Emergency Feeding in Baidoa on track

The intervention supported by the World Food Programme and World Vision through local organizations has seen emergency feeding reach 32,529 children and 2,014 pregnant and lactating women in southern Somalia.  

Kevin Mackey, World Vision’s Operations Director and Abdi Dubow, World Vision’s Baido Coordinator visited a Blanket Supplementary Feeding and Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program managed by a local partner called DMO (Degroor Medical Organization). 

Since April 2014, World Vision has partnered with DMO to provide life-saving support to children under-five who are moderately malnourished.  Baidoa is at the heart of chronic food insecurity in southern Somalia. 

A mother waits with her child at a feeding centre in South Central Somalia

World Vision and its partners are at the forefront of early warning and early action, helping to ensure that children like Musa do not slip into extreme malnutrition. 

Mr. Mackey took a few minutes to chat with Mrs. Ahado Issac who was bringing her son, Musa Hassan for screening.  She was concerned about Musa’s health.  She recounted how he had a sick appearance, and that his legs were swelling and his skin was cracking.  Mr. Mackey asked how she had come to find out about the feeding center.  Mrs. Adado described fleeing her village, Edkayal, located 20 KM from Baidoa because of drought and lack of employment opportunities.  She moved with her husband and six children to Edakayal IDP camp in Baidoa town a year and half ago.  It was there, that a DMO mobilization team informed her of the feeding centre, where her son has been admitted.  She is hopeful that through this programme, Musa will fully recover.

Kevin Mackey and Dubow's visit to feeding center in Baidoa

Though her husband has now returned to village, Mrs. Ahado is not sure whether she will return.  This is the case for many long-standing displaced people in Baidoa.  Years of conflict, coupled with repeated droughts have caused many to abandon their farms and livestock and seek a new life in places like Baidoa town. 

World Vision, through a host of emergency interventions, including WASH, Health and emergency nutrition, and NFI distributions is helping families like these to adjust to their new life, in their new urban settings.