DHOBLEY, SOMALIA (August 10, 2011) – The people that Medical Teams International (MTI) is treating in Somalia are suffering more acute health issues as the drought crisis in this war-torn African nation worsens.
The Covenant World Relief partner has established two new clinics. One is in Dhobley, the other just on the Kenyan side of the border.
“We are the only ones providing medical care in these health clinics,” says Marlene Minor, MTI vice president of communications. World Concern and UNICEF are providing food and water.
“We not only are seeing severe malnutrition, but acute health needs from local patients who also have suffered drought and lack of health care for a number of years,” says Minor. Anemia among women is common.
The worst drought in 60 years sends searing heat and slashing dust-filled wind against the weakened bodies of families seeking shelter against 100-plus degree days. One young woman treated on Monday had given birth just seven days before while walking to Dhobley. There had been no place for her to stop – she had to keep walking with her new baby toward food and water.
Those on the scene report 30,000 children have died on the trek from Somalia to Kenya as their families tried to find food and water, says Minor.
One Somali boy on that journey, Abdi (top photo), looked too tiny to be three-years-old, but he survived the trek to a Medical Teams clinic, where volunteers and workers immediately began to treat him. They gave him life-saving fluids, Vitamin A, de-worming medication and high-nutrition porridge. Minor notes the emergency care costs only five dollars.
Covenant World Relief has raised more than $20,000 through a special offering that will be distributed through its partners in the region to provide assistance to the most vulnerable people. World Relief International already has used CWR emergency funds to begin their operations. The Covenant is partnering with the Evangelical Covenant Church of Kenya (ECCK), which is supplying food rations and clothes.
Click here to contribute to the crisis fund. An MTI donor has committed a $90,000 matching grant for gifts given to Somalia, which includes organizations such as Covenant World Relief, says Minor.
