10 year old Somalia girl (World Vision)
World Vision's Rien Paulsen says they've been working there since 1992. Paulsen says the latest violence coupled with the drought and the most recent flooding has caused widespread need.
"More than one million people were affected by the drought. Then very quickly after that we had some 500,000 people directly affected by the flooding. So, the numbers are large, but the good news in all of this is we have opportunities to provide assistance," says Paulsen.
According to Paulsen, World Vision was forced to leave the country temporarily in December when the transitional government came into power. Will this renewed violence impact there work? Paulsen says, "It really is difficult, if not impossible to speculate on what's going to happen. I would say though that we were able to reestablish access fairly quickly after we had to leave. We've been able to respond to people's needs right now."
They share God's love as they're helping.
The needs are great, but World Vision isn't able to help those in need without your financial assistance. Paulsen says your financial support helps them provide, "Medical care, we provide basic medicines. Our key focus now is really is on helping people re-establishing their livelihoods. And, a lot of the people we're supporting are farmers by background."
Paulsen says they also need prayers because working in this area is dangerous. World Vision has 400 staff members in Somalia, 340 are Somalia nationals.
While problems abound, Paulsen says, "We're committed to Somalia. The needs are great. World Vision's mission -- we're motivated by our faith to respond to need wherever it exists. And, Somalia is certainly a priority country for us."
