Dry savannah plains and the longest coastline in Africa have been the backdrop for over fifteen years of civil war in Somalia. There has been no central government since 1991 and competing warlords have dominated the country.

Puntland became a semi-autonomous state, while Somaliland declared independence resulting in relative stability. A fragile transitional government held control of the state of Baidoa.

The warlords of the capital, Mogadishu, were defeated in June 2006 by the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) who went on to control large areas of the south.

In December 2006, the transitional government army, backed by Ethiopian forces, fought the UIC and took over Mogadishu and the south.

Widespread poverty
Conflict and instability has inevitably led to widespread poverty and large numbers of refugees and displaced people. Around 43% of the population survives on less than $1 a day and 73% live on less than $2 per day. Unlike many African countries, illiteracy and infant mortality rates have actually increased in Somalia.

Only 2% of Somalia’s land is suitable for arable farming and drought has worsened the existing water crisis. Most of Somalia’s population are nomadic herdsmen who depend on water to sustain their livelihoods.

Puntland State
The population of Puntland State is mainly comprised of nomadic herdsmen, but there are also small numbers of fishermen and people who earn their incomes in urban areas.

Conflict and insecurity have displaced thousands in the Puntland, while a four-year long drought led to a humanitarian crisis. Poverty levels are high in the region and very few people have access to safe drinking water or proper sanitation facilities.

Food shortages contribute to high rates of malnutrition, especially amongst children.
According to UNICEF approximately 200,000 children in Puntland are out of school. This might be due to a lack of school supplies or teachers, or even because there is no school to attend.

Islamic Relief in Somalia
Islamic Relief (IRW) has been carrying out seasonal Ramadhan and Qurbani projects in Somalia since 1996. Over 750,000 people have benefited from these food distributions so far.

IRW established a field office in Garowe City, the capital of Puntland state in 2006.

IRW is working in the sectors of water and sanitation, health, education and capacity building. Emergency programmes have also helped displaced people in the Bari, Nugaal and Mudug regions of the Puntland.

IRW’s work in Somalia has been welcomed by senior government officials and aid agencies in the country. UNICEF and the World Food Programme have expressed a readiness to work in partnership with Islamic Relief in Somalia.