MOGADISHU — Somali health ministry on Monday confirmed 95 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total tally of infections to 1,689. Fawziya Abikar, health minister, said 31 people recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of people who have been discharged from hospitals to 235. The minister said five patients succumbed …
Read More »Coronavirus reaches Dadaab camp, raising ‘serious concerns’ for refugees’ health
DADAAB CAMP — Two residents of the Dadaab complex have tested positive for Covid-19, the United Nations refugee agency has announced. These first confirmations of the presence of the Coronavirus are raising fears that it could spread in the camps and surrounding communities. “The crowded conditions in the Dadaab refugee …
Read More »UN envoy: COVID-19 poses enormous challenges for Somalia
MOGADISHU — The coronavirus poses enormous challenges for Somalia, where the humanitarian situation is already dire, said the top UN envoy for the country on Thursday. Somalia, like the rest of the world, is focused on confronting COVID-19. There are more than 1,500 recorded cases although the actual figures are …
Read More »Somalia’s COVID-19 cases soar to 1,502 after 47 tested positive
MOGADISHU — Somali Health Ministry on Tuesday confirmed 47 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total tally of infections to 1,502. Fawziya Abikar, the Health Minister said the new patients are from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland which has 19, Banadir 13, Somaliland 8, and SouthWest 7. Abikar said two …
Read More »UN: Close to a million people in central Somalia hit by floods
MOGADISHU — Flooding in central Somalia has affected nearly 1 million people, displacing about 400,000 people, the United Nations said Monday, warning of possible disease outbreaks because of crowding where the displaced are seeking temporary shelter. At least 24 people have died in the flash floods that hit Beledweyne and …
Read More »Somalia sees huge FGM rise during coronavirus lockdown
MOGADISHU — Somalia’s coronavirus lockdown has led to a huge increase in female genital mutilation (FGM), with circumcisers going door to door offering to cut girls stuck at home during the pandemic, a charity said on Monday. Plan International said the crisis was undermining efforts to eradicate the practice in …
Read More »HirShabelle leader presides over cabinet meeting on flood crisis
BELEDWEYNE — HirShabelle state president Mohamed Abdi Waare has presided over a key regional cabinet meeting held in Beledweyne city. The meeting focused on the current humanitarian situation in the Hiran region and ongoing efforts to mitigate the flood crisis in Beledweyne resulted from the heavy Gu’ rainfall. HirShabelle state …
Read More »Somalia confirms 64 new COVID-19 cases as tally rises to 1,421
MOGADISHU — Somali health ministry on Sunday confirmed 64 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total tally of infections to 1,421. Fawziya Abikar, the health minister said the majority of the latest cases were recorded in Banadir which have 33, Somaliland 16, Galmudug eight, and Southwest seven. Abikar said one …
Read More »European Union commits €105 million to Horn of Africa relief
BRUSSELS — The European Union has announced €105.5 million in aid to Horn of Africa nations facing not just the coronavirus pandemic but also ongoing conflict, severe flooding, and a months-long locust infestation that has destroyed crops and threatened food security. Somalia and Ethiopia will share €90 million nearly equally, …
Read More »World Bank approves $137m for Somalia’s COVID-19, floods fight
NAIROBI – The World Bank has approved $137 million to bolster Somalia’s fight against COVID-19, response to drought, and floods. The Bank said Saturday it approved the funding in light of the ongoing fight against COVID-19 coupled with drought and floods. “The World Bank Board of Directors today approved a …
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Somali Observatory for Humanitarian Affairs The Voice of Reality.. The Eye of Humanitarian Truth in Somalia