Somali hospitals have no food

Hospitals in famine and drought stricken Somalia have cooks but no food to cook for patients.***

MOGADISHU - Mehmet Tosun

Hundreds of patients staying in Somali's biggest hospitals in capital Mogadishu, "Medine" and "Banadir", lose lives due to lack of food items.
While the hospitals have cooks, there is no food to cook.
Patients in these two hospitals receive soup made of flour and corn occasionally but their companions wait at the door without food and water.
Having noticed the food problem in the hospitals, the Turkish Religious Foundation (TDV) provides food items to the hospitals.
TDV provided 500 parcels of food items to the Medine Hospital.
TDV also provided food items to the Banadir Hospital that could be turned into meals for 1,500 people.
TDV's parcels include liquid oil, flour, pasta, sugar, milk powder, and baby food. The recipients of the parcels are extremely happy.
Speaking to the AA, TDV's Aid Coordinator in Somalia, Mehmet Sukru Eroglu, said that "as a foundation, we watch the situation in the hospitals closely".
"The number of patients in hospitals constantly grows due to famine and diseases. The patients need food in order to recover. Their companions wait outside and they also need food. Our food assistance will help the patients and their companions," Eroglu said.
The patients receive meals made out of flour and corn from time to time. Such meals are not adequate for the patients to get better. Based on our agreements with the hospitals, we will provide food assistance to patients even after they get discharged from the hospital, Eroglu said.
Hospitals will receive support from the TDV until the economy gets better in Somalia, Eroglu said.

-Situation in the biggest hospital-
Somalia's biggest hospital, Medine, hosts hundreds of patients. Protected by soldiers, the hospital carries marks of the almost two decades long civil war. Most walls have been damaged in the hospital while the equipment being utilized is outdated. There is only one ambulance at the hospital.
The hospital has three tents in its garden for patients with diseases and their companions.
Surgeries in Medine Hospital take place in conditions not completely sterile.
The hospital has cooks but no food to cook.
Patients are admitted into the hospital by a guard waiting at the entrance.
The hospital's iron doors get locked by the guard once a patient enters the hospital.