[LOWER JUBA / kismayo] — 16 march 2025 — In a vital effort to safeguard displaced communities, a dedicated team from the Mercy Health Initiative (MHI) recently visited the New Qaam Qaam Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp to launch a comprehensive Protection Awareness Campaign.
The visit comes at a critical time for families living in the New Qaam Qaam settlement, many of whom have been uprooted by harsh environmental conditions and regional instability. Recognizing that displacement often increases the risk of exploitation and abuse, the MHI team stepped in to ensure that the physical health and fundamental human rights of the camp's residents are equally protected.
During the visit, the MHI team engaged directly with camp elders, women, and youth groups. The campaign focused on several key pillars of humanitarian protection, including the prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), child safeguarding, and educating residents on their basic human rights.
"Health is not just the absence of disease; it is the presence of physical, mental, and social well-being, which is impossible without safety and dignity," said Aisha wali, Protection Coordinator at Mercy Health Initiative. "Our goal at the New Qaam Qaam camp is to empower the most vulnerable—especially women and children—by equipping them with the knowledge to protect themselves and providing them with clear pathways to seek help when needed."
Key activities conducted during the campaign included:
Interactive Community Dialogues: Open forums where camp residents could voice their safety concerns and learn about community-based protection strategies.
GBV Awareness and Prevention: specialized sessions aimed at recognizing, preventing, and reporting gender-based violence, alongside establishing referral pathways for survivors to receive medical and psychosocial support.
Child Protection Workshops: Educating parents and caregivers on the importance of keeping children safe from exploitation, child labor, and early marriage in the camp environment.
Distribution of Informational Materials: Providing accessible, native-language resources detailing where to find emergency help, health services, and legal support.
Camp residents welcomed the initiative, noting the positive impact of the MHI team’s presence. "Living in an IDP camp brings many fears, especially for our daughters and young children," shared hawa nunow, a community leader at the New Qaam Qaam camp. "This campaign has opened our eyes. We now know that we have rights, and we know who to contact when those rights are threatened."
The Mercy Health Initiative views this campaign as part of a long-term commitment to the New Qaam Qaam community. By integrating protection awareness with their ongoing primary healthcare services, MHI is working to build a more resilient, informed, and secure environment for all displaced individuals.
MHI continues to call upon international donors, local authorities, and partner NGOs to increase their focus on both the health and protection sectors, ensuring that displaced populations are not left behind.
The visit comes at a critical time for families living in the New Qaam Qaam settlement, many of whom have been uprooted by harsh environmental conditions and regional instability. Recognizing that displacement often increases the risk of exploitation and abuse, the MHI team stepped in to ensure that the physical health and fundamental human rights of the camp's residents are equally protected.
During the visit, the MHI team engaged directly with camp elders, women, and youth groups. The campaign focused on several key pillars of humanitarian protection, including the prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), child safeguarding, and educating residents on their basic human rights.
"Health is not just the absence of disease; it is the presence of physical, mental, and social well-being, which is impossible without safety and dignity," said Aisha wali, Protection Coordinator at Mercy Health Initiative. "Our goal at the New Qaam Qaam camp is to empower the most vulnerable—especially women and children—by equipping them with the knowledge to protect themselves and providing them with clear pathways to seek help when needed."
Key activities conducted during the campaign included:
Interactive Community Dialogues: Open forums where camp residents could voice their safety concerns and learn about community-based protection strategies.
GBV Awareness and Prevention: specialized sessions aimed at recognizing, preventing, and reporting gender-based violence, alongside establishing referral pathways for survivors to receive medical and psychosocial support.
Child Protection Workshops: Educating parents and caregivers on the importance of keeping children safe from exploitation, child labor, and early marriage in the camp environment.
Distribution of Informational Materials: Providing accessible, native-language resources detailing where to find emergency help, health services, and legal support.
Camp residents welcomed the initiative, noting the positive impact of the MHI team’s presence. "Living in an IDP camp brings many fears, especially for our daughters and young children," shared hawa nunow, a community leader at the New Qaam Qaam camp. "This campaign has opened our eyes. We now know that we have rights, and we know who to contact when those rights are threatened."
The Mercy Health Initiative views this campaign as part of a long-term commitment to the New Qaam Qaam community. By integrating protection awareness with their ongoing primary healthcare services, MHI is working to build a more resilient, informed, and secure environment for all displaced individuals.
MHI continues to call upon international donors, local authorities, and partner NGOs to increase their focus on both the health and protection sectors, ensuring that displaced populations are not left behind.
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