OCHA Situation Report
Somalia: Flood
11 December 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Main Developments

Two WFP helicopters that have been stationed in Wajid for emergency 
airlift operations is about to be moved to Kismayo. This move will 
enable more efficient delivery of desperately needed relief supplies 
into Lower/Middle Juba, where many villages remain isolated, 
inaccessible by road.

Developments Along the Shabelle River

Jowhar (Middle Shabelle) - Despite reduced rains, several areas are 
still cut off by expanding waters and the humanitarian situation remains 
critical. Transport conditions continue to deteriorate. Villages in east 
Jowhar remain largely isolated There is serious concern about increased 
rates of water-borne diseases. MSF-Spain has confirmed an increase of 
malaria and both watery and bloody diarrhea. Food supplies continue to 
be inadequate and local authorities are requesting food aid. UNICEF has 
begun distributing plastic sheets, jerry cans and blankets for 600 
families still isolated in the eastern villages of Jowhar. Using UNICEF 
supplies, Middle Shabelle Education Umbrella completed the distribution 
of 223 emergency education kits for G1-G4 to 42 flood-affected primary 
schools in Jowhar.

Congo / Bulo-sheik (Middle Shabelle) - In response to major health 
concerns related to standing water, UNICEF has decided to accelerate 
rehabilitation of water sources in these two villages, where more than 
700 IDP families are living.

Balad (Middle Shabelle) - UNICEF has begun to distribute NFIs to 21 
villages in the district, while INTERSOS is providing 2200 ITNs supplied 
by UNICEF.

Developments Along the Juba River

Jilib - UNICEF has distributed NFIs and ITNs to 4,657 families in 30 
villages of Jilib district. The second phase of UNICEF's planned 
intervention will target the remaining 5,020 families out of the 9,677 
identified as flood-affected by the rapid needs assessment conducted in 
late November. Muslim Aid/WHO have 2 mobile teams in Jilib for 
healthcare support.

Jamame (Lower Juba) - The river is still overflowing, with the exception 
of two breakages (Far Aweys and Degay Mofi), which mark the connection 
points of the Juba and Shabelle rivers. (Water from the Shabelle is 
continuing to enter the Juba.) Also of concern in Jamame is the fact 
that large amounts of water are reportedly coming from the north eastern 
province of Kenya, through Laag Dheer river. Field reports from Afmadow 
state that Laag Dheer is full and continuing to flow towards the Juba 
valley, overflowing onto the tarmac road between Jamame and Kismayo. 
This has left farms on the east bank of the Juba cut off and is 
threatening villages on both sides of the river. In terms of flood 
response, UNICEF has distributed ITNs and NFIs in 7 villages in Jamame 
district. UNICEF, with Juba Shine, has also distributed 50,000 sand bags 
for flood protection in 21 villages on west banks of the river. Two of 
the villages - Zanguni and Arare - were flooded regardless. 
MuslimAid/WHO have 3 mobile teams in Jamame for healthcare support.

Funding

Under the HRF, NGO Horn Relief has been funded for US$249,959 to provide 
NFIs to 6,200 flood-affected households in Afmadow.

Information

All partners operational in flood-affected regions are encouraged to 
access on-line SWALIM and UNOSAT maps and to print these maps as needed 
for distribution in the field.

http://www.faoswalim.org/viewpage.php?PageID=bf88c2a7f49ef5e5d35f474df4464d25


http://unosat.web.cern.ch/unosat/asp/prod_free.asp?id=28

For further information, contact:

Molly McCloskey or Rita Maingi at +254 (20) 375 4150-5

Agencies and partners are encouraged to send updates and information 
from field reports to: Matthew Olins olins@un.org and Molly McCloskey 
mccloskeym@un.org

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