The ongoing drought in the Horn of Africa highlights the need for continued assistance by humanitarian aid agencies in Somalia. Despite ongoing challenges, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continue providing life-saving support throughout many affected areas of Somalia.
ADRA’s work in southern Somalia has been hampered by a declaration issued by the governing body of south-central Somalia, Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen (Movement of Warrior Youth), which stated in August of 2010 that ADRA and two other international non-governmental organizations could no longer operate inside the country because they are “acting as missionaries under the guise of humanitarian work.”
ADRA strongly denies this statement. For more than 25 years ADRA has provided unbiased aid and assistance to vulnerable populations around the world without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.
As a global international humanitarian organization, ADRA is a signatory of the Code of Conduct for The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief, which states that “aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint”, that “aid is given regardless of the race, creed, or nationality”, and that organizations “shall respect culture and custom.” Based on this code of conduct, ADRA implements programs that directly improve the long-term development of vulnerable people.
ADRA continues to implement a $4 million portfolio in many regions in Somalia, operating out of three sub-offices. ADRA is repairing boreholes and rehabilitating water points in strategic locations, maximizing the number of individuals who can benefit from its repair. Additionally, ADRA is providing high-risk areas with clean drinking water through an emergency water trucking response. In an effort to protect against the spread of diseases amongst internally displaced persons camps (IDPs), ADRA is constructing latrines. A provision of non-food items such as plastic sheets for shelter, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, water containers, utensils and chlorine tablets are also being distributed.
Since 1992, ADRA’s work in Somalia has focused solely on implementing emergency relief and development interventions through various sectors, including water, sanitation, food security, education, health, infrastructure, institutional capacity building, agricultural support, and economic development. In 2008 alone, more than 650,000 Somalis benefitted from ADRA’s humanitarian work.
ADRA remains committed to serving the people of Somalia, with the assistance and trust of the local communities, providing long-term, sustainable change.
To send your contribution to ADRA’s Emergency Response Fund, please contact ADRA at 0800 4 999 111 or give online at www.adra.org.nz
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