nairobi,
tel : +254 708 797 750 (English Somali) email: anisah@icrc.org

Alyona Synenko, ICRC Nairobi,
+254 716 897 265 (English & French), asynenko@icrc.org

Did you know...

People deprived of their liberty are protected under international humanitarian law

Even in war, people who are detained must be treated humanely and with respect for their dignity. International humanitarian law sets clear rules for their protection - covering their treatment, conditions of detention and contact with their families. The ICRC visits people in detention to ensure these rights are respected. During visits, our delegates speak privately with detainees, assess conditions and share confidential recommendations with the authorities. Our goal is simple: to make sure humanity is upheld, everywhere.