Somalia Humanitarian crisis fact sheet

November 4, 2010

  • Since the beginning of 2007, violence due to the conflict has killed at least 18,000 civilians.
  • By the end of 2009, 3.3 million people (approximately 43 percent of the total population) faced urgent needs. (OCHA).
  • According to aid workers, Somalia has more than 1.4 million internally displaced people.
  • More than 560,000 Somalis are officially registered as refugees in neighbouring countries. There are hundreds of thousands more unregistered in Kenya, Europe, the US and Canada
  • Humanitarian access dramatically declined in 2009 in the South and Center. The number of international staff on the ground also fell.
  • Aid agencies rank Somalia as one of the most dangerous places in the world to work. Last year, 12 aid workers were killed there despite agencies’ very limited presence in the field and the adoption of risk-reducing measures.
  • Currently, food distribution is hindered by pirate attacks on sea deliveries, roadblocks and armed attacks on aid convoys.
  • Percentage of population living on less than $1 per day: 43.2% (Somalia Millenium Development Goal Report for 2007)
  • Adult mortality (ages 15-60): 381/1,000 (male 447/1,000; female 312/1,000) (WHO World Health Statistics for 2009)
  • Maternal mortality: 1,400 /100,000 (WHO World Health Statistics for 2009)
  • Under-five mortality: 142/1,000 (male 140/1,000; female 144/1,000) (WHO World Health Statistics for 2009)
  • Under-five acute malnutrition: 19%
  • Prevalence of under-nourishment in total population: 71% (WHO World Health Statistics for 2009)