World Vision's work in Somalia

Media contact:

Laura Blank
708.872.5265 (c)


A prolonged drought, severe flooding and renewed fighting in recent months has plunged Somalia deeper into a humanitarian crisis. In southern Somalia alone, nearly 500,000 people were affected by the floods, and 1.1 million still need emergency food because of the drought. The current insecurity — which follows 15 years of conflict and random violence — has displaced thousands of civilians and made humanitarian access difficult.

World Vision has worked in Somalia since 1992, providing food aid along with health, education, food security, water and sanitation, advocacy and emergency response programs.

Assisting families fleeing violence

When recent violence in Mogadishu forced nearly a third of the city to flee, World Vision delivered food, water, medicine, cooking equipment, shelter, blankets, mosquito nets and psychosocial support to displaced people in the Bakool and Bay regions. Some 35,000 people — half of them children — have traveled hundreds of miles to find sanctuary there. World Vision is also responding to deadly outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea and cholera in the region.

Recovering from flooding

World Vision has assisted more than 90,000 people displaced by floods that swept through southern Somalia between October and December 2006. We have delivered food to thousands and survival kits that consist of blankets, bed sheets, soap and plastic sheeting. World Vision has also provided mosquito nets, medicine and chlorine tablets to prevent disease, and worked to clear damaged roads with bulldozers.

Flash floods are common across arid and semi-arid areas of the Horn of Africa because dry, uncovered ground has trouble absorbing rainwater quickly. To minimize the impact of future floods, World Vision provided gunny bags to reinforce the creek and river banks. Experts believe that in the past decade, environmental degradation has led to increased desertification and erosion, making flooding a greater threat.

Strengthening vulnerable communities

World Vision is continuing to distribute emergency food to thousands affected by last year’s devastating drought. We are also conducting ongoing health, education, food security, water and sanitation, disaster mitigation activities in communities. As a humanitarian and advocacy organization, World Vision is working for the eradication of female genital mutilation, fighting gender inequality and advancing child protection in Somalia.

World Vision has worked in Somalia since 1992, and currently operates in the southern part of the country and in Somaliland, in the north. World Vision employs approximately 400 staff members in its Somalia operations, including about 340 Somali nationals.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.