Somalia
Background
With a population of 15 million and a gross domestic product per capita of $127, Somalia is one of the poorest countries in Africa. For more than twenty years, civil war raged in Somalia, followed by tribal feuds, resulting in a lack of most basic services today. The country has also been struggling with recurrent climatic shocks such as droughts and floods with increasing frequency. One consequence is that a large part of the population is affected by food crises. According to the FAO, 860,000 people suffer from food shortages.
Since the collapse of the central government in 1991, provision of higher education has been nearly nonexistent especially in veterinary medicine. Most of the senior veterinarians left the country to seek asylum abroad. Clan conflicts and harsh conditions in pastoral areas have forced those who remained in the country to move to urban centers.
On the ground since: 2000
Activities in: Gedo-Region and Somaliland
Office: Bullahawa
Number of projects: 4
Key partners: SDC, Emergency Pastoralist Assistance Group-Kenya (EPAG-K), South West Livestock Professionals Association (SOWELPA), FAO, USAID-OFDA
Team: 11
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, supports programmes in this country.
Topics
- Food security and
Livelihoods - One Health
- Irrigation
- livestock production
- WASH
Somalia
Active projects Somalia
Reference projects Somalia
News
Update: Drought and food crisis in the Horn of Africa
Picture: Somali region, Ethiopia © FAO/Michael Tewelde The food crisis in the Horn of Africa has been worsening despite major humanitarian efforts and the latest forecasts for the coming months are worrying. The ongoing drought, rising food prices, lack of...
Severe drought in the Horn of Africa intensifies
Following drought disasters in 2011 and 2016-2019, the countries of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa are once again in a precarious situation. The dire effects of the current drought on the region's people and animals are compounded by additional...
Looming crisis in the Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is facing a crisis. The current nutritional situation is precarious and predictions for the remainder of 2021 are alarming – with warnings of famine for certain regions. The combined effects of a weak last rainy season and a delayed current...