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“Face of the famine” baby, Minhaj, before and after


November 10, 2011
By Sophia Jones-Mwangi

Left: Baby Minhaj Gedi Farah, one week after he arrived at the IRC hospital emaciated and at the brink of death. Right: A chubby-cheeked and playful Minhaj two months after leaving the hospital.

Photo: (L) Peter Biro/IRC (R) Photo: IRC
DADAAB, Kenya -

Baby Minhaj: Face of hope amid famine

  • Severly malnoutished baby Minhaj Gedi Farah
  • <p>Minhaj, two months after leaving the hospital. He&#39;s the picture of health at more than 17 pounds (8 kilos) -- nearly normal for a boy his age.</p>
  • <p>When Minhaj first arrived at the hospital, he was not only malnourished but also severely&nbsp; anemic.&nbsp; It took three life-saving blood transfusions and weeks of intensive feeding with Plumpy&rsquo;nut, a vitamin-enriched peanut paste, before his condition stabilized and he could be released.&nbsp; Afterward, Minhaj was treated for tuberculosis in an IRC outpatient program.</p>
  • Minhaj with his mother, Assiyah Dagane Osman, in the IRC hospital
  • Minhaj with his mother, Assiyah Dagane Osman
  • Dr. John Kiogora holds baby Minhaj outside the IRC's Dadaab hospital
  • Minhaj with IRC nutrition nurse Sirat Amin.
Launch Slideshow

In refugee camps in Dadaab, northeastern Kenya, the IRC aids Somalis who have fled a devastating drought and gives fortified food to malnourished young children. One of these children —  skeletal seven-month-old Minhaj Gedi Farah — became the face of the famine for millions who followed his progress in the news. Today, three months after leaving the IRC's hospital, the chubby-cheeked little boy has become a face of hope amid the crisis.

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When seven-month-old Minhaj Gedi Farah was admitted to the International Rescue Committee’s hospital in the Dadaab refugee complex in July, he was dying.

Minhaj’s emaciated little body was shown in media throughout the world. He came to signify the plight of thousands of refugee children fleeing famine-devastated Somalia.  

Weighing just 3.1 kilograms (6.83 pounds), Minhaj was not only suffering from malnourishment but was severely anemic.  It was touch and go as to whether the baby would survive -- his family had given up all hope.

After three life-saving blood transfusions and intensive feeding with Plumpy’nut, a vitamin-enriched peanut paste, Minhaj reached 4.1kgs (9.03 pounds) and was released from the hospital. He was then treated for tuberculosis in an IRC outpatient program. 

Today, three months after he was released, Minhaj is unrecognizable. His mother, Assiyah Dagane Osman, recently brought the plump-cheeked baby back to the hospital’s malnutrition unit to visit the IRC doctors and nurses who had saved his life. She was overjoyed and extremely grateful. “I am very happy with the treatment he received,” she told them. ”He is doing very well.” 

As Dr. Humphrey Musyoka and head nurse-nutritionist Sirat Amin examined him, Minhaj giggled and laughed, clearly enjoying all the attention he was receiving.   At nearly 8 kilograms (17.64 pounds), Minhaj’s weight was almost normal for a little boy his age.

“We can’t express how we felt when we saw him again,” Sirat said. “We saw a completely different child.” 
 
 
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