World Vision responds to the needs of thousands of displaced Somali children along Ethiopia border

• 87% of Dollo Ado refugees under age 18, World Vision to focus on needs of children (UNHCR)
• World Vision assessment team deploys to Dolo Town, Somalia
• Hundreds of Somali refugees arriving daily at Ethiopia border transit camp

August 3, 2011 (Nairobi) — This Thursday, humanitarian aid organization World Vision is deploying multiple assessment teams to Dolo Town (Somalia) to identify the most urgent needs of hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) transiting from Somalia into Ethiopia. Dolo Town is considered one of the largest transit camps along the Ethiopia/Somalia border with several hundred to 2,000 people arriving daily.

To date, more than 100,000 Somali refugees have been processed in Dolo Town for entry into Dollo Ado (Ethiopia). According to a recent report by the UN’s Refugee Agency (UNHCR) 87 percent of refugees arriving in the Dolo/Dollo Ado region are children under 18 years of age with one in three children under five reported severely malnourished.

“It is devastating to see the overwhelming number of children who have been forced to leave their homes,” said Charles Owubah, World Vision East Africa Regional Leader. “World Vision is dedicated to meeting the most urgent needs of Somali families as they seek refuge in Ethiopia.”

World Vision will be conducting interviews with IDPs and potential local partners to determine the most appropriate child-focused response. Completed assessments are expected to determine if establishing a World Vision mobile medical outreach and child-friendly spaces will meet the most urgent needs of Somali children.

To contribute to ongoing relief efforts in the Horn of Africa, visit www.worldvision.org or call (888) 56-CHILD.

About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the world's poor— regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.For more information on their efforts, visitWorldVision.org/press or follow them on Twitter at @WorldVisionNews