| Country Profiles: Somalia |
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| Monday, 27 March 2006 | |
 There has been no central government in Somalia since President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. The country has been divided up among clan-based groups. IGAD, the Inter Governmental Authority on Development, helped facilitate a peace process, which led to the formation of a transitional Somali parliament and government. IGAD is the regional body comprising representatives from all states in the Horn and East Africa. At present the transitional government operates from Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. Somalia is a very poor country. The climate is dry as most of the country is desert or scrub. Concern is working in the capital, Mogadischu and in Lower Shabelle, which is relatively close to the capital. The Lower Shabelle region is prone to seasonal flooding and Concern is working with the people to help prevent flooding. This project is helping procure drinking water and adequate sanitation for 8,690 families. Concern’s water project is carried out in co-operation with a local NGO. It is also involved in helping people how to respond to emergencies when they occur. Southern Somalia suffers from a shortage of a clean reliable water supply. General standards of personal, food and water hygiene are poor. Water for drinking is often stored in unhygienic containers. Water contamination continues to exacerbate the transmission of water related diseases. We are helping the farming community to improve their infrastructure and thereby increase their productivity and income returns. This year Concern is giving support to 21 schools in Mogadischu and Lower Shabelle. Concern’s work involves it in in-service training for teachers and helping community education management committees. Supplying schools with basic educational materials and also distributing school and sports items to children who do not attend school is central to Concern’s work. As less than 17 per cent of school-aged children are engaged in formal education, Concern sees its work in education in Somalia as a vital part of its programme. It is targeting the poorest and also putting emphasis on the importance of education for girls. Concern is supporting an initiative called Somali Peace Line, which is trying to bring together leaders and representatives of the different clans to work out ways of making and keeping the peace in Mogadischu Concern is involved in a programme which helps people in the skills of conflict resolution. |
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