Humanitarian and Refugee Fact Sheet

Overwhelming focus on recent piracy in Somalia has undermined the staggering humanitarian and refugee crisis in Somalia, the world’s worst humanitarian crisis according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Somali is experiencing a major humanitarian and famine crisis caused by drought, high food prices, rising malnutrition rates, disease outbreaks, population displacement, weak national government, and civil insecurity, to mention a few.

The United States Agency of International Development’s June 1, 2009 report shows that:

3.2 million Somalis, about 45% of the entire population, are suffering from hunger and malnutrition and are in dire need of emergency humanitarian assistance. Of the 3.2 million suffering Somalis, 650,000 are children under the age of five.

Over 8% of the population is suffering from acute malnutrition, that is, more than the 1% of the global threshold for emergency food crisis.

Health problems associated with acute malnutrition include marasmus (wasting of fat, muscle and other tissues); cretinism causing limited mental and physical growths; brain damage; blindness; infection; and death particularly among children under five years old and adults with health problems.

Yet, there is a global silence on this staggering human suffering.



The Plight of Somali Refugees

Over a quarter million Somali refugees in Kenya are living in overcrowded and inadequate refugee camps developed for 90,000 refugees.

Gerry Simpson of Human Rights Watch and Refugee Researcher concluded on his recent visit to refugee camps, "The refugee crisis worsens with every day of delay and continued paralysis and unresponsiveness puts the well-being of all the refugees — new and old — at grave risk".

Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, Nepal, and Turkey should respect the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees and end their mistreatment and unlawful arrest of Somali refugees.


How You Can Help Alleviate the Crisis?

Take just one minute to call your Senators and Representatives at (202) 224-3121. Provide your zip code to the operator who will connect you with the office of your legislator. Share with them the following key messages or make your own unique message:
Sponsor or support increased emergency food aid assistance in Somalia.

Sponsor or support the development of a plan to provide protection and assistance to refugees in Kenya and Yemen, and internally displaced people in Somalia.

Sponsor or support the development of a comprehensive strategy that deals with the full range of humanitarian and refugee crisis facing Somalia.

To get involved in this campaign or get more information about Somalia, please contact Ahmed Elmi, M.P.H., Chairman, Somali American Community Association, at 202.415.0327 or at chairman@sacausa.org.