Italian refugee worker honoured

Italian refugee worker honoured

Annalena Tonelli runs a 200-bed hospital

A 60-year-old Italian woman who has spent more than three decades working with Somali refugees has been honoured by the United Nations.

Annalena Tonelli has been named winner of an award which recognises exceptional work among refugees.

Doctor Tonelli, who trained as a lawyer, accepts no payment for her work, and has adopted a simple lifestyle within the refugee community.

For the last six years she has been based in the self-autonomous republic of Somaliland, in north-west Somalia, where she runs a 200-bed hospital. She has also worked across the border in Kenya.

Doctor Tonelli lives a modest life, eating the same food she gives her patients and she owns no property

Ruud Lubbers
UN High Commissioner for Refugees

She describes her life as one of "radical poverty" - choosing to live with the poor in order to be effective among them.

The UN says she has organised anti-tuberculosis clinics, a school for the deaf, and visits by German surgeons which have restored the sight of more than 3,700 people.

She has also worked to raise awareness of HIV/Aids and the harmful effects of female genital mutilation (FGM), which is practised widely by Somali communities.

Children at the school for the deaf are learning sign language

"Doctor Tonelli lives a modest life, eating the same food she gives her patients and she owns no property," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ruud Lubbers.

"Over the past three decades, and particularly in these troubled and rapidly changing times, her quiet devotion to helping those in need is living proof that individuals can still make a tremendous difference."

The award she has received, the annual Nansen Refugee Award - named after the Norwegian polar explorer - was created in 1954.

Doctor Tonelli works independently of any organisation, describing her life as one of "pure joy" rather than sacrifice.

Hundreds of thousands of Somali people have fled their homes since the removal of President Muhammad Siad Barre in 1991 after 22 years of dictatorial rule.

Since then, Somalia has had no effective central government.