US Agency for International Development
Somalia: Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #2 (FY 2004)
17 September 2004


Note: This report updates Somalia Fact Sheet #1 dated March 31, 2004.

BACKGROUND

Since the collapse of Muhammad Siad Barre's government in January 1991, 
Somalia has existed without an internationally recognized national 
government and suffered from outbreaks of armed conflict between rival 
clan groups. For the 13th consecutive year, Somalia faces a complex 
emergency as ongoing civil strife in the south and central regions and 
increasing violence in the north have disrupted agricultural and market 
activity, limited basic health and social services, strained household 
coping mechanisms, and severely restricted humanitarian access.

Years of widespread violence, combined with extreme poverty, have resulted 
in the migration of approximately 400,000 refugees to neighboring Kenya, 
Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Yemen. In addition, an estimated 350,000 
internally displaced persons (IDPs) are dependent on humanitarian 
assistance to meet basic needs, according to the 2004 U.N. Consolidated 
Appeals Process (CAP).

Due to successive rainfall failures, the Togdheer, Sool, Sanaag, and Nugal 
regions of northern Somalia face serious drought and/or livelihood 
conditions. Below average rainfall has diminished available grazing lands 
and drinking water in pastoralist areas, causing livestock health and 
productivity to deteriorate. The poor performance of the livestock sector 
is exacerbated by reduced remittances from overseas, unchecked inflation, 
cross-border trade restrictions from Ethiopia, and livestock export bans 
imposed on Somalia and other countries in the Horn of Africa by several 
Persian Gulf countries. As an estimated 60 percent of all Somalis are 
pastoralists, the continuing decline in the livestock sector indicates a 
potential livelihoods crisis for the majority of the population.

For 2004, U.N. agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working 
in Somalia appealed for $119.1 million in emergency, food, and development 
assistance through the CAP for vulnerable Somalis including IDPs, 
returnees, and women and children.

Numbers at a Glance
Total Affected Population     700,000 to 900,000      Source: Revised CAP,
June 2004
Total Number of IDPs    300,000 to 370,000      Source: Revised CAP, June
2004
Somali Refugees   350,000     Source: Revised CAP, June 2004

Total USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance in FY 2004: $4,274,262
Total USG Humanitarian Assistance in FY 2004: $27,824,362


CURRENT SITUATION

Ongoing Insecurity and Limited Humanitarian Access

According to the CAP Mid-Year Review, humanitarian conditions in Somalia 
remain precarious. The security situation in Somalia has deteriorated 
throughout the year, hampering relief efforts countrywide. Violence and 
armed conflict has continued in much of southern and central Somalia, 
while the murder of four aid workers between October 2003 and March 2004 
in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in the north, led to new 
operational restrictions on U.N. agencies and NGOs. Due to security 
concerns, humanitarian access in some critical areas was further limited. 
Nevertheless, aid agencies continued to work in Somalia and even 
intensified activities where possible.

In May, inter-clan fighting in Gedo Region displaced between 3,000 and 
3,500 people and caused hundreds of refugees to cross into Mandera, Kenya. 
Also in May, fighting between rival militia groups in Mogadishu left an 
estimated 60 people dead and thousands more displaced. In August, more 
than 20 people were killed due to factional fighting in Bay Region. 
Recently, humanitarian agencies have scaled down operations as tensions 
increased in southern Somalia over control of Kismayo port.

In August, the U.N. Security Council extended the mandate of the 
Nairobi-based Monitoring Group for an additional six months to allow for 
continued monitoring of violations of the 12-year arms embargo on Somalia.

Drought Conditions Spread throughout Somalia

According to USAID's Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET), near 
failure of the main season Gu rains has exacerbated a serious humanitarian 
situation as drought conditions spread beyond the northern regions to 
central Somalia. In August, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's 
(FAO) Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) issued preliminary findings from 
a post-Gu food security, nutrition, and livelihood security assessment, 
which confirmed previous early warnings that pockets of severe food 
insecurity existed throughout Somalia.

According to FSAU's August report, livestock losses in northeast Somalia 
ranged from 60 percent for sheep and goats to 80 percent for camels due to 
environmental conditions and degraded rangelands.

Southern agricultural areas of Somalia face one of the worst cereal 
production years since 1995. FEWS NET reports that drought conditions have 
spread to Bari, Nugal, Mudug, and Galgaduud regions, which has affected 
the agricultural areas of the lower Juba Valley, northern Gedo, and parts 
of Hiraan and Bakool regions where crop production is only 20 percent of 
the normal yield.

Food Insecurity and Malnutrition

According to FSAU's August Nutrition Update, malnutrition rates in all 
areas of Somalia are consistently above internationally recognized 
emergency levels, but the lack of humanitarian access to areas of concern 
seriously impedes aid agencies' ability to provide necessary 
interventions. FSAU's food security and nutritional assessments in 
northern Somalia in July indicated that 21.2 percent of the children in 
Sool Region were malnourished with 2.8 percent assessed to be severely 
malnourished. According to FSAU, critical areas of northern Somalia 
include the Sool Plateau, as well as Taleex, Lasanood, Huddun, Garoowe, 
Qardho, and Galdogob districts.

In central Somalia, FSAU's July rapid assessment in Dhuusamarreeb and 
Adaado in Galguduud Region indicated malnutrition rates of 31 percent and 
27.8 percent respectively, while the retrospective under five and crude 
mortality rates for Adaado district were 4.7 per 10,000 per day and 3 per 
10,000 per day, respectively.

In southern Somalia, ongoing civil strife has disrupted livelihoods and 
resulted in greater food insecurity. In northern Gedo Region where the 
usual level of acute malnutrition is already above 20 percent, FSAU 
reported that the number had increased to 37 percent in Bulahawa and 34.1 
percent in Dolow.

