700,000 people are facing an overwhelming crisis in Somalia.
From the threat of terror to erratic flooding to years of drought, thousands of families are being displaced and forced to start all over again.
We urgently need your help to fund crucial emergency shelter for people uprooted from their homes in Somalia and other countries around the world. With your support, we can empower people to rebuild their lives.
Your support today will go to our general fund, where it will be used to help people rebuild their lives in Somalia and other countries around the world, wherever the need is greatest.
Help people like Nurta
Nurta M left her hometown with her children because of severe shortages of water and food.
Our journey [here] was quite challenging; we had been struggling for three months before arriving here. As we were travelling, we did not have much food and water and when we arrived, some of my children were admitted to the hospital because of malnutrition.
Before moving here, we felt uncertain about our future and the fear of being forced to move again loomed over us. This new shelter provides us with stability, as we have been guaranteed to remain here for at least four years.
At 73-years-old, Jimcale has had to leave his home behind.
In my many years on this earth, I have seen changes in the climate. The rain is sometimes too much, sometimes not enough. Crops have become unpredictable, leading to empty stomachs sometimes.
The change in the climate completely turned our world upside down and forced me and my family to leave behind the life we knew. We became displaced, chasing safety from the chaos it brought and now in my old age I am left to find my stability again.
Will you help us to continue to be there for families in Somalia and displaced people around the world?
Donate now
What is happening in Somalia?
Somalia has not brought about the problem of climate change, but it is badly affected by it. After enduring the worst drought in 40 years, the country has had heavy rains.
Tens of thousands of people have had to leave their homes and livelihoods behind in search of water, food, and shelter. Many have had long and difficult journeys with their families to get to displacement sites that encircle the city of Baidoa.
The first wet season has arrived (April-June), so more rains are coming, yet people haven’t had chance to recover.
What is ShelterBox doing?
With the changing climate and growing displacement, we are changing the way we work and rethinking disasters. While emergencies can be over quite quickly, they sometimes last for years too. That’s why we focus on different types of shelters in our responses depending on the needs of affected communities. In Somalia, people tell us their concerns of being evicted from the land they find refuge on, so we’re securing land tenure for people for up to 15 years.
People will stay displaced for longer without proper support to rebuild homes. So, we’re working with Juba Foundation to support thousands of people in southern Somalia with emergency shelter.
As well as shelters made from timber and tarpaulins, we’re focusing on more robust shelters that will better withstand weather extremes. They have corrugated iron roofs, raised bases, low cement walls, and mudbrick walls coated with cement or lime. This is so people can better protect themselves and their families from heavy rains and searing heat.
Other ways to make a donation
Post
Cheques can be sent by post to: ShelterBox Australia, PO Box 6625, Norwest, NSW, 2153
Bank Transfer
Our bank details are: ShelterBox Australia, Bendigo Bank, BSB 633 000, account no. 166 780 163, please email [email protected] to notify us of your donation.