Dear John,

According to the United Nations, climate change is the greatest threat to human health in the 21st century. This issue disproportionately affects people in communities that have contributed the least to the problem. Like the communities we work with in Somaliland where people’s lives have been turned upside down by persistent drought.

Rising temperatures and declining rainfall have devastated many rural communities where people depend on raising livestock and growing crops for a living, displacing thousands of families:

“A lot of people are leaving rural areas because their livestock is dying; they can’t afford to rent or stay with family in the city because of the cost, so they often move to camps for internally displaced persons” – Mohamoud Ali Bullale, Health Poverty Action Country Director for Somaliland

Our team in Somaliland trains, equips, assists and employs health workers, community workers and social activists to help families dealing with malnutrition - providing vital treatment, practical support and essential advice to people in their communities.

Unfortunately, with climate change wreaking havoc on long-established weather patterns in the region, many people will find it harder to feed themselves and their families for the foreseeable future (see below graphic from the University of Reading).

Our partners report that the incidence of malnutrition and deaths in childbirth have reduced in regions where we’ve been working, but the climate crisis continues to affect communities across Somaliland and beyond.

With the help of supporters like you, we are collaborating with public bodies and other organisations in Somaliland to strengthen the health system, so that people can access better healthcare and communities can tackle the challenges that climate change present.

Please make a regular monthly donation and join the Health Poverty Action Community. Whatever you can give will help communities keep families healthy and nourished during times of uncertainty.
 

In solidarity,

Siaffa Bunduka,

Supporter Engagement Manager

P.S. You can find out more about our work on nutrition in Somaliland here.