OCHA Situation Report No. 6
Somalia: Drought
14 March 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Update

A UNICEF international staff member on mission in southern Somalia was
abducted outside Afmadow in Lower Juba on 1 March 2006 and was released
safely 30 hours later thanks to direct negotiations with the TFG and
local authorities. The Acting Humanitarian Coordinator remarked "aid
workers should be able to operate without fear and we appeal again to
all political and religious leaders, elders, the business community and
opinion leaders in Somalia to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers
and the critically-needed assistance they deliver, especially during the
current drought. We cannot save lives if we cannot reach the communities
that are in need, and we are not guaranteed safe passage." Travel to
Afmadow is decided on a case-by-case basis.

>From 1 to 3 March 2006, the seventeenth Climate Outlook Forum (COF)
convened by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre met in
Nairobi to formulate consensus for the March to May rain season in the
Greater Horn of Africa. The forecast indicates an increased likelihood
of near to below normal rainfall over much of the Greater Horn of
Africa. Additionally, there is a high probability that the rest of
Somalia will receive near to below normal Gu rains. Given the situation
in Southern Somalia, another season of below normal rainfall in the
breadbasket of the country will further increase vulnerability among
pastoral and agro-pastoral communities.

According to FSAU) parts of Southern Somalia (in particular Gedo, parts
of Middle Juba, Lower Juba, Bay, and Bakool) are at High Risk of
Famine/Humanitarian Catastrophe during the period July to December 2006.
Pparts of Hiran are also at High Risk of Humanitarian Emergency, while
parts of Lower Shabelle are at High risk of Acute Food and Livelihood
Crisis. In Northern and Central regions, on-going Acute Food and
Livelihood Crisis are likely to continue. Currently, an estimated 1.7
million people in Northern, Central, and Southern Somalia are facing
conditions of acute Food and Livelihood Crisis or Humanitarian
Emergency.  Preliminary estimates in the worse case scenario are that
this number will increase to 1.8 million between July and December 2006,
which includes an estimated 800,000 highly vulnerable children. While
seemingly not such a large increase, it does include a major shift in
severity, with an over 40% increase in the number of people facing
Humanitarian Emergency or Famine conditions (from the current 900,000 to
1.3 million). Combined with up to 400,000 IDPs, roughly 2.2 million
Somalis are facing a severe food insecurity crisis.

USD 10 million has been allocated to the Horn of Africa through the UN's
new Central Emergency Response Fund designed to provide funds for
immediate coverage of life saving programmes in countries experiencing
emergency situations. Following consultations with UN agencies, two
project proposals for Somalia have been submitted by the UN Acting
Humanitarian Coordinator. The first focuses on procurement and
distribution of supplementary food and an enlarged polio vaccination
campaign (USD 1.65 million). The second on water trucking and the
restoration of water points (USD 750,000).

On 4 March a fire broke out in Salagle town, northwest of Sakow (Middle
Juba), causing extensive damage to property (50-70% of town burnt down).
More than 20 people were reported injured and around 50 animals dead. It
is estimated that up to 1,000 households are left without shelter and a
risk of disease outbreak also exists. Appeals for emergency assistance
were made by the Minister of State Office of the Prime Minister, Hon.
Abdikadir Mohamed Dhakane, by the Buale District Health Board and by
local NGOs on the ground including JCC and Somalia Aid Foundation (SAF).
Urgent needs include medication, food, shelter and non food items. Rapid
assessments were undertaken by SRCS, JCC, FSAU and SAF, while World
Vision (WV) deployed a medical assessment team. Provision of mosquito
nets and basic health treatment is underway by WV and the NGO is also
planning to address the required health support in collaboration with
UNICEF.

Coordination

The OCHA Regional Support Office held a one day workshop in Nairobi (8
March 2006) in support of a Regional Appeal for the Drought in the Horn
of Africa (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia).  The appeal
seeks funds to address both short and medium response strategies, paving
the way for longer term ones and will cover the period from now until 31
December 2006. The total number of persons at risk and food insecure in
the region is estimated at 17,780,000 of which 7,470,000 are severely
affected by the current drought.

