Aisha’s heart is relieved as she watches her daughter, Maida, regain her strength. After weeks of treatment, the little girl’s frail body had transformed—she was more active, eating better, and even playing with her siblings again. Seeing Maida healthy again brought immense comfort to Aisha.
But the road to this moment had not been easy.
In Somalia, families affected by recurring droughts and floods often struggle to survive when their livelihoods are disrupted. For Aisha’s family, this meant leaving behind everything they knew. They relocated to Harhaar seven years ago after a severe drought wiped out local food sources and made survival hard in their previous rural home. However, settling in a new place did not mean the challenges ended.
As a mother of eleven, Aisha has faced this reality for years. To provide for her children, she went door to door offering laundry services in exchange for a small fee. For the past seven years, this has been how she has ensured her children have something to eat, despite the many challenges she faces daily. Yet, even with her relentless efforts, it was never enough to meet the nutritional needs of her growing children.
Malnutrition took a toll on her family, and the impact became evident when Maida fell severely ill, suffering from diarrhea and fever. Aisha had seen this before—Maida was the third child in the family to experience such a crisis. The situation was dire, and without immediate intervention, Maida’s condition could have worsened.
Recognizing the urgency, Aisha turned to a mobile nutrition program in Harhaar village run by International Medical Corps, a partner of CaafimaadPlus Consortium. The mobile health teams examined Maida thoroughly and enrolled her in an emergency nutrition program, providing her with therapeutic food.
“Every week, the team returned to check on her progress, and each time, they could see the difference,” Aisha shared. “As a mother, I made sure she consumed the treatment on time, following every instruction given.”
The lifesaving intervention, funded by the British Embassy Mogadishu through the CaafimaadPlus Consortium, is providing critical support to families like Aisha’s who are grappling with the devastating effects of climate change. The program not only supplies therapeutic nutrition but also treats children for illnesses resulting from severe malnutrition.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain. The mobile team brings services closer to families, reducing the need for long and difficult journeys to seek care. However, families like Aisha’s still face the constant threat of food shortages, and without long-term solutions, malnutrition remains a recurring risk.
Additionally, Aisha’s husband, who lives with a mental health condition, is unable to work, placing the full weight of responsibility on her shoulders. In many communities, mental health issues are misunderstood, and care is often inaccessible. While Aisha remains determined to support her family, the burden is immense, and additional community support and mental health services could improve their situation.
Since its launch in October 2024, the Deyr Response Project has successfully treated 1,184 severely malnourished children like Maida. However, the need remains great. As climate-induced crises continue to threaten vulnerable communities, initiatives like these are essential for saving lives. Long-term solutions are equally critical. Access to clean water, sustainable livelihood opportunities, and strengthened healthcare services, including mental health support, are necessary to help families like Aisha’s build a more stable and resilient future. That is what CaafimaadPlus is investing in.
