The impediments and key challenges in Somalia's humanitarian emergency response (original) (raw)

Since the collapse of the central government of Somalia in 1991 Somalia has been embroiled in a civil war that has created dire humanitarian conditions that have claimed the lives of thousands of people. This has made Somalia one of the most vulnerable in humanitarian crises in the world today as the ongoing armed conflict created devastating humanitarian situations. The country has currently ranked as the ‘second lowest in the world on the Fragile States Index’ (Maxwell et al., 2018), it also has the ‘fifth highest fertility rate in the world, and the second highest infant mortality rate, topped only by Afghanistan’ (Maxwell et al., 2018). Nevertheless Somalia ‘is one of the poorest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with nearly 7 out of 10 people living in poverty’ (October, 2020). However the conflict in Somalia has been accompanied by international efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis and armed conflicts in Somalia with numerous conferences taking place in various countries between 1991-2000 but unfortunately most of them failed because of exclusion, clan dynamics and the insurgency. In 2000 the Arta Conference was held which resulted in an atmosphere of stability and consensus resulting in the emergence of an inclusive government for the first time despite the many challenges surrounding the conference. However it’s noteworthy during that time a massive humanitarian crisis occurred including mass displacement, famine and vast human right violation including killing, rape and child labor.