Ongoing response

Food security

Some 4,000 MT of the 5,000 MT borrowed by WFP from Sudan have been
distributed to 170,000 beneficiaries in Lower Juba and Gedo regions.
The remaining 1,000 MT will shortly be distributed in Bay and Bakool
regions to about 55,000 beneficiaries.

Another 5,700 MT are being transported to Bay, Bakol and Lower Juba
regions.  Distribution will commence as soon as food is delivered.
Additionally, a plan for the distribution of, 5,200 MT for Hiran and Bay
regions has been finalised. The loading of 2,800 MT of the total has
started.

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), World Vision International, Somali NGOs
AFREC and HIMILO Foundation and the Community Based Organization (CBO)
Juba Shine signed Field Level Agreements as implementing partners for
the relief food distribution.

Considering the deteriorating malnutrition situation in South and
Central Somalia, the Health and Nutrition Cluster has recommended
blanket supplementary distribution of blended fortified food among
vulnerable groups (children under five, pregnant and lactating mothers)
in an increased quantity. WFP is looking at possibilities to increase
the CSB ration as part of the general food distribution.

In light of available WFP food stocks and confirmed new financial
contributions, 78,000 MT of the total 95,000 MT needed to cover needs
until July 2006 have now been secured. The unmet requirements therefore
stand at some 17,000 MT for this period (valued at about US$13 million).
Depending on the performance of the upcoming long rains, subsequent
requirements for food aid to cover needs until the end of the year will
be between 25,000 and 85,000MT.

CARE International completed food distribution for February and March
food rations in Gedo, Bay, Hiran, Middle shabelle, Galgaduud and South
Mudug regions in Southern Somalia. In total CARE has distributed food to
277,962 people (46,327 HH)households)  in Gedo and Central regions
through Emergency distribution and 38,880 people (6,480 HH) in Hiran,
Bay, Bakool and Middle Shabelle through food for work activities. Also
CARE distributed emergency food to 1,360 HH to IDPs in Qansaxdhere
district who have been displaced by clan fighting.

ICRC completed food distribution in Bakool Region and Bay regions, as
well as in Bardera district in Gedo in mid February.  Post distribution
assessments are underway. ICRC will continue food distributions in
Bakool Region namely Tieglow, El Barde and Hudur districts to 50,000
people (8,500 households) until the end of the drought situation.  In
addition, food and seeds are distributed to 8,000 households in the
lower Shebelle region.

Agriculture and livelihoods

The cluster met as much as possible within the existing SACB structure
in the past weeks, particularly the Agriculture, and the Livestock
Working Groups.

FAO received funds from the Government of Sweden against the CAP 2006.
The proposed intervention, pending approval from the donor, will
include:

- Distribution of seeds and some tools to 15,000 families. FAO will
allocate inputs to areas where NGOs and ICRC do not cover the needs. The
project will allow for the planting of 15,000 Ha of cereals and 5,000 Ha
of legumes. The anticipated production is of 12,000 MT (cereals), i.e.
0.8 MT/household and 2,250 MT (legumes), i.e. 0.15 MT/household.

- Support to fodder production under irrigation (200 families). FAO will
focus on the provision of (i) fodder crop seeds (Sudan grass, Columbus
grass in pure stand, cowpea in inter-cropping system), (ii) 5 litres of
fuel every second day for a maximum of 2 months, and engine oil when
necessary up to a maximum of 20 litres. (iii) training on inter-cropping
and if applicable, silage production. The project is anticipated to
generate the following outputs:

|----------------+------------+------------+------------|
| Fodder/forage  | Ha planted | Production | Dry matter |
|                |            |    (Mt)    |   per Ha   |
|----------------+------------+------------+------------|
| Sudan Grass    |        300 |       3000 |   10 Mt/Ha |
|----------------+------------+------------+------------|
| Columbus Grass |        300 |        750 |  2.5 Mt/Ha |
|----------------+------------+------------+------------|
| Cowpea         |        400 |        800 |    2 Mt/Ha |
|----------------+------------+------------+------------|


ICRC is distributing seeds, tarpaulins and tools to 99,000 beneficiaries
(16,500 households) in Ceel Barde, Hudