Background
Somalia, consisting of 18 states and estimated population of 12 million people, is located in the Horn of Africa. It is surrounded by Aden gulf (from north), Indian Ocean (from east), Djibouti and Ethiopia (from west) and Kenya (from south). This country has been suffering from civil war since 1991 and since recent years the youth branch of Al-Qaida, called Al Shabab, has invaded almost 50% of this country. In addition to civil war and its consequences, extreme drought which started from 2011, has harmed people of Somalia who are mostly living on agriculture and farming and this situation has end up to a great rush of estimated 2,800,000 .starving people toward Mogadishu, the Capital
Humanitarian Situation
The results of rush of more than 2,800,000 drought affected people to Mogadishu, was turn worse by general starvation and epidemic diseases which caused large amount of human losses and left the temporary government of this country in huge humanitarian crises. Considering the fights and clashes in the Capital, this area has been announced as “unsecure” thus, except for few Islamic countries including I.R Iran, Turkey, U.A.E, Qatar and Kuwait, no other country was actively sending humanitarian consignments to Somali.
Activities of the Iranian Red Crescent Society
The IRCS delegation entered into Mogadishu on the 2 August 2011, and immediately started to set up camps, aiming for temporary sheltering and treatment, for vulnerable people in different parts of the city. This consisted a central clinic, 7 mobile clinics in the camps and 12 emergency shelter camps which covered more than 7000 families (more than 56000 people). Also the IRCS has dispatched 24 relief, food, nonfood and medical consignments to Somalia via air and sea. The IRCS started an active cooperation with Somalian Red Crescent Society aiming for closer relations and empowering the SRCS. Donation of considerable amount of medical supplies, as well as 1475 tents and a lift track to SRCS, are some examples of the latter cooperation.
Actions taken for the benefit of Somalia affected people by IRCS
1- Dispatching of consignments by the Iranian Red Crescent Society including relief food, non food and medicine, medical equipment and hygienic items.
2- Visit of the Secretary General of Iranian Red Crescent Society with some of the high ranking officials of Somalia based in Kenya including Minister for Women Affairs and Minister of Health.
3- Dispatch of the first assessment team to Somalia, headed by Dr. Mozafar, Head of Relief And Rescue Organization and medical and relief teams of the Red Crescent Society, for making necessary coordination regarding treatment and dispatching aid and monitoring the distribution of items among starving people of Somalia.
4- Visit of the dispatch teams of Red Crescent Society with high ranking officials of Somalia including President, Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minster, Minister of Foreign Affairs and so on.
5- Public announcement regarding account NO. 99999 and 199999999003 of Melli Bank of Iran for receiving cash aid from the Iranian people and received a huge contribution of Iranian volunteers and people.
6- Informing all the ministries and Governor Generals of the country for participation in this humanitarian action.
7- Establishing various bases in all over county and particularly in crowded areas, for receiving cash aid of people for famine in Somalia.
8- Coordination with religious jurisprudences and scholars including His Eminence Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi , His Eminence Ayatollah Nouri Hammedani and His Eminence Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani , for allocating contributions and a third of Imam’s share to starving people of Somalia.
9- Activating SMS number of 8115 of Irancell for receiving contributions of philanthropic people of Iran.
10- Visit of Secretary General of Red Crescent Society of Iran with the Charge d’ Affairs of the Embassy of Somalia in Tehran.
11- Dispatching three teams of journalists in order to report relief operations of Iran in Somalia.
12- Presenting good news coverage and appropriate dissemination of information by the cooperation of all various Medias particularly Radio and TV Organization.
13- Broadcasting in different TV channels an advertisement regarding disastrous famine in Somalia in order to promote public participation.
14- Holding of coordination meeting with the participation of representatives from the office of His Eminence Supreme Leader of Islamic Republic of Iran, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Mine and Industry, Ministry of Commerce, Iranian Broadcast, Imam Khomeini Relief Committee, Mobilized Organization of Oppressed People, High National Council of Security for giving rapid support to starving people of Somalia. Meanwhile in that meeting it was decided to select the day 22 Aug 2011 which correspond with birth anniversary of first Shiite Imam Ali (PBUH) as the day of “solidarity of the people of Iran with the people of Somalia who suffer from hunger as a result of famine.
