At
the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, the shipment
was received by Dr. Maryan Mohammed Hussein, State Minister of Health,
and Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Somalia Representative.
“The arrival of this shipment is critical for Somali children and
families who are facing significant challenges due to the drought and
associated outbreaks of cholera and measles,” said Wafaa Saeed.
Children and women make up over 80% of Somalia’s displaced
population, and children are among the most severely affected, with 5.1
million in need of humanitarian assistance. These challenges are
compounded by outbreaks of cholera and measles, which further increase
vulnerability. By providing essential medicines, midwifery kits and
other medical supplies, UNICEF and its partners will be able to reach
approximately 1.3 million people in need and ensure that they have
access to lifesaving health services.
Dr. Maryan Mohammed Hussein expressed the government’s appreciation
for UNICEF’s continuous efforts to save the lives of children impacted
by the drought. “This medical supply kit consists of medicines and
supplies for mothers and childcare and emergency kits to reach
drought-affected areas. It is meant to support our Somali people in need
of humanitarian assistance,” she said.
UNICEF
is working with the Government of Somalia and implementing partners to
target famine-risk districts that are particularly vulnerable as many
children, mothers, and people with illnesses or malnutrition in these
areas may be unable to access healthcare. UNICEF’s top priority is to
sustain a robust response to this crisis and provide an integrated
package of services, including lifesaving health care, immunizations,
treatment for severe acute malnutrition and access to safe and adequate
water and sanitation to the most vulnerable children.
“This shipment of medicine and medical supplies is in addition to our
ongoing efforts to respond to the drought and provide necessary
assistance to those in need,” said Saeed.
Thanks to the generous support of donors like USAID and the UK
Government, this shipment of medicine and medical supplies will help to
ensure that vulnerable children and their communities in hard-to-reach
areas have access to essential healthcare services during this critical
time.
Source: UNICEF
