Hawa Abdi, 2013 Somali physician Hawa Abdi's memoir, Keeping Hope Alive (2013), recounts her experiences leading Hope Village, which provided refuge for about 90,000 people during the Somali Civil War. (more) Hawa Abdi Somalian physician, lawyer, and activist Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hawa-Abdi Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Hawa Abdi Dhiblawe Written by Nicholas Gisonna Nick Gisonna started writing online in 2010 on his own website writing reviews of burgers and diners in New Jersey. Since then, he has contributed to video game, movie, and heavy metal sites across the... Nicholas Gisonna Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Feb 11, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Quick Facts In full: Hawa Abdi Dhiblawe (Show more) Born: May 28, 1947, Mogadishu, Somalia (Show more) Died: August 5, 2020, Mogadishu (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Who was Hawa Abdi? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Abdi was a Somali physician, lawyer, community leader, and human rights activist known for providing safe shelter, schools, and health care for internally displaced people during the Somali Civil War." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What inspired Hawa Abdi to become a physician? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Abdi was inspired to become a physician after witnessing the compassion and dedication of doctors during her motheru2019s difficult pregnancy, which ultimately led to her motheru2019s death." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation is an organization that grew from a small clinic opened by Abdi in order to assist women with childbirth and provide health care for children. The foundation oversaw the growth of the clinic and continues to conduct humanitarian work in Somalia." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How did Hawa Abdi handle militantsu2019 takeover of her camp in 2010? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Abdi refused to surrender management of her hospital to the militants and was placed under house arrest. Eventually, the militants ceded control back to her and wrote an apology letter." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What recognition did Hawa Abdi receive for her humanitarian work? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Abdi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012, awarded the John Jay Medal for Justice, and honored by Black Entertainment Television (BET) during the 2012 Black Girls Rock! Awards show. Harvard University presented her with an honorary doctorate in 2017." } } ] } Top Questions Who was Hawa Abdi? Abdi was a Somali physician, lawyer, community leader, and human rights activist known for providing safe shelter, schools, and health care for internally displaced people during the Somali Civil War.

　　What inspired Hawa Abdi to become a physician? Abdi was inspired to become a physician after witnessing the compassion and dedication of doctors during her mother’s difficult pregnancy, which ultimately led to her mother’s death.

　　What is the Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation? The Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation is an organization that grew from a small clinic opened by Abdi in order to assist women with childbirth and provide health care for children. The foundation oversaw the growth of the clinic and continues to conduct humanitarian work in Somalia.

　　How did Hawa Abdi handle militants’ takeover of her camp in 2010? Abdi refused to surrender management of her hospital to the militants and was placed under house arrest. Eventually, the militants ceded control back to her and wrote an apology letter.

　　What recognition did Hawa Abdi receive for her humanitarian work? Abdi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012, awarded the John Jay Medal for Justice, and honored by Black Entertainment Television (BET) during the 2012 Black Girls Rock! Awards show. Harvard University presented her with an honorary doctorate in 2017.

　　Hawa Abdi (born May 28, 1947, Mogadishu, Somalia—died August 5, 2020, Mogadishu) was a Somali physician, lawyer, community leader, and human rights activist. Amid the dangerous landscape of the Somali Civil War, Abdi organized a safe shelter, school, and clinical camp for internally displaced people, which grew into a city-sized community. Abdi’s father was a port worker in Mogadishu, the Somali capital. When Abdi was a child, she accompanied her mother to a hospital and was impressed by the doctors’ compassion and dedication to those in need. Abdi later said that she chose to become a physician so that other ...(100 of 829 words)

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