From loss to lifeline: How a diaspora-led, women-run charity brings hope to Somalia’s conflict survivors

By Insof Libon | Issue 27

Shadia smiles again after 11 surgeries through Restore Hope — pain-free and full of strength. Photo courtesy of SMAG

In Somalia, decades of conflict and fragile medical infrastructure have left millions without access to even basic healthcare. For many, treatable injuries often become lifelong disabilities or result in premature death. Somali Medical Aid Group (SMAG) was founded to offer hope and healing where healthcare is most out of reach.

SMAG was founded in 2023, during one of the worst conflicts in North Somalia’s history. My family was displaced by conflict that uprooted over 200,000 people after their homes, schools, hospitals and mosques were shelled. Amid the violence, my uncle was fatally shot. With no hospital nearby or access to basic medical supplies, he died. In those desperate moments, opportunists profited from families in crisis compounding the suffering and pain. I was unable to help my uncle but felt compelled to act and SMAG was created to respond with compassion and care.

Our mission is simple: to improve health outcomes in Somali communities often neglected, through sustainable medical interventions. We believe healthcare is a fundamental human right. Our work focuses on leveraging technology to advocate for individuals, build medical capacity in underserved areas and address health factors such as poverty and education, with a focus on women, children, and survivors of conflict.

Restore Hope, our flagship initiative, has become a lifeline for survivors of conflict. In partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the programme carves a medical corridor for Somali war victims to receive free, lifesaving and life changing reconstructive surgery in Jordan. The programme covers flights, visas and all medical treatment costs, and SMAG manages all in-country logistics including patient identification, assessments, referrals, travel coordination, physiotherapy and long-term follow-up. The programme has been extended for another two years, accepting 3 patients and their carers every month.

Our impact is best illustrated through individual stories.

Shadia, at 17, survived a devastating gunshot wound that entered behind her ear and exited through her face, shattering her jaw and leaving a gaping hole in her face. Without pain relief available and her body shaking from agony, she was driven 132 kilometres over rough roads for five hours to a major hospital in northern Somalia only to be turned away. She was then placed on a cargo plane to Mogadishu and taken to the city’s largest hospital. The staff instructed her family not to bring her out of the vehicle as nothing could be done for her. Bedridden, in pain and weighing just 40 kilograms, eating through a straw, she was referred to SMAG in 2023. We endlessly advocated for Shaida, contacting over 60 charities; only MSF generously offered to help. Since then, Shadia has undergone 11 complex surgeries, with a total stay of 10 months during her two trips to Jordan. Today, Shadia is, free from pain, able to eat, healthier, stronger and preparing for her final trip in September 2025, when surgeons will graft bone from her hip to restore her teeth and give her a new smile. She doesn’t cover her face anymore. This case was the catalyst of Restore Hope.

Abdiqani walks tall after years of trauma — restored mobility and renewed hope. Photo courtesy of SMAG

At just 13 years old, Abdiqani rural village in south Somalia, was overrun by armed gunmen. During the violence, he was severely beaten, sustaining hip trauma that went untreated for nearly four years. The injury led to chronic pain, limited mobility and a worsening infection that eventually destroyed part of his femur, leaving his leg shortened, his hip joint deformed and unable to walk. At 17, Abdiqani was referred to SMAG and accepted into the Restore Hope programme. Accompanied by a caretaker, he travelled to Jordan, where surgeons removed the infected bone and administered intensive antibiotic treatment, not available in Somalia. Now fitted with a custom brace, he has returned home to continue his recovery, supported by his family, pain-free, mobile and looking ahead to his future.

Despite the programme’s enormous success, delivering in Somalia presents unexpected challenges that erode the integrity of our humanitarian efforts and tragically denies life-saving treatment to individuals with severe injuries. Free medical intervention abroad is rare and often met with suspicion. Fear and concerns of exploitation and organ trafficking has led some families to discourage eligible patients from accepting much needed care. Local gatekeepers further complicate access, where self-appointed intermediaries demand payment for referrals to those unaware of the programme, exploiting and placing an additional burden on families already in crisis.

We have and continue to work hard to overcome these problems. Our local team has built and is working closely with community leaders, we’ve obtained certification from the Ministry and created patient peer groups to build confidence and trust. We also drive targeted social media campaigns to communicate that our programme is 100% free and invite direct applications through our website.

However, financial sustainability is a critical challenge we have not overcome. As a newly established organisation managing a transnational medical initiative, we face significant difficulty securing funding. At present our operations are fully self-financed, a model that, while effective in the short term, cannot support long-term growth or scale.

Looking ahead, we plan to launch a voice-enabled application process to reach low-literacy patients in rural areas. To address Somalia’s gap in professional physiotherapists, we aim to establish a local training centre and place graduates in at least 5 general hospitals. Through our Somali Digital Futures Programme, we work to support conflict survivors to rebuild their lives, offering digital skills training and employment pathways.

I’m very proud to be part of SMAG and what we have achieved. With sincerity, determination, and the tenacity to push forward despite challenges, Restore Hope continues to change lives. SMAG was forged in loss, but today it stands as a lifeline. With the right support and partnership, we can reach those still unseen and untreated. The need is urgent, the path is clear, and the opportunity to make a lasting difference is within reach.

Insof Libon

Insof is the founder of Somali Medical Aid Group (SMAG), a UK-registered, diaspora-led, women-run charity working to connect Somali patients with lifesaving medical interventions. SMAG partners with Médecins Sans Frontières to provide free reconstructive surgery to war victims and looks to expand access to healthcare through innovation and community trust. Website: www.smagroup.org | Facebook