15- Establishing fixed base in Imamzadeh Saleh shrine and in Shahr e Ray with the coordination of Iranian Broadcast for collecting people ‘s donation and aid on the day of “solidarity between the people of Iran and Somalia.”
16- Secretary General of Red Crescent Society of Iran accompany Esteemed Foreign Minister of Iran and His Delegation during their visit to Somalia
17- Establishing of relief clinic center in the affected area of famine (BHC) and dispatching medicines, equipments and medical teams to this center.
18- Dispatching high ranking delegation from Red Crescent Society of Iran including Secretary General, Representative of Supreme Leader Office in Red Crescent Society, Under Secretary General for Health, Treatment and Rehabilitation and Director General of the Red Crescent Society in Tehran, to Somalia in order to monitor the relief services given by Iran to Somalia and along with Somali authorities inaugurate the sixth camp established by the Red Crescent Society in Somalia.
19- Loading of the biggest aid consignment of Iranian Red Crescent Society including: almost 5000 tons of food stuff and medical and hygienic items. This consignment was sent to Somalia on 27 September 2011 through Rajai port.
20- Establishing of 6 mobile medical groups and one permanent clinic including doctors and nurses in order to present medical services and establishing of 20 camps with the capacity of rendering relief services to 20 thousands families who were victims of famine.
21- Implementing the plan of Youth organization of the Red Crescent Society with the cooperation of the Coordinating Council of Students including the students from Mobilize Student Center and Islamic Associations of Students, Deputy Minister of Education for creating piggybank and collecting contribution from students for helping starving children in Somalia.
22- Implementing cultural and educational programs for Somali children and women in the Camps and psychological Support Program (PSP) offered by Red Crescent Society of Iran in Somalia.
23- Collecting more than USD 43,500,000 donation and more than 900 tons of non- cash aid.
The list of the humanitarian consignments sent to Somalia by IRCS from August 2011 till May 2012
Distribution plan
At the beginning of drought and starvation crises in Somalia, most of donations had been distributed in Mogadishu and 22 camps which were established by IRCS. There were negotiations between IRCS and SRCS to expand the geographical distribution plan so during distribution of consignment no. 15, about 2,000 tones of the cargo was distributed by SRCS in central and northern parts of Somalia which were under the control of Al-Shabab. Also a consignment was sent to the northern part of Somalia in Berbera by sea and distributed in Somaliland, Poontland and Hergaisa. On the other hand, a decision was made on returning of refugees to their home land and registration of the latter project was started afterwards. By reduction of refugee population in Mogadishu, the amount of humanitarian aids has been reduced and it seems that living situation is back to normal again.
Future Plan
The IRCS continues its humanitarian aid to Somali people through its counterpart, Somali Red Crescent Society. As the memorandum of understanding was signed between two National Societies, it conducts the future road map among two humanitarian organizations. The IRCS is committed to strengthen the relations with the SRCS and work on the capacity building of the sister National Societies. Hence a summary of the future cooperation is listed as follow:
1-Existing medical clinic continues its current activities in various fields and rendering free of charge medical service to the most vulnerable people in Mogadishu.
2- Assessments for the possibility of delivery of more humanitarian aids in northern, central and southern parts of Somalia through SRCS will be done by IRCS; Iranian Red Crescent Society tries to cover more regions in different part of Somali.
3- As the emergency period of the crises is over, IRCS is now more concentrating on capacity building, development and organizational improvement of SRCS. Aiming for this purpose, the 24th consignment of IRCS is consisted of 23 vehicles and other technical and relief equipments for the benefit of SRCS will be sent to Somali at the beginning of year 2013. Furthermore Iranian Red Crescent Society will more concentrate on the issues such as training, relief and rescue operations as well as health and care in danger in Somalia.
