Hudur/Elbarde, Somalia – Communities in Somalia’s Bakool region have received critical relief after 28 metric tons of medical supplies were airlifted to Hudur and Elbarde, two towns long cut off from reliable access to healthcare due to insecurity and impassable roads.
The delivery, coordinated with support from the Logistics Cluster, ensures that Action Against Hunger Somalia can continue running health facilities that serve thousands of vulnerable families. The supplies include essential medicines, therapeutic food for malnourished children, and equipment for maternal and child health services.
Health officials in Hudur and Elbarde say the operation could not have come at a more urgent time.
“Our clinics were on the verge of shutting down because we could not replenish stocks. This airlift means mothers can deliver safely, children can be treated, and preventable deaths can be avoided,” one medical officer explained.
Road networks linking the region to major supply hubs remain blocked by poor infrastructure and insecurity, making air transport the only viable means of sustaining humanitarian operations. Residents, many of whom walk long distances to reach the nearest clinic, welcomed the news with relief.
Humanitarian partners warned, however, that the temporary reprieve underscores a deeper crisis. Without long-term investments in secure road access and stronger local health systems, lifesaving services will remain dependent on costly air operations.
For now, the newly delivered supplies will keep facilities running for several months, providing a vital buffer as Somalia grapples with overlapping challenges of conflict, displacement, and climate-driven shocks.