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Children in Somalia speak out for peace

"I would like to go to school and become a pilot"

“I would like to go to school and become a pilot,” said Fartoun Ibrahim, aged 14. “I am asking the world to help us. I want my missing brother back. I want to leave this place with my family and live elsewhere.”

Somalia has seen a drastic deterioration in the humanitarian situation since the start of 2007 with over 1.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Less than a fourth of Somalia’s population can access basic health services and only 29 per cent use a safe water source. Preventable or easily treated diseases remains the main killers of children and women.

“Children like Fartoun live in one of the most vulnerable protection environments in the world,” said UNICEF’s Representative to Somalia, Christian Balslev-Olesen. “Women and children in the centre and south of the country are the worst-affected, with thousands of families displaced, livelihoods disrupted, and an estimated 83,000 children suffering from severe malnutrition,” he added.

The 2008 CAP aims to address the most urgent needs of the 1.5 million people affected. As one of the leading agencies providing emergency assistance to the children and women of Somalia, UNICEF has appealed for US$ 47 million for 2008. This amount will enable UNICEF and its partners to provide critical life saving interventions to 350,000 children under the age of five; vaccinate 1.4 million children against polio; and treat up to 90,000 malnourished children.

UNICEF will also provide 1.2 million displaced or vulnerable persons with access to safe water and sanitation; enable 120,000 children to resume their schooling and equip 20,000 girls and women with knowledge and skills to prevent HIV, while also mobilising communities to reunite families, end the recruitment of child soldiers and prevent injuries from mines and unexploded ordinance.

With generous funding from UNICEF and its partners the 2007 CAP, were able to ensure, amongst other results, that half a million people had access to basic health care; 1.6 million children were immunized against polio and 883,000 against measles; some 200,000 people had access to safe drinking water, nearly 60,000 displaced children were able to resume their schooling, over 240,000 displaced and vulnerable households received essential shelter and survival items, and 28,000 young girls and women learned skills to protect themselves and others from HIV, sexual violence and abuse.

About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For interviews, please call: 
• Christian Balslev-Olesen, UNICEF Representative, Tel: +254-20-7623952 / +254-20-350420 Mobile: +254 722 514 569 or +254 733 629 933

For further information, contact:
• Denise Shepherd-Johnson, Chief of Communication, UNICEF Somalia: Tel: +254-20-7623958. Mobile: +254-722-719-867, Email: dshepherdjohnson@unicef.org.