Somali Geography and History

Somali Geography and History

Somalia is a long, the country located on Africa’s eastern coast that has a population of about

10 million . Mogadishu, the capital, lies along the coast of the Indian Ocean . Though scholars debate the origins of the Somali people and their arrival into present-day

Somalia, references to Somalia can be found

in ancient Egyptian and Greek texts. By the

12th century, clan families were established and

the widespread conversion to Islam had begun

(Putnam & Noor, 1999).

Since the mid-1800s, Somalia has faced periods

of divisiveness, including colonization by France

of the N

or

thwest region, Great Britain of the

North Central, Italy of the South, and Ethiopia

of the inland region of Ogaden. When colonial

powers determined the borders of the country

in the 19th century, many ethnic Somalis were

left out (in Ethiopia and Kenya), and this has

continued to be a source of conflict. Colonial

rule existed until 1960 when the Italian and

British areas were united into an independent

Somalia (Lewis, 1996).

Although the government of Somalia’s initially socialist republic had a better relationship with the

Soviet Union than with the U

nited S

tates, the government still encouraged democratic participation.

However, by the late 1960s, the government was widely considered corrupt and inefficient. Shortly

after the assassination of Somalia’s president in 1969, a coup led by General Mohammed Siad Barre

overthrew the civilian government. Barre then ruled Somalia for the next 22 years. Initially, Barre’s

rule was popular, but nepotism and lack of accountability lead to widespread inequality, which

was incompatible with Somali egalitarianism. Under Barre’s oppressive, autocratic rule, clan-based

opposition militias formed and were manipulated by Barre’s regime. In 1990, a full-scale civil war

broke out and ultimately led to Barre’s overthrow and exile in 1991, and to the disintegration

of the central government (Putnam & Noor, 1999). The civil war and ongoing clan violence have

handicapped the country’s infrastructure and economy.

Because of continued anarchy, clan warfare, and border disputes, civilians have suffered much

violence, including torture and rape. Additionally

, at least one million S

omalis have fled to the

neighboring countries of Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi, and Yemen, contributing significantly

to the large population of refugees in the Horn of Africa (Lewis, 1996). Currently, Somalia has

no stable central government, and numerous warlords and factions fight for control of the capital

and other regions of the country. An estimated 400,000 Somalis have died, and at least 45% of the

population has been displaced (Kemp & Rasbridge, 2004). Mortality among female children

is estimated to be 228 per 1000, and the average life expectancy for Somalis is 44 years (WHO, n.d.).

11

Promoting Cultural Sensitivity: Somali Guide

Suggestion

• Be aware that some Somalis may have experienced rape, torture,

or starvation. Some may be experiencing mental illness that could

complicate adherence to TB medication.

• When possible, attempt to match female patients with female

interpreters and health care providers.

This is especially important

when performing physical examinations.

Immigration and Resettlement to the United States

The first Somali immigrants to the United States, mostly sailors, arrived in the 1920s and settled

around New York. In the 1960s, Somali students began traveling to the United States, either

supported by government scholarships or by family members living in the country. In the mid­

1980s, small numbers were admitted as refugees; in the 1990s, the number of refugees increased

because of the civil war (Putnam & Noor, 1999). The U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement reports

that during 1983–2004, 55,036 S

omali r

efugees resettled in the United States. In 2004 alone, nearly

13,000 Somalis entered the country (U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement, 2004). Current estimates

of the number of Somali-born persons living in the United States range widely, from 35,760 (U.S.

Census Bureau, 2000) to 150,000 (Lehman & Eno, 2003). The majority of Somalis have settled in

Minnesota, California, Georgia, and Washington, D.C. (U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement, 2004).

Because most Somalis enter the United States as refugees, the government resettlement process

is r

elev

ant to TB control programs. Appendix F details specific TB screening procedures for refugee

resettlement, but other government programs are also worth noting. The Department of Health

and Human Services provides newly arrived refugees with transitional cash and medical assistance

and provides a range of social and health services to refugees who have resided in the United States

for fewer than five years. Employment services are the primary focus and include skills training, job

development, orientation to the workplace, and job counseling. Transitional cash assistance benefits

are provided to refugees on the basis of family composition: single adults and childless couples are

eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance for up to eight months after arrival, and families with children

are eligible for mainstream welfare for unemployed families for up to two years. In terms of health

benefits, singles and childless couples are eligible for Refugee Medical Assistance for their first eight

months in the United States, and families with minor children are covered by the Medicaid program.

Though states must meet certain federal requirements, they have flexibility in designing their

assistance programs; therefore, benefits and time limits vary by state