OCHA Situation Report
Somalia: Flood
18 December 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Main Developments

The forecast for the coming week is for light to moderate rains in both 
Juba and Shabelle catchments within Somalia and for minimal/no rains in 
the Ethiopian highlands. Observed river levels at Beletweyne and Bulo 
Burti (Hiran) increased over the last week due to rains in the Ethiopian 
highlands. Levels at the lower reaches of both rivers are expected to 
remain high due to in-country rainfall and risk of flooding remains.

An increase in food insecurity is being reported (OCHA) in parts of Bay 
region, particularly Qansahdhere district and Berdale and Ufurow 
villages. Agropastoralist households (numbers unknown) in these areas 
are said to have fled their farms in the past week due to fear of 
conflict and to be facing food shortages. There are also reports of 
deteriorating health conditions in some districts of Bay and Bakool 
regions because of recent rains and resulting poor sanitary conditions 
(particularly deterioration of water points). There have been reports of 
increasing cases of watery diarrhea and malaria in Bay (Baidoa, Berdale 
and Qansahdhere) and Bakool (Hudur and Elbarde). Poor road conditions in 
Bakool and increasing tension in Bay is limiting humanitarian access to 
the districts, although UNICEF has distributed family relief kits to 
IDPs/evicted families in Baidoa town, and other agencies (eg, CONCERN) 
are planning to distribute tents to the same population.

Food distribution is ongoing in riverine districts of the Shabelle. WFP 
is distributing 888mt targeting 45,000 people in Jowhar, Mahadey and 
Balad (Middle Shabelle) and 950mt targeting 48,000 people in Lower 
Shabelle. Meanwhile, CARE has completed distribution of 1,511mt of food 
to 12,939hhs in Beletweyne and Buloburti districts of Hiran. Through a 
combination of improved access and planned airdrops, it is expected that 
the delivery of food assistance to the more difficult to reach areas 
will improve.

Given increasing concern about water-borne diseases, water and 
sanitation interventions and healthcare to prevent and/or treat such 
diseases remain prioritized. Geographical and response priorities were 
identified by the Flood Working Group in Nairobi on 15 December as 
follows:

1) Jilib (Middle Juba): water and sanitation; NFIs; health

2) Jamame (Lower Juba): water and sanitation; NFIs; health

3) Lower Juba non-riverine districts of Afmadow, Hagar and Badhadhe: 
food; NFIs; water and sanitation; health

4) Middle Shabelle: Water and sanitation; health; in districts northeast 
and northwest of Jowhar and in Balad, food is considered the highest 
priority.

5) Southern Gedo (Bardera district): water and sanitation; NFIs; health

6) Lower Shabelle: water and sanitation; NFIs (shelter, kitchen 
utensils); health; livestock vaccines

7) Hiran: water and sanitation; health; livestock vaccines

Developments Along the Shabelle River

Jowhar (Middle Shabelle) - Sporadic rains in Jowhar are reportedly 
continuing to worsen conditions of all incoming and outgoing roads to 
Jowhar. The rehabilitation by the ICU of the tarmac road to Mogadishu 
(supported by UNICEF) is ongoing, although hampered by rain. Meanwhile, 
the road from Jowhar to Beletweyne remains cut off, severely limiting 
movement for the entire central regions. Access to the west villages of 
Jowhar remains difficult.

Wanleweyn (Lower Shabelle) - Muslim Aid reports increased flooding as of 
the end of last week in several villages and farmlands in the eastern 
part of Wanleweyn district. Inhabitants are reportedly leaving their 
villages and the flood water is threatening to reach the tarmac road to 
Mogadishu.

Qoryooley (Lower Shabelle) - Despite river embankments and canals being 
fortified with sandbags, flooding conditions are said to be worsening 
and access deteriorating in the villages of Gaywarow, Haduman, Bandar, 
Adimole, Majabto and Murale.

Kurtunwarey (Lower Shabelle) - In Kurtunwarey district, river breakages 
are resulting in water flowing to the villages of Kobertibo, Bula Haji 
and Mustaqbal. The populations of these villages are reportedly moving 
to escape the flood water. On 17 December, CONCERN distributed 7000 
sandbags to reinforce weak spots of the river bank at various sites in 
Kurtunwarey district. Meanwhile, two shallow wells dug by CONCERN in 
Muruqmal village have been destroyed by rains.

Developments Along the Juba River

Jilib/Jamame (Middle/Lower Juba) - Downstream river levels are still 
very high and inflow is reportedly continuing from the Laaq Dheer river 
in Kenya and from the east as a result of the Juba's confluence with the 
Shabelle. Any rain in the coming days or weeks will exacerbate the 
situation in Jilib and Jamame districts.

Funding

To date, over US$5 million has been pledged against the Flood Response 
Plan appeal, launched in Geneva on 6 December. The contributions will 
come from the governments of the Netherlands and Norway and from the US 
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). On 14 December, the 2007 
CAP for Somalia was launched in Nairobi. The CAP does not encompass 
flood-response activities. However, based on the flood response that 
agencies are able to implement in early 2007, the CAP will be revised to 
reflect evolving needs.

Information and Coordination

The 3W - a database collecting flood-response information on which 
organizations are carrying out which activities in which locations - is 
now operational on the OCHA website: http://ochaonline.un.org/somalia. 
With regard to the different clusters' response, the 3W includes project 
descriptions and status, target beneficiaries, implementing partners and 
funding details.

SWALIM and UNOSAT maps of flood-affected regions are available at: 
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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