Restoring Hope in Baarka IDP Camp in Somalia: How DRC’s Referral System Saved a Life

For Fatuma, a 24-year-old mother of five in the Baarka IDP camp in Belet-Hawo, Somalia, the weight of daily survival is immense. She juggles the demands of raising her children in a camp where resources are limited, and life is filled with uncertainty. But recently, her greatest fear became a painful reality—her two-year-old child fell seriously ill with a prolonged case of diarrhea. Despite her best efforts, his health continued to decline.

“I felt so helpless,” Fatuma shared. “I tried everything I knew to help him, but nothing worked. He was getting weaker every day, and I didn’t know what to do.” Fatuma’s situation was desperate. Her child’s illness had left him fragile and weak, and without access to proper medical care, she feared the worst. But just as her hope was beginning to fade, a lifeline arrived. Thanks to the Community-Based Protection Committees (CBPC)established by Danish Refugee Council, her child’s condition was identified as an urgent case.

The CBPCs are an integral part of DRC’s community-based protection strategy. The committees consist of community members, including women and men, youth, and elders, who are trained to identify and respond to protection risks within their own communities. They engage with the community and act as intermediaries between the displaced populations and humanitarian actors, ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable individuals are heard and addressed.

In Fatuma’s case, the CBPC connected her to Danish Refugee Council, which referred her child to Trocaire, a healthcare organization working in Somalia. With DRC’s assistance, the referral ensured that her child could get the specialized treatment he needed to recover.

The referral process, while straightforward, was life-saving in its impact. Members of the CBPC play a vital role in identifying protection risks, raising awareness about critical issues, and facilitating referrals for individuals in need of support. This grassroots approach fosters community-led protection efforts and strengthens resilience among displaced populations.

“When DRC staff reached out to me, I was so relieved,” Fatuma said. “It wasn’t just help—they showed me that my child mattered, that there were people ready to step in when I couldn’t do it alone.”

Through SIDA’s support, DRC has been able to expand its referral network, reaching families like Fatuma’s who might not otherwise know where to turn. The CBPCs, actively look for those in need and connect them to services that can make an immediate difference.

For Fatuma, the referral not only helped her child recover but also gave her a renewed sense of hope. “I didn’t know that help could come in this way,” she said. “Knowing there is a system like this—that there are people who see us and care about what we are going through—gave me strength.”

The outcome was life-changing. Within days of the referral, her child began receiving the medical care he desperately needed. The journey to recovery was gradual, but Fatuma saw improvements day by day, and her child’s strength began to return. Now, she can watch him play again, his small face smiling as he regains his health.

The CBPCs also play a crucial role in organizing community events, training sessions, and awareness campaigns on topics such as child protection, GBV prevention, and psychosocial support. They are also tasked with fostering peaceful coexistence between displaced persons and host communities. Their work ensures that interventions are contextually relevant, culturally appropriate, and responsive to the needs of the community.