For 2024, the EU has allocated€77 millionfor humanitarian interventions in Somalia. In 2023, the EU allocated €85.3 million for humanitarian projects in Somalia, mainly in response to the drought.
EU humanitarian funding supports aid organisations in delivering (i)food assistance, (ii) basichealth andnutrition services, (iii) cleanwater, (iv)protection, (v)shelter, and (vi)education.
Our humanitarian partners work in rural and hard-to-reach areas to ensure no one is left behind. They also work to mitigate further displacement of rural populations while also providing essential lifesaving assistance in already congested urban and peri-urban areas hosting those displaced.
Whenever relevant, EU humanitarian support helps people in need through cash transfers. This enables them to feed and sustain their family while also meeting other basic needs in a dignified way. Using cash transfers also helps overcome accessibility challenges while supporting local markets.
Somalia has high child and maternal mortality rates, severe malnutrition rates, and frequent outbreaks of disease. The country’s health system also faces critical shortages, and only 1/3 of health facilities are functional.
There is currently an increase in outbreaks of disease in the country, especially acute watery diarrhoea, cholera, and suspectedmeasles. This is due to climate shocks, limited access to clean water and hygiene, and unsanitary living conditions in displacement camps. All these diseases are potentially deadly.
Therefore, the EU focuses on providing quality health care, epidemic prevention and control, and emergency treatment of malnutrition. We support experienced health and nutrition partners in communities and health facilities.
In July 2022, the EU launched a Humanitarian Air Bridge to deliver emergency supplies to hard-to-reach areas no longer accessible by road. This operation transported life-saving nutrition and health assistance to underserved and hard-to-reach locations during the most critical dry period.
The EU also funds disaster risk reduction and preparedness activities through community-based early warning, preparedness, and response systems. The aim is to reduce the impact of the multiple shocks experienced in the country related to climate, conflict, and epidemics.
However, the country still needs more long-term development to support the resilience and self-reliance of the vulnerable, such as pastoral, agricultural and marginalised communities. Cooperation between the EU’s humanitarian and development actions is ongoing, especially for cash-based social safety nets and education, to build up the longer-term resilience of affected Somali communities.
Last updated: 23/07/2024
