Country Information
Founded: 14th Century
Independence (from British control): 1960
Land Area: 637,657 Square Kilometers (slightly smaller than Texas)
Climate: mostly desert; northeast monsoon from December to February with moderate temperatures in the north to very hot in the south; southwest monsoon from May to October, intense and parching heat in the north and very hot in the south, irregular rainfall; hot and humid periods between monsoons
Agricultural Land Usability: 2%
Natural Hazards: recurring droughts, frequent dust storms, flooding
Environmental issues: famine, heavily contaminated water, deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, desertification
The People
Population: 8,863,338
Infant Mortality Rate: 115 deaths / 1000 births
Life Expectancy: 48 years
Major Diseases: very high risk bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, typhoid fever, malaria, dengue fever, schistosomiasis, rabies
Religions: 100% Muslim
Literacy Rate: 39% (25% of women)
Unemployment rate: no data
Population below the UN-established Poverty Line: no data estimated at near total poverty
Special Conditions
Various factions such and states within Somalia continue to fight for either control or sovereignty.
There are continued border disputes and conflict with neighboring Ethiopia.
The civil war has been raging since 1988 and has displaced over 400,000 people and has blockaded use of limited natural resources.
Identifying the Need
Total devastation at all levels of social, economic and educational concern.
There is little which is not urgently needed in Somalia.
How The Zakat Foundation Has Responded
In 2006 we began earnest work in Somalia which began with the Eid al-Adha in January and went into food distribution. Insh’Allah the ongoing war in Somalia will subside enough that this dreadfully impoverished nation will be able to get the relief that it so desperately needs.
Ramadan Programs
Our Iftars and food package distributions were welcomed and appreciated in many villages across the southern sections of Somalia. Many of these people have been unable to afford food and cooking supplies for a long time.
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Udhiya / Qurbani Distribution
Beginning in 2006 we have been able to distribute Udhiya meats to poor communities in the southern areas of Somalia where the drought has hit hardest. Most of the animals had already died off and these people have risked malnutrition. Therefore this meat was a welcome addition to their meager diets.
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Well Digging
Beginning in the early summer months of 2006, The Zakat foundation has been establishing wells across Somalia’s driest areas. These wells are a wonderful source of life in a near desert environment. Our donors have enjoyed this easy source of Sadaqa Jariyah as the wells cost only $3,000 each to be established with a pump and trough for animals to drink from.
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Mosque Construction
In 2006 we established two Mosques in Somalia as sources of Sadaqa Jariya for our donors. These Mosques were much needed by the villages as there were no standing structures for worship. Insh’Allah there will be more projects like this in the future and we encourage our donors to participate in this wonderful source of continual charity.
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Horn of Africa Famine – Emergency Relief – 2006 (Food Distribution ongoing)
In late spring of 2006 the slowly growing famine in Eastern Africa reached uncontrollable proportions. Crops were devastated and the already collapsing economy could not supplement the needs of the people in many countries. Grazing animals had fallen dead and people resorted to eating the flesh of these dead animals.
The Zakat Foundation of America went into action primarily in Somalia where the famine seemed to have struck hardest and rushed to provide emergency food aid, medical care and dig wells to provide life sustaining water. This program of emergency relief launched the ongoing efforts of The Zakat Foundation to provide aid in this war-torn nation of Somalia.
Although our emergency efforts have ceased; we do continue to provide food packet distribution; this can be sponsored for only $100 to provide a month’s supply of food to a family of 10.
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