Long-term NAPAD partner Medico International (MI) made a week-long visit to projects implemented in Somalia’s Galgadud region. From October 9-13 2019, MI Project Coordinator Hendrik Slusarenka toured 13 project sites in where previous and current projects have been implemented by NAPAD.
Accompanied by NAPAD Executive Director, Dr. Abdullahi Hersi, NAPAD Director of programs, Francis Kage, Somalia projects Coordinator, Ahmed Warsame, and field staff, MI held stakeholder, community and needs analysis meetings, met with local administration and assessed impact of projects. MI also paid courtesy visits to NAPAD’s Mogadishu and Nairobi offices.
NAPAD through MI and German Federation Foreign Office (GFFO) has previously implemented disaster recovery, humanitarian and food aid programs. Currently, implementation of a Project in South Central Somalia and Mandera, Kenya targeting 7,970 vulnerable households of IDP and host communities by providing emergency relief through cash transfers, protection of livelihoods and WASH interventions is underway.
Emergency Relief and Protecting Livelihoods
Assessing the impact of the cash transfers, NAPAD and MI visited beneficiaries in Landheer and Ala-amin IDP Camps. The two IDP Camp hosts vulnerable people displaced in the aftermath of drought, conflict and flooding. Lack of access to basic needs in the area mean that most IDPs have no access to food, water, education and lead an impoverished life.
Through Medico, NAPAD is currently conducting a multi-purpose transfers targeting 2,500 vulnerable households in Banadir and Galgadud regions facing hunger. With the first round of $124 to each household having being disbursed, the amount will be disbursed two more times in the next two months to meet acute food needs and other urgent needs. NAPAD and MI met with the beneficiaries of the unconditional cash transfers who shared the impact that had received made in addressing their immediate needs of food, water and medicine.
“I am very thankful to NAPAD and its partners, and I prefer cash instead of food when it comes to emergency responses,” said Saynabo, one of the cash transfer beneficiaries from Landheer IDP Camp.
The visit also gave a chance for the team to assess needs in Schools whereby WASH facilities have been set up previously. They also visited Abudwaq Poultry Farm which is strategizing itself as an agricultural and livestock training hub.
NAPAD and MI also visited water projects and WASH facilities in Herale, Labogale & Balihowd where boreholes, solar pumping systems, water points and kiosks have been established.
The team also supervised the ongoing construction of an elevated water tank and a water kiosk in Inagabiley. By easing access and improving water quality, the water facilities have transformed the lives of the community who no longer have to trek for hours in search of water.
They also met with communities who benefited from animals feeds distributed to 900 households in Galgadud earlier in the month. The distribution ensured that a total of 18,000 livestock are protected during the drought-stricken period. The team also visited some areas where livestock treatment of 35,200 animals is ongoing and visited animal watering troughs. targeted for rehabilitation.
It Doesn’t Stop There
Meetings with Abudwak local authorities, women groups, youth and community representatives laid bare the impact of the projects. They encouraged NAPAD and its partners to continue its humanitarian and development efforts in the region welcomed the project implementation and its positive impact.
NAPAD and Medico International have forged a long standing partnership since 2012 and have since implemented five projects in Gedo region, Somalia and Mandera, Kenya. Echoing the field visits, it was evident that NAPAD and MI have made real impact and will continue to partner in enhancing and empowering lives of people in Somalia and Kenya.