Nairobi (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is distributing food and other items including the Quran during Ramadan to more than 5,000 detainees throughout Somalia.

“The holy month of Ramadan is significant for all Muslims and gives us an opportunity to remember that this period is also important to detainees in Somalia,” said Ahmed Zaroug, ICRC’s Protection Coordinator in Somalia. “We hope this assistance will help detainees observe the fast with dignity.”

Goat meat, milk powder, tea leaves, sugar and dates are being distributed. Some detainees will also be receiving a copy of the Quran. The Ramadan distribution, now in its third year, is happening in 29 places of detention.

ICRC teams visit prisons, police stations and state security agencies in countries around the world in an effort to secure humane and dignified treatment for persons deprived of liberty. Between January and March 2016 more than 3,000 detainees were visited across Somalia.

Detention visits are a historic part of the ICRC work around the world and date back to WWI where internment camps were visited with a view to improve conditions. They have since ranged from seeing thousands of prisoners of war in succeeding wars to visiting Nelson Mandela during his confinement. The visits remain a key component of ICRC’s diverse response to armed conflict and humanitarian emergencies.

An ICRC delegate talking to detainees in Somalia. The ICRC’s detention work ensures persons deprived of their freedom are treated humanely and with dignity. ©ICRC/Pedram Yazdi

Read more about our detention work in Somalia here.

For further information, please contact:

Pedram Yazdi, Nairobi : +254 700 888 131

Jason Straziuso, Nairobi: +254 733 622 026