Kenya Contact: Patrick Mweki, IMC Country Director pmweki@imcworldwide.org 254 733 620 958

Nairobi, Kenya/Los Angeles, CA, November 1, 2007 - Under difficult and dangerous circumstances, International Medical Corps (IMC) is providing health care to thousands of displaced Somalis in and around the city of Afgoye, about 20 miles (30 km) west of the capital city, Mogadishu. Since October, IMC has been operating three mobile clinics for people who have little or no access to services like clean water, sufficient food, adequate shelter, and basic health care.

Afgoye has become one of the main destinations for people fleeing Mogadishu. The city is already struggling to cope with the influx of about 100,000 people who have arrived there over the last seven months. It is estimated that 95 percent of the displaced initially had no access to safe drinking water because of contaminated or inaccessible water sources. Children in particular suffer from acute watery diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition, and respiratory tract infections.

Through its mobile clinics International Medical Corps is providing basic health services, including measles vaccinations for children under five and ante- and postnatal care, while also providing transport for patients requiring hospital care. Additionally, IMC is conducting hygiene education for the displaced communities, and training Somali community health workers in emergency public health interventions.

After this past weekend's fierce fighting in Mogadishu, the number of people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in south-central Somalia has now reached catastrophic dimensions. According to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, about 88,000 have fled Mogadishu over the last five days, of which 46,000 have gone to Afgoye. They join almost 400,000, who have been displaced since fighting between Ethiopian government troops and insurgents began in February.

"The massive influx of people into Afgoye has worsened the situation dramatically. There were already some 100,000 internally displaced people in the area, living in deplorable conditions without sufficient water, shelter, food, and health services," says Patrick Mweki, International Medical Corps' Country Director in Somalia. "IMC and other humanitarian agencies are struggling to assist them because the security situation is getting worse at a time when these people need our help more than ever."

International Medical Corps is planning to expand its activities in and around Afgoye and is closely working with local communities and partner organizations to provide other urgently needed services in the area. As a participating agency of the Somalia NGO Consortium, IMC has signed a statement of concern regarding the worsening humanitarian situation in south-central Somalia. "International and national NGOs cannot respond effectively to the crisis because access and security are deteriorating dramatically at a time when needs are increasing," the statement that was issued on October 30th in Nairobi reads. "The international community and all parties to the present conflict have a responsibility to protect civilians, to allow the delivery of aid, and to respect humanitarian space and the safety of humanitarian workers."

Since its inception in 1984, International Medical Corps' mission has been clear: Relieve the suffering of those affected by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. Passing on essential skills that help people help themselves is critical if those hit by tragedy are to return to self-reliance. IMC has received a four-star rating for four consecutive years by Charity Navigator, America's premier independent charity evaluator. ###