Health and humanitarian situation worsens in Somalia

Abstract

Somalia the conflict-battered African state which has been without a central administration since 1991 continues to slide into a deeper humanitarian crisis. Access to medical services is scarce and more people are being killed or displaced by fighting. Wairagala Wakabi reports. Fighting in Somalia is making it increasingly hard for humanitarian agencies to reach affected people especially since the latest violent fl are-up in August. And the murder on Sept 11 of a WHO employee by militiamen could further complicate delivery of medical services to very desperate populations. WHO reported that Farah Warsame Diriye a local staff member who had worked in their poliomyelitis programme since 1998 was shot dead at Galgadud Central Somalia during a national immunisation campaign. Warsames killing was "yet another reminder of the continuous danger in which health workers are carrying out their day-to-day activities inside Somalia" WHO said adding that the deteriorating security situation was impeding access to necessary health care for the vulnerable population. (excerpt)