Qatar charities distribute 4,000 sheep in Somalia

Doha: The Qatar Alliance for the Relief of Somalia and the Philippines, comprising Qatar Charity, Qatar Red Crescent, the Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah for Humanitarian Services Foundation (RAF) and Sheikh Eid bin Mohammed Al Thani Charity, has completed a number of early recovery projects for those affected by the cyclone that hit the region of Puntland in northeast Somalia last year.

The alliance distributed 4,000 sheep to 200 families affected by the hurricane; 20 per family, which made a significant difference to the quality of life of these families, as around 50 percent of the population of the state of Puntland is dependent on grazing, which was seriously affected by the hurricane and associated flooding.

Before the distribution of sheep the alliance coordinated with the official authorities and the local community to organise awareness programmes for the beneficiaries who were selected according to the criteria of the project, with the aim of raising public awareness of how to maximise the use of the sheep, including how to protect them pests and diseases that often infect livestock in Somalia.

In the health field, the alliance has provided comprehensive health services including the diagnosis and distribution of medicines and laboratory analysis to 3,798 people in areas affected by the hurricane, via four health centres in Dangrnillo, Bosasso, Gripen and Bargal. The health centres also implemented awareness programmes about maternal and child heath that involved the participation of 1,080 local women.

These health projects were also expanded via medical convoys to remote areas in the provinces of Madgh, Naghaland Berri.

The alliance also rehabilitated basic facilities such as education and health facilities, which were severely affected by the cyclone.

The team was formed after a joint assessment carried out by key partners from the relevant ministries and officials of the local community. The team then conducted an evaluation of affected health centres and schools in the Naghal province, determining the extent of the damage. Four schools were identified and a number of health centres and clinics, before implementation began.

The fishing industry was one of the sectors most affected by the cyclone, which began from a point located between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, an area that depends heavily on the fishing industry. Large numbers of families lost their livelihoods and homes and the early recovery project focused on the distribution of fishing boats to these coastal families, in order to enable them to resume their activities.

Source: The Peninsula