4 Aug 2012

SOMALIA/ FAMINE ONE YEAR ON

UNICEF staff inMogadishu,Somalia's Capital are constantly on the move. Maulid Warfa, UNICEF's Emergency Specialist is on his way to see a new group of Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs who arrived in one ofMogadishu's camps.

Posted at: August 4, 2012 9:21 am

Duration: 05:34

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STORY: SOMALIA/ FAMINE ONE YEAR ON
TRT: 5.34
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / SOMALI / NATS

DATELINE: 13-16 JULY 2012, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

1. Various, Maulid Warfa preparing to visit IDP camp
2. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Malun Maow Abdulle, Displaced Mother:
"The situation was bad before we came here, but our life has changed a little bit. At least we get some food and water.  This way we have managed to survive the hardships. But now we don't have enough water in the camp, this is the biggest problem."
3. Various shots, Maulid in camp
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Maulid Warfa, UNICEF Emergency Specialist 
"I lived in a little 'Tukul' similar to the ones that people are living in here in the IDP camp. So when I come to the field and talk to the mothers and children, it reminds me of my childhood, it reminds me how difficult it is to live in a camp and how it is to go without food."
5. Various shots, school in displacement camp
6. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Fartun Mohamed Hassan, student: 
"There was heavy fighting in Elasha that's why we came here. I attend this school everyday. I learn many subjects like science, Arabic, Somali and mathematics."
7. Wide shot, boys in class reciting numbers during a math's lesson
8. Med shot, boys in class reciting numbers during a maths lesson
9. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Abdirashid Mohamoud Addani, Chairman Somali Community Concern:
"From here to there, sixteen schools are not enough in relation to the population of people leaving here and the schools constructed. The do not match each other, it is a big challenge, so it is good to expand for at least to 10-15 other schools."
10. Various shots, SAACID feeding centre. ((say-eed - Somali, meaning 'to help') is an indigenous Somali, not-for-profit, non-religious, non-political, Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) founded and directed by Somali women).
11. Various shots, babies being weighed
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Maulid Warfa, Emergency Specialist, UNICEF:
"This is a therapeutic feeding center run by SAACID one of the UNICEF partners. UNICEF is running hundreds of these centres since July last year, when the famine was declared. UNICEF and its partners more than 76 of them had reached more that 413,000 malnourished children, half of them severely malnourished and half of them moderately malnourished"
13. Various shots, feeding centre
14. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Habibo Abdi, mother of three:
"My baby's condition has really improved he is now better than before. And the rest of my children, when we came here from Elesha their conditions were very bad. But since they were put on feeding programs they have really improved."
15. Various shots, immunization program
16. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Nadifo Mohamed, Mother:
"I brought my child here to be vaccinated because I know immunization protects children from catching diseases. My first-born son died of measles, he was not immunized. We did not know these things, now I know that vaccinations are vital for children."
17. Various shots, immunization program

STORYLINE:

UNICEF staff in Mogadishu, Somalia's Capital are constantly on the move. Maulid Warfa, UNICEF's Emergency Specialist is on his way to see a new group of Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs who arrived in one of Mogadishu's camps.

Majo camp was set up last August to provide shelter for those desperate to escape the famine and drought in their areas.

The flimsy shelters made of plastic give little protection against the overnight rains. But those in the camp say they are better off here.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Malun Maow Abdulle, displaced mother:
 "The situation was bad before we came here, it was bad. But our life has changed a little bit. At least we get some food and water.  This way we have managed to survive the hardships. But now we don't have enough water in the camp, this is the biggest problem."

These experiences are familiar to Maulid. His family fled fighting in Ethiopia when he was just nine years old and he grew up in a refugee camp in southern Somalia. It is from this childhood experience that he draws his passion for helping others.

SOUNDBITE (English) Maulid Warfa, emergency specialist, UNICEF 
 "I lived in a little 'Tukul' similar to the ones that people are living in here in the IDP camp. So when I come to the field and talk to the mothers and children, it reminds me of my childhood, it reminds me how difficult it is to live in a camp and how it is to go without food."

UNICEF is helping to provide services for the IDP children at the camp. Along with partners, it has established six schools, all housed in tents, where the children attend lessons in shifts in the morning and afternoon.

Nine- year old Fartun Mohamed Hassan, who recently came from a town west of Mogadishu, leads the class through their numbers.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Fartun Mohamed Hassan, student:
"There was heavy fighting in Elasha that's why we came here. I attend this school everyday. I learn many subjects like science, Arabic, Somali and mathematics."

The school may appear basic with few facilities but for many of Somali children it is their first opportunity to go to school. And there isn't room for all those who want to attend.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Abdirashid Mohamoud Addani, Chairman Somali Community Concern:
"From here to there, sixteen schools are not enough in relation to the population of people leaving here and the schools constructed. The do not match each other, it is a big challenge, so it is good to expand for at least to 10-15 other schools."

Next Maulid moves to the other side of Mogadishu to visit a busy centre bringing together nutritional care for malnourished children along with vaccinations and other health facilities.

SOUNDBITE (English) Maulid Warfa, UNICEF Emergency Specialist 
"This is a therapeutic feeding center run by SAACID one of the UNICEF partners. UNICEF is running hundreds of these centres since July last year, when the famine was declared. UNICEF and its partners more than 76 of them had reached more that 413,000 malnourished children, half them severely malnourished and half of them moderately malnourished."

Many of those queuing here are among the 1.3 million IDPs who have left their homes – nearly two thirds of them are children. They are among the most vulnerable in Somalia with little or no means of support.

Five months ago, Habibo Abdi brought her three children who were severely malnourished here for help.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Habibo Abdi, mother: 
"My baby's condition has really improved he is now better than before. And the rest of my children, when we came here from Elesha their conditions were very bad. But since they were put on feeding programs they have really improved."

Finally Maulid makes a stop at Hanano Medical Centre in the city's Hodan district.

This centre deals with all aspects of mother and child health, and UNICEF provides medical supplies and equipment.

Young mother Nadifo has brought 7 month old Maida Mohamed for vaccinations. Four days ago her family and others were evicted from their temporary shelter and came to an IDP camp settlement near the airport. But despite having to find a new home - she turned up to immunize her baby.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Nadifo Mohamed, mother:
"I brought my child here to be vaccinated because I know immunization protects children from catching diseases. My first-born son died of measles, he was not immunized. We did not know these things, now I know that vaccinations are vital for children."

The children under five are vaccinated against measles, polio, diphtheria, and whooping cough and given vitamin A supplements, and the team goes to great lengths to reach those outside the city

Somalia's immunization rates are amongst the lowest in the world, but even in the peak of the crisis, UNICEF continued to provide essential vaccination coverage – vaccinating more than 1.5 million children against measles since last July. Such immunizations coupled with other health, water, education, and nutrition services, have over the past year, provide millions of children with a package of critical care.

Filed under SOMALIA UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund.