Somaliland now has a functioning political system, government institutions, a police force and a thriving business sector. Even so, poverty and unemployment are widespread and the economy is highly dependent on money sent home by members of the diaspora.
ActionAid in Somaliland
ActionAid began working with refugees fleeing from the Ethiopia-Somali war in 1980. More than 500,000 people died in the war, over a million people were displaced, and the disaster was compounded by severe famine.
In 1991, war and political instability forced us to suspend our work.
A year later, ActionAid resumed work in the Sanaag and Togdheer regions of Somaliland.
ActionAid Somaliland supports the basic needs and rights of poor people, particularly those affected by war and political instability.
We work closely with community-based organisations, using very few staff and the minimum of equipment. We work closely with the traditional clan chiefs and village committees, providing information and training to help them design and manage their own water, education, environmental care and animal health projects.
Asha Mohammed, 35, attended a training seminar on basic healthcare run by ActionAid Somalia. She says...
"The information we learnt was very helpful. After completing the course, I organised a meeting for all the villagers to raise their awareness on hygiene and sanitation and the importance of contacting medical people for help. Since then, incidences of respiratory problems, diarrhoea and dysentery have been reduced.
I am looking forward to more training to improve my ability to serve my people."
Essential Stats
| Somaliland | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3.5 million (2009) | 21.5 million (2009) |
| Area | 137,600 km2 | 7,703,581 km2 |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $20.18 billion (2009) | $970.6 billion (2009) |
| GDP per capita | $771 (2009) | $44,598 (2009) |
| Human Development Index | N/A | 0.965 (2009) |
| Life Expectancy (male/female) | 47 | 79/84 (2005-2010) |
| Adult Literacy % | 22 | 99 (1995-2005) |
Please Note: Statistics are from Somaliland sources: Somaliland Newspaper, Somaliland.org
