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Mercy-USA for Aid and Development is urgently appealing for your support to fund life-saving aid to thousands of Somali children and their families affected by armed conflict, drought and poverty.
 
Somalia, a country that suffers from endemic poverty and has endured cycles of severe drought, catastrophic flooding and political instability, is now facing an acute humanitarian emergency caused by continued armed conflict. The United Nations reports that the situation in Somalia is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
In August 2009, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that nearly 3.8 million people, between 38% to 50% of the estimated population, are in need of assistance.
Highest Levels of Malnutrition in the World
"Somalia has the highest levels of malnutrition in the world", with up to 300,000 children acutely malnourished annually, Hilde Frarfjord Johnson, UNICEF's deputy executive director, said.
Anemic mothers and inadequate nutrition were the main causes of high malnutrition levels in the war-torn country, she said, with most cases in south-central Somalia. Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates of more than 20 percent have been reported, with the figure rising to 28 percent in some areas. GAM rates of 30 percent indicate a famine situation.
 
Mercy-USA’s Response
Mercy-USA for Aid and Development is carrying out the following life-saving programs :
* Eight supplemental and therapeutic feeding centers that, from January 2007 to January 2010, have examined and treated about 44,150 malnourished children. These children and their families also received take home food rations provided by UNICEF and WFP.
 
* Four Mother and Child Health Clinics (MCHs) that, from January 2009 to January 2010, have treated approximately 44,400 women and children, including about 24,450 children under the age of five. These MCHs have also immunized approximately 8,100 children (including about 6,550 under the age of one) and more than 2,060 women, including expectant mothers. Mercy-USA's MCHs have provided vitamin A, iron and folic acid to about 12,630 women and children, as well as providing OB/GYN services to approximately 7,040 women.
* Prevention of malaria through the distribution of approximately 20,600 insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) since January 2007.
* From October 2008 to February 2010, Mercy-USA dug, repaired and rehabbed 87 wells in Somalia. Thirty wells were dug and rehabbed in the Middle Shabelle region, 21 more were dug/repaired in the Hiraan region, 8 wells were rehabbed and dug in Middle Juba, 8 wells in the Galgadud region, and 20 wells in the Mudug region.
These 87 vital water sources are now providing safe drinking water to communities with populations totaling approximately 174,000 persons, as well as to over 230,000 livestock. Many of the beneficiaries are pastoralists or agro-pastoralists and thus depend on raising and herding livestock to make their living and indeed for their very survival.
Since 1997, Mercy-USA has played a vital role in providing safe drinking water in Somalia, digging and repairing 182 wells. Communities with a combined population of over 440,000 persons are benefiting from this safe water program. According to studies carried out by UNICEF, only about one-third of families in Somalia have access to clean drinking water.
* In February and March 2009, Mercy-USA, with funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), provided household kits to 2,500 internally displaced families (about 15,000 persons) residing in 20 villages in Bala'd District north of Mogadishu. Each kit contained 3 blankets, 1 plastic sheet, 2 sleeping mats, 1 kitchen set (1 cooking pan, 2 plates & 1 plastic washing basin), 18 bars of soap and two 20-Liter jerry cans. In June 2008, Mercy-USA, with funding from CARE International and USAID, provided identical household kits to 3,000 internally displaced families (over 18,000 persons) residing in 12 villages in the same district.
 
* From January to June 2009, Mercy-USA's Health Post in the Nucman camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) treated approximately 5,020 IDPs (including about 1,930 children). In 2008, Mercy-USA established this health post, which is providing immunization, pre-natal and post-natal care, and other health services to the 400 IDP families present in the Nucman camp. During April and May 2008, Mercy-USA, with funding from the Italian NGO COSV and the European Union, supported two camps (Marino and Nucman) for IDPs with emergency water and sanitation services through the construction of 2 wells and 10 latrines for 1,000 IDP families - about 6,000 persons. Additionally, Mercy-USA organized hygiene and sanitation awareness campaigns for families in both camps.
 
* Nutrition support and health services for children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
* Emergency and supplemental food rations for children and vulnerable families.
* Prevention of disease through immunization and vitamin A distribution.
* Provision of safe drinking water through chlorinating water sources, rehabbing and repairing existing wells, and digging new ones.
 
Please Help!
Please help children in Somalia and their families. You may send your contribution immediately through the secure online donation form or mail it to:
In the US:
Mercy-USA for Aid and Development
Attn: Somalia Relief
44450 Pinetree Drive, Suite 201
Plymouth, Michigan 48170-3869
In Canada:
Mercy USA for Aid and Development (Canada)
Attn: Somalia Relief
Fiesta RPO, PO Box 56102, 102 HWY # 8
Stoney Creek, ON L8G 5C9
If you have any questions or wish to donate over the telephone, you may call us at 1-800-55-MERCY (1-800-556-3729) or (734) 454-0011. Donations are tax deductible
(US Federal Tax ID No. 38-2846307 and Canada Revenue Agency Business No. 89458 5553 RR0001).Thank you for helping to ease the pain of the children of Somalia and their families.
 
 
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PS Many companies will match the donations of their employees. Please ask your company if it has such a matching gift program.
PPS Dedicated to alleviating human suffering and supporting individuals and their communities in their efforts to become more self-sufficient, Mercy-USA for Aid and Development
has had offices and programs in Somalia since 1993. M-USA is also a registered PVO (Private Voluntary Organization) with the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID), has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and is a member of the American Council for Voluntary International Action
(InterAction).
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Additional Background Information on Somalia
The severe fighting has compounded what was already one of the most difficult humanitarian situations in the world. After 19 years of armed conflict, tens of thousands of families are internally displaced in a country that lacks basic health services and infrastructure.
Somalia has one of the highest child and maternal mortality rates in the world. One in eight children dies before reaching the age of five and 1,600 women die for every 100,000 live births. Other social indicators for children are also among the worst in the world: one in three children is chronically malnourished, hardly a third of families have access to clean drinking water, just 30 per cent of children go to school and on average people only live to the age of 47, according to UNICEF.
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