Context
The humanitarian situation in Somalia is at its worst level for 18 years. Currently 3.64 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance with 1.55 million displaced across the country, most of whom are in South Central Soma-lia.1
Escalating conflict, new displacement, shrinking humanitarian space and limited capacity of the service provider network are posing specific risks to the health of populations of humanitarian concern in Somalia. These risks to health stem from a lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation for people in displaced settlements, and disruption of life-saving health services including vaccination. This situation heightens the risk of outbreaks of communicable disease which can lead to preventable death and disability amongst the vulnerable population. In Somalia, the main causes of death and disability are diarrhoeal dis- eases, including cholera and dysentery, acute respiratory infec- tions, measles, and malaria from which children are at particular risk. Furthermore during times of conflict, and displacement, disease reporting systems become disrupted, compromising the ability of health partners to detect and respond to outbreaks n a timely manner.
Lastly during times of high malnutrition and poor health status of the population, the risk of con- tracting communicable diseases is further increased. Currently one in five Somali children are malnourished resulting in suppressed immunity and greater susceptibility to communicable disease.