Project Title: Strengthening Resilience and Food Security for Displaced and Vulnerable Children and Their Families in the Afgoye Corridor, Mogadishu.
At the heart of our mission is a commitment that goes beyond providing food; it is about restoring futures and fortifying the resilience of the most vulnerable households. This commitment was profoundly tested and proven through extraordinary partnerships at the Kaafi IDP Camp in Deynile district- Somalia.
Routine Screening, Extraordinary Discovery
In October, the Daryeel Bulsho Guud (DBG) nutrition team launched a house-to-house registration initiative in Kahda District targeting urgent support for children under five suffering from malnutrition. During this critical effort, they encountered Fadumo Abdi Mohamed, a mother initially displaced from Janale grappling with severe economic hardship.
Fadumo brought her young grandchild, Feisal, who was promptly enrolled in the Nutritional Support Program after being diagnosed with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MUAC 12.2 cm). This moment epitomized the core mandate of our project.
Yet, standing quietly beside Fadumo was 8-year-old Abdikafi Mohamed Hussein, too old for the nutrition program’s focus. Proficient to consider the holistic well-being of families, the DBG staff noted a troubling symptom: a severely enlarged eye with a white reflex in his left pupil.
The Power of Partnership and Referral
Recognizing the severity of Abdikafi’s condition, the DBG team understood that food assistance alone could not address this potential health crisis. This marked a pivotal moment where the project’s impact far exceeded its original scope showcasing the strength of integrated humanitarian action.
DBG staff swiftly initiated an emergency medical referral, utilizing a critical partnership with Al Ihsan Specialist Hospital. Within hours, Abdikafi underwent comprehensive clinical evaluation, leading to a diagnosis of Retinoblastoma—a malignant tumor requiring immediate intervention to prevent severe, lifelong complications.
Through the collaboration between DBG and the hospital, the specialized ophthalmology team successfully performed an urgent left-eye evisceration surgery, addressing the health crisis despite the displaced family’s economic constraints. Post-operatively, DBG continued to coordinate necessary follow-up medication and guidance.
Restoring Dignity and Hope: The True Measure of Resilience
Today, Abdikafi is pain-free, back at school and socially engaged—transformed from the social withdrawal and distress he previously faced. This intervention did more than treat an illness; it restored dignity and secured his long-term resilience, aligning perfectly with our project’s true objectives.
“Before DBG supported us, we sought help from multiple places where no assistance was available. I was heartbroken about my son’s future, even considering asking for money to save him,” Fadumo expressed.
“Today, I am happy because hope for my son has returned. The team saved his life—not only through the food they provided my grandchild but by looking beyond age limits and ensuring my son received the urgent medical help needed.” Fadumo concludes.
Meanwhile, Feisal’s situation has significantly improved. During a follow-up visit, the DBG team discovered that his MUAC level had risen from 12.2 cm to 13.1 cm, clearly indicating a shift from Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) to a well-nourished status.
Humanitarian Impact: A Model for Holistic Action
This journey illustrates that what began as routine nutritional screening evolved into a life-saving intervention that surpassed our project’s original scope.
- Resilience is Holistic: Addressing food security for Feisal while simultaneously confronting life-threatening health crises for Abdikafi creates lasting stability for the entire household.
- Collaboration is Essential: Our partnership with Al Ihsan Hospital bridged the gap between detection and treatment, producing outcomes unattainable by any single organization.
Through compassionate action and coordinated care, Abdikafi’s recovery exemplifies the profound impact your investment can make—not just in delivering short-term relief but in establishing a durable foundation for recovery and hope amid ongoing challenges.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Your support empowers initiatives like this, allowing us to invest in the resilience and health of vulnerable families in the Afgoye Corridor. Together, we can ensure that every child receives not only the food they need but also the life-saving care essential for their future.###
Stand with us—because every life saved is a future restored.