Somalia

1. Somalia

2. Background continued… • Under United States law a refugee is an individual who: • Is located outside of the United States • Is of special humanitarian concern to the United States • Demonstrates that they were persecuted or fear persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group • Is not firmly resettled in another country • Is admissible to the United States

3. Background continued… Only 12, 000 of them are from Africa -Even fewer are from Somalia Civil war cost the lives of over 20,000 men and displaced over 300,000 people World Health Organization Statistics: Population of Somalia: 8.5 million Child Deaths Under 5: 145 per 1000 Life Expectancy: 54/males 56/females

4. Background continued… • 10 years or more living in a refugee camp, most likely in Kenya. Some of the camps have 80,000 people in them • The current government in Somalia is unstable and transitional. • Somalia's desire to unify into a greater Somalia is unpopular with its Kenyan and Ethiopian neighbors. • Currently, a full 60% of Somalia’s population is nomadic, raising animals such as cattle and sheep.

5. Background Traditionally nomads and seafarers The effects of modernization resulted in a population shift into urban areas Widespread civil unrest has caused many to flee to the Middle East, Europe, the U.S., and Canada Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the U.S. Few natural resources exist in Somalia Although some oil, gas and marketable minerals can be found, none have been exploited today because of internal strife and political turmoil.

6. Background continued… Traditionally, Somali people are socially organized into clans Clans play an important role in politics and culture; families are Patrilineal Marriages play an important role in clan alliances

7. Background continued… • Men traditionally have the most political and social power • Men make political decisions democratically in counsels • With recent changes in social dynamics, women have been incorporated into social life at a greater level • In general, Somali women participate in society, get an education, and may travel without presence of husband

8. Somalia's political Information Political history that has put Somalia into current position. Current political situation United States policy on Somalia Emergency programs for Somalia that the United States participates in

9. Belief systems • Beliefs • Islam • No pork • Only properly “clean” or “Halal” foods can be consumed • Holidays • Ramadan: fasting during the day, etc • Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca. Feed the poor

10. Health Concerns • Health concerns in Africa • Marasmus: deficiencies caused by severe undernutrition. • Kwashiorkor: illness caused by protein deficiency. Health concerns in Colorado • Potential calcium deficiencies caused by lowered intake of milk. • Fresh, tasty vegetables are not easily accessible which can lead other deficiencies prevented by nutrient rich vegetables

11. Food in Somalia • Meat • Goats, cows, chickens, camel • Vegetables • Potatoes, onions, peas, carrots, lettuce • Salads: lettuce, cabbage, cilantro, lime dressing • Milk • Goats, cows, camel • Grain • Rice, corn, sorghum • Ingera: a bread made from flour

12. Food in Colorado • Meats • Cow, chicken • Greatly disliked from fat concentration • Vegetables • Mostly the same • Organic tastes best, but is very expensive • Milk • Cow • Disliked because of the taste • Grain • Wheat, rice

13. Problems with American Food Prefer organically grown produce but are expensive Meat higher in fat School Lunches Fast Food Availability of usual foods

14. We would like to dearly thank the members of the East African Community of Colorado for being willing to share their culture with us. A special thank you to Fatima for preparing a traditional African dish for us to sample.