There are an estimated 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in settlements across Puntland. Most of these IDPs are individuals fleeing natural disasters or conflict in South Central Somalia, who seek to use Puntland as a transit point before attempting to cross the Gulf of Aden to Yemen and beyond. The conditions in which these IDPs reside are notoriously abysmal, marked by high rates of child and infant mortality, grossly inadequate health facilities, and insufficient food, clean water, shelter and hygiene.

In such circumstances, Somali Family Services recognizes that providing IDPs with humanitarian and emergency assistance is only the first step, but not a long-term solution to their needs. In Garowe, for example, most adult IDPs lack the marketable skills needed to find employment, and are thus held back from gaining income that could potentially improve their living conditions. To respond to this need, Somali Family Services is currently implementing a UNHCR-supported project whose aim is to provide practical training in various marketable skills—including carpentering, plumbing, office management and tailoring—to 100 vulnerable IDPs in Garowe. The program seeks to further support the selected IDPs by giving them access to job counselling, skills development courses and financial literacy training. Once the training period is completed, SFS will utilize its connections with the business community and other employers to help place the IDPs in paid positions. The project thereby seeks to invest in the long-term wellbeing of Puntland’s IDPs at all levels.