Fadumo Mohamed Ali is 53 years old mother who is a widow with 7 orphanage children, (aged between 17 years and 3 years,) who lives in Salaamey IDP camp in Jamacadaha regions.After migrating from Bakool because of the devastating drought, Fadumo and her children ended up in this IDP camp and called it home for 8 months now. Thousands of Somalis live in this situation with no food, no proper shelter, no good hospitals, and schools.
“I used to wait for food aid from humanitarian agencies, and sometimes when things get tough, I and the children went out to the streets to beg in order to get a day’s meal. Things got tight sometimes and the children would resort to eating from the dumpsite this often got them very ill. One of my children had diarrhea. We went to hospital but I could not afford to pay for her treatment. She never recovered and died a few days later. I have now seven children”
I heard about money given to the poor IDP families by International Blue Crescent through the camp committees and after a few days some staff from IBC came and asked some questions and listed our names. After a few days later they came back and called us and took photos from us. Then, after a week, they came back again and gave us cards to be used in receiving money from Salaam Somali bank. I received $100 which I used to buy my immediate needs like vegetables, clothes and other supplementary items that we couldn’t be given by humanitarian agencies. I paid some of my debt from the money. Now I feel human, like the other people around me, I couldn’t be able to stop my children from eating from the dumping sites and begging on the streets. Now I don’t have to worry so much on where to get food for the children this month.
International Blue Crescent is working side by side with IDPs and Camp authorities in giving life back to IDPs like Fadumo and many like her. Hundreds of IDPs benefited from these projects and most of them are poor IDP women who have nothing to give to their siblings.
On 5th June, 2012 International Blue Crescent Somalia has distributed unconditional cash grant to IDPs and Host Communities in Banadir region. The cash grant was given to 400 beneficiaries from various IDP Camps and neighborhoods. Each Beneficiary received $ 100. The grant was unconditional in that People were given the money as a direct grant with no conditions or work transfers requirements. They were not required to repay any money, and people were entitled to use the money however they wish. The grant was paid as an alternative or complement to in-kind assistance.
