Background

Trying to reach the most vulnerable of the Somalia crisis

Somalia’s humanitarian crisis continues to be one of the worst in the world. This year, Somalis have faced the devastating effects of drought, compounding a long-lasting conflict and the absence of a functioning healthcare system.

Throughout 2011, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has run medical projects in up to 22 different locations in south-central Somalia, the epicentre of the crisis, as well as large-scale programmes in the camps for Somali refugees in Ethiopia and Kenya.

In the period from May to December 2011, MSF treated over 95,000 patients for malnutrition; treated over 6,000 patients for measles and vaccinated almost 235,000 children against the disease. Within its various healthcare structures MSF assisted in over 5,500 deliveries and provided over 450,000 consultations.

However, despite intense negotiations with armed groups, access to the most affected regions inside south-central Somalia has remained difficult.