There's more to Somalia than piracy

The chief of Malay-lay village in southern Somalia says there's been fewer water-related diseases since Mercy Corps built a well there. In the past, women and children walked as far as six kilometers to get water for their drinking, cooking and cleaning needs. Photo: Mohammed Jama/Mercy Corps

You've probably been following the recent news about pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia.

Nearly everyone agrees that the root of the problem isn't at sea, but on shore. Somalia is a failed state. More than three million people — a third of the country — are in need of humanitarian assistance. Only one in four girls attends school.

We remain committed to working in Somalia and in other places where violence, hunger and dire poverty can seem overwhelming. But we need your help to do it.

Our work in Somalia includes:

• distributing seeds and farm tools to poor farmers;
• showing veterinarians new ways to keep livestock healthy;
• creating revolving loan funds for women who sell milk in local markets and want to expand their businesses.

It takes a lot of work to turn a desperate situation around — but we've been helping conflict-shattered communities meet their biggest challenges for almost 30 years.

Please show your commitment to families struggling against the odds in places like Somalia with a generous donation today. Your support means everything.