Doctors Without Borders (MSF) runs projects in Somalia and Somaliland to assist people affected by conflict and extreme weather patterns, such as prolonged droughts and seasonal floods.

Over the past four decades, our teams have responded to recurring humanitarian and health emergencies caused by conflict, climate-related events such as widespread flooding and recurring droughts, as well as outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, measles, and COVID-19.

Today, we continue to work in hospitals in Somalia and Somaliland, providing obstetric and paediatric care, in- and out-patient nutritional support, emergency services, and tuberculosis. Our teams also run mobile clinics providing basic healthcare in camps for internally displaced people and host communities.

We carry out vaccination campaigns and respond to nutritional crises where feasible. MSF also provides resources to conduct ‘eye camps’, which reach thousands of people with eye diseases.

A major part of our work involves specialised training for healthcare staff and capacity building, along with rehabilitating hospitals and expanding and improving the state of water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Our activities in Somalia and Somaliland in 2023

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2023.

192

STAFF IN 2023 (FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT)

€20.1 M

20.1M

EXPENDITURE IN 2023

1979

YEAR MSF FIRST WORKED IN THE COUNTRY

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MSF IN SOMALIA IN 2023 In Somalia, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) continued to respond to the medical needs of people displaced by ongoing conflict and extreme weather events, and to support services in Ministry of Health facilities.

Highlights of our activities in Somalia and Somaliland in 2023

In 2023, the dire humanitarian situation was exacerbated when two years of drought were followed by severe floods, affecting over two million people. Around 1.2 million were displaced* and 118 died, against a backdrop of longstanding conflict and recurrent disease outbreaks.

In Baidoa, the capital of South West state, our teams provided healthcare for people displaced by conflict and flooding. At Bay Regional Hospital, our services included comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care, outpatient clinics, an inpatient ward for paediatric healthcare, and therapeutic feeding centres. We decentralised general healthcare in seven locations within the town to facilitate referrals for maternal and child health services to Bay Regional Hospital for specialised care.

In Galkayo North, Puntland state, we continued to support the maternity and paediatric departments at the regional hospital and treat malnutrition and tuberculosis (TB). We also sent mobile teams to 23 camps for displaced people. In Galkayo South, we supported the Mudug Development Organization’s hospital, by running maternal and child health services, treating malnutrition and TB, and responding to emergencies.

In June, we handed over our multidrug-resistant TB project to the Ministry of Health Development in Somaliland. Since 2019, our support with case identification, diagnostics, and holistic patient care has successfully reduced fatality rates and improved cure rates.

We maintained basic and specialised healthcare activities in Kalabaydh in the Sool region but were forced to withdraw our services from Las Anod General Hospital in July due to high insecurity.

In December, we closed our project in Dhobley, South Jubaland, close to the border with Kenya. Since 2017, our teams have delivered healthcare through mobile clinics, treating malnutrition and infectious diseases, conducting outpatient consultations and measles vaccinations, responding to cholera outbreaks, performing cataract surgery, and distributing eyeglasses.

*UNOCHA

IN 2023