Los Angeles, (insidesomalia.org)-International Medical Corps (IMC) has positioned additional health workers and medical supplies to address the most urgent health problems of tens of thousands of displaced Somalis in and around the western city of Beletweyne. About 50 percent of the city's inhabitants are said to have fled after they were caught in violent clashes between Ethiopian backed government forces and Islamist insurgents. Many are now in need of medical assistance without shelter, food, or clean water.

International Medical Corps staff has been running 25 health posts, one maternity clinic, and two health facilities for pregnant women and children in Beletweyne and the surrounding villages. They report that the majority of the newly displaced have originally fled the fighting in Mogadishu and are now forced to flee again. The recent violence has left them destitute and extremely vulnerable to disease and malnutrition.

In response to the humanitarian crisis in neighborhoods with a high influx of newly displaced, International Medical Corps has staffed four of its health posts with additional nurses. Each of the posts treats up to 150 people every day. The majority of patients are children under five and women who suffer from respiratory and eye infections or watery and bloody diarrhea.

"Our biggest concern is the lack of safe water and the impact this has on the displaced. Most of the internally displaced have settled along the Shabelle River from where they get untreated water. We are already seeing an increase in diarrhea cases in our clinics," says Patrick Mweki, International Medical Corps country director in Somalia. "We will focus on sanitation by distributing chlorine tablets and education for the displaced on how to improve hygiene."

Despite the tense situation and the general insecurity around Beletweyne, International Medical Corps is rapidly upgrading more health posts that are usually run by community health workers and traditional birth attendants. IMC has hired more trained staff and supplied additional drugs to cope with the patient load. IMC is also planning to distribute high energy biscuits for malnourished children in its clinics.

The fighting has left the city of Beletweyne tense and paralyzed. Traders are not supplying the markets out of fear of being robbed. Food and fuel prices have gone up, worsening the situation for many who live on a minimal income. Malnutrition and the lack of clean water remain the main problems for the tens of thousands of displaced in and around the city.

"So far, people have no intentions to return to their homes. Many report that they are afraid that the violent clashes will resume," says Mweki.

The fighting and subsequent massive displacement in Beletweyne is a further blow to the humanitarian situation in the war torn country where about 2.6 million people are currently in need of food and health assistance. According to the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden, this number could rise to 3.5 million within a few months, about half of the remaining Somali population.

A combination of factors is contributing to the escalating situation: the ongoing conflict, poor rains, price hikes for food and fuel, and restricted access to the affected population for aid workers due to attacks and abductions. At least one million people are now internally displaced. More than 80 percent are women and children.

International Medical Corps has been operating in Somalia since 1991 and has implemented a range of health care and nutrition programs in the country.

Source: International Medical Corps (IMC)