Children of the drought: Aden’s recovery

As Dr. Kader talked to a newly arrived family we noticed Aden, then three years old. He was vomiting and experiencing severe diarrhea. From his thin frame it was apparent that he was severely malnourished. Dr. Kader called immediately for an ambulance which rushed Aden to the stabilization ward for severely malnourished children at the IRC hospital in Hagadera camp, part of the Dadaab camp complex. Aden’s father Abdallah Ibrahim told us that they had just arrived in Dadaab from Somalia after walking for 25 days. His wife had died of starvation and exhaustion during the trek. Aden also became sick and his condition had worsened upon arriving in Dadaab. 

 

Fast forward one year. Today, Aden has completely recovered. He is a picture of health and is well cared for by his devoted father and grandmother. During the many weeks Aden was hospitalized they never left his side.  When Aden arrived in Dadaab he weighed 11 pounds. He now weighs 26 1/2 pounds and has been discharged from the IRC’s care.  Speaking to IRC staff who visited the family recently in their shelter in Dadaab, Abdallah is overjoyed at his son’s recovery. “I would like to thank the IRC for reviving my child. I am very happy,” he said.