2017 Year in Review

By the end of 2017, the prolonged drought in Somalia had left 6.2 million people, including 3.4 million children in need of humanitarian assistance. At the height of the crisis, the country was on the verge of slipping into another famine. Thanks to a massive and early response led by the Government and supported by partners and donors, famine was successfully averted. However, the crisis is far from over.

For UNICEF, 2017 was a year of results:

• 270,000 children with severe acute malnutrition were reached with treatment. Nearly all recovered.

• 1.3 million women and children received emergency health services, 500,000 of them were internally displaced persons.

• 1.8  million people had temporary access to clean water, and 733,000 people gained access to sustainable water sources.

• 174,000 children had safe learning opportunities amidst drought, many for the first time in life.

• 4,200 unaccompanied and separated children and 4,000 victims of gender-based violence were supported with vital services.

• 600,000 children were immunized against measles and 42,000 patients were treated for AWD/cholera.

• 19,000 vulnerable households received unconditional cash assistance to help them meet basic needs such as health and education.

But the situation remains grave. In 2018, 5.4 million people still require humanitarian assistance, including 2.8 million children. Supporting the Government, and working with partners and donors, we will sustain our emergency response, bringing lifesaving health, nutrition, WASH, child protection and cash transfer services to women and children in need in Somalia.