Cimran
Sahro Bakat used to wake up every day knowing that she would not have enough food to feed her two young children.
“Skipping meals became a regular occurrence,” Sahro explains. “And I began noticing alarming changes in my younger daughter, Cimran. She was losing a significant amount of weight. Her ribs became more prominent, and she stopped playing with her sister. I grew deeply worried but did not know what to do.”
Sahro’s husband was a farmer who provided for their family until years of flooding and subsequent poor harvests left them destitute. Now, he lives in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, where he works as a day laborer—inconsistent and grueling work with little income. Sahro, her children and her mother-in-law live in a settlement for displaced people outside the city of Jowhar, some 60 miles (about 92 km) from Mogadishu.
One day, community health workers visited Sahro and her family to see how they were doing. They measured Cimran’s mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), which was dangerously low, and referred Cimran and Sahro to a nearby International Medical Corps-supported clinic, Fanoole Food Distribution Center.
When they arrived, health workers confirmed that Cimran was malnourished and admitted her to our nutrition programme. While in the programme, she received ready-to-use supplementary food and essential medications, including vitamin A, deworming treatment and a measles vaccine. After 74 days in the programme, she was discharged as cured.
“I am overwhelmed with joy seeing how much my daughter’s health has improved,” says Sahro. “Today is the happiest day of my life, knowing that she is healthy and no longer requires treatment. Words cannot express my gratitude for the incredible care she received.”
Staff members also counselled Sahro on the importance of breastfeeding, complementary feeding, vaccinations and hygiene measures to keep her children healthy.
Cimran is one of 1.7 million children in Somalia who are expected to suffer from malnutrition this year. International Medical Corps implements comprehensive nutrition programs in 70 facilities across the country, targeting malnutrition in children and in pregnant and lactating women.
“After years of flooding and drought, millions of people have been displaced and families are suffering,” explains Naomi Mwikali Ndung’u, Head of International Medical Corps’ Nutrition team in Somalia. “We train community health workers to identify malnutrition during their door-to-door visits and refer malnourished women and children to our health facilities, where they receive comprehensive treatment.”
Rahma
Two-year-old Rahma was showing signs of illness—fever, persistent diarrhoea and loss of appetite—when community health workers visited her home. Her mother, 28-year-old Mahadho Abdullahi, was recently widowed and struggling to provide for her six children. The health workers called an ambulance to transport Rahma to Galkayo Referral Hospital.
When Rahma arrived at the hospital, the medical team quickly began a treatment regimen to address her malnutrition and medical complications. Mahadho also received vital counselling on infant and young-child feeding (IYCF) practices and the importance of hygiene. The hospital staff guided her in diversifying Rahma’s meals, helping Mahadho to make them nutritious and appealing while staying within her tight budget.
“They showed me that with a variety of affordable, locally available foods, I could make my children’s meals healthier and prevent malnutrition,” she explains.
After eight days of treatment, Rahma was discharged from the hospital and referred to the outpatient programme for ongoing support.
Mohamed
Like Rahma, Mohamed is the youngest of six children. His father is a small-scale farmer, while his mother, Mako Shine Abdulle, takes on domestic work to help make ends meet. Despite their efforts, their modest income is not enough to support their family. Food insecurity is a daily struggle, and the family often survives on one shared meal a day—usually rice or porridge—that too often lacks variety and essential nutrients.
After a community health worker identified that Mohamed was malnourished, his mother took him to Bulosheikh Health Facility—which International Medical Corps has run since 2013—for treatment. When Mohamed and his mother arrived, our health workers responded swiftly by enrolling him in our outpatient nutrition programme, which includes therapeutic food, routine antibiotics and regular growth monitoring.
Mako also received counselling on optimal IYCF practices, and our team provided guidance on how to prepare balanced meals using locally available ingredients. Mohamed’s condition steadily improved, and after six weeks, he was discharged. The team then referred him to International Medical Corps’ blanket supplementary feeding programme for continued support, ensuring that his progress would be sustained, and he would not relapse into malnutrition.
“Watching Mohamed’s smile return and seeing him interact with his siblings again has been such a relief,” says Mako. “It’s as if he has found his spark again. I’m hopeful that he’ll continue to grow healthier and have a future full of opportunities.”
Ralia and Kifaayo
“After the floods hit Jowhar, a portion of the farmland we had rented was washed away, and we lost everything we needed to survive,” shares 32-year-old Ralia. “I became a mother in search of a meal for my family.”
Ralia went door-to-door, asking people if they needed someone to do their laundry. Some people agreed, while others declined, since they had a washing machine. The small amount of money she received from washing other people’s clothes was not enough to support her family.
One day, Ralia noticed that her 14-month-old daughter, Kifaayo, was weak. She was lethargic and refused to play with the other children.
Concerned, Ralia spoke with Habibo, her neighbour’s sister, who had previously participated in our nutrition programme at Bulosheikh Health Facility. Based on this recommendation, Ralia visited the facility with her daughter.
At the clinic, health workers assessed both Ralia and Kifaayo and diagnosed them both with moderate acute malnutrition. Ralia was seven months pregnant at the time. Our team enrolled them in the facility’s nutrition programme. Ralia received breastfeeding guidance and instruction on how to administer supplementary food to Kifaayo, with advice not to share it with her other children due to its therapeutic purpose. We also provided her with fortified flour to prepare porridge.
Ralia also received antenatal care and joined a mother-to-mother support group facilitated by International Medical Corps, where she learned how to prepare balanced meals using locally available ingredients. After completing the programme, both Ralia and Kifaayo showed significant improvement and were discharged.
“Watching my children laugh and play reminds me that joy sometimes is simple when your children are healthy,” says Ralia.
Learn more about our work in Somalia, and donate to International Medical Corps today to help people around the world affected by conflict, disaster and disease.