Political Developments and Peace Process

After more than 14 months of negotiations, Somali faction leaders signed 
an agreement on January 29, under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental 
Authority on Development (IGAD), to establish a new Federal Transitional 
Parliament that would pave the way for presidential elections and the 
formation of a national government. On August 22, members of the 
transitional parliament were sworn Nairobi, Kenya. Legislators were 
selected under Somalia's clan system, with each of the country's 4 major 
clans allotted 61 seats in the assembly and a coalition of smaller clans 
sharing 31 seats.

Despite the recent progress in peace negotiations, significant political 
challenges remain. According to the International Crisis Group, tasks 
facing the new authority include consolidating and monitoring a 
comprehensive ceasefire, controlling heavy weapons, demobilizing militia 
groups, and forming a new police and military force.

Status of Somali Refugees

In June, the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that more 
than 2,000 refugees from Aisha Camp in eastern Ethiopia had been 
repatriated to northwestern Somalia. With fewer than 12,000 Somalis 
remaining in the camp, UNHCR planned to close Aisha by the end of the 
year. In July, UNHCR closed Hartishek camp following the return of the 
last refugees to northern Somalia.

UNHCR has identified Somalia as one of eight countries in Africa expected 
to see significant refugee returns over the next five years depending on 
the security situation and levels of rehabilitation and reconstruction 
assistance from donor countries.

U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE

On October 1, 2003, Deputy Chief of Mission, Leslie Rowe of the U.S. 
Embassy in Nairobi redeclared a disaster in response to the continuing 
complex emergency in Somalia.

In FY 2004, USAID/OFDA provided nearly $4.3 million to support emergency 
water and sanitation, health and nutrition, logistics support, and 
capacity building activities in affected areas of Somalia.

USAID/OFDA has granted $350,000 to Action Contre la Faim (ACF) to continue 
its water and sanitation program in Gedo Region, repairing water sources 
and conducting education on human hygiene for an estimated 20,000 
residents. In addition, USAID/OFDA responded to acute needs in the 
Sool/Sanaag plateau by reprogramming funds from other areas to support 
water and sanitation and nutrition activities in Sool Region. Through 
Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), USAID/OFDA provided more than $490,000 to 
support water and sanitation programs in Sool Region for approximately 
82,000 beneficiaries. USAID/OFDA also provided nearly $450,000 to 
Adventist Development and Relief Agency's (ADRA) water and sanitation 
programs, which assisted 31,900 people in Bakool and Bay regions.

USAID/OFDA provided nearly $80,000 to International Medical Corps (IMC) to 
extend emergency primary health care and specialized feeding to more than 
790,000 beneficiaries in Bay, Bakool, and Hiraan regions. The program 
included vaccinations and immunizations, nutritional monitoring, maternal 
and child health programs, and emergency curative services.

USAID/OFDA has provided $1.4 million to UNICEF for emergency 
rehabilitation of water facilities, provision of potable water, and health 
and nutrition interventions for 170,000 beneficiaries countrywide. In 
addition, USAID/OFDA has approved $800,000 to UNICEF's U.N. Common Air 
Services (UNCAS) to enable partner organizations to transport staff and 
supplies into Somalia. To support FSAU's nutrition surveillance program, 
USAID/OFDA has provided $700,000 to FAO.

In FY 2004, USAID's Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) has contributed 
33,510 MT of P.L. 480 Title II emergency food assistance, valued at 
approximately $23.6 million through WFP and CARE. USAID/FFP's food 
assistance is provided to beneficiaries in Bay, Bakool, Gedo, Lower and 
Middle Shabelle, Lower and Middle Juba, Hiraan, Benadir, Bari, Nugal, 
Mudug, Awdal, Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool regions.

U.S. GOVERNMENT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SOMALIA

Implementing Partner    Activity    Location    Amount

USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE (1)

ACF   Water/Sanitation  Bakool      $350,000
ADRA  Water/Sanitation  Bakool, Bay $449,452
IMC   Health/Nutrition  Bakool, Bay, Hiraan     $79,996
NPA   Water Sool  $494,314
FAO   FSAU - Nutrition Surveillance Countrywide $700,000
UNICEF      Water/Sanitation, Health/Nutrition,Logistics    Countrywide
$2,200,000

TOTAL USAID/OFDA  $4,274,262


USAID/FFP ASSISTANCE

CARE  13,050 MT of P.L. 480 Title II Emergency Food Assistance    Southern
and Central Somalia     $8,599,000
WFP   20,460 MT of P.L. 480 Title II Emergency Food Assistance
Countrywide $14,951,100

TOTAL USAID/FFP: $23,550,100
TOTAL USAID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SOMALIA IN FY 2004: $27,824,362
TOTAL USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SOMALIA IN FY 2004: $27,824,362


PUBLIC DONATION INFORMATION

The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash 
contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief 
operations. A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash 
donations for their complex emergency response efforts in Somalia can be 
found at http://www.interaction.org. Information on organizations 
responding to the humanitarian situation in Somalia may be available at 
http://www.reliefweb.org.

USAID encourages cash donations because they: allow aid professionals to 
procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the 
burden on scarce resources (such as transportation routes, staff time, 
warehouse space, etc); can be transferred very quickly and without t 
transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken region; 
ensure culturally, dietary, and environmentally appropriate assistance.

More information on making donations and volunteering can be found at:
The Center for International Disaster Information: http://www.cidi.org
Inter Action: http://www.interaction.org -> "How You Can Help"
Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be 
found at http://www.reliefweb.org.
USAID/OFDA bulletins appear on the USAID web site at
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.

Note: (1) USAID/OFDA funding represents total assistance for FY 2004.

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Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
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Center for International                  web: www.cidi.org
     Disaster Information             listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                    guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
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