Frontline News
© UNHCR/B. Bannon
Security restrictions have
hampered UNHCR's relief efforts to assist internally displaced Somalis. Many
are living in desperate conditions as seen here north of Galkayo.
Saving lives in a war-torn country:
“I am a humanitarian worker in Somalia”
A UNHCR employee working in Puntland, in the northeast of Somalia, has spoken to us about his experience as a humanitarian worker in the war-torn country. Excerpts from the interview:
1. Can you tell us about the current situation in Somalia?
Fighting continues in Somalia, particularly in the south central area. More than 250,000 people in Somalia have left their homes since May 2009. I am based in the northeast of Somalia in a semi-autonomous state called Puntland and every day new arrivals come into this region to escape fighting and starvation.
2. How is it to be a humanitarian worker in Somalia today?
Humanitarian workers live in extremely difficult conditions in Somalia. Staff are not allowed to move around on their own even to cover short distances. Humanitarian work has become extremely dangerous.
Because of insecurity, access to people in need is very limited. As humanitarian workers living in Somalia, we experience so much frustration because we are not able to deliver adequate assistance, and we witness immense suffering of thousands of men, women and children every day around us.
3. What are the most pressing needs in Somalia at the moment?
First and foremost is to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable population. People flee in different directions in search of safety, leaving behind their belongings. They need to be assisted urgently, as delay could have devastating effects on the lives of people. The priority needs are food, water, shelter, health, personal protection and education.
4. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The pride of a humanitarian worker is to save lives and reduce suffering. It gives me immense satisfaction when a vulnerable family is assisted or when a victim of violence is protected.
Background Info
UNHCR provides protection and assistance to more than 530,000 Somali refugees in the nearby countries of Kenya, Yemen, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Uganda. The UN estimates that 3.8 million Somalis are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including some 1.5 million internally displaced people.
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Since the beginning of the year more than 100,000 Somali civilians have been forced to flee their homes in southern and central Somalia. Some are searching for safety not far from Mogadishu while many others have fled to neighbouring countries. Just $10 could change somebody's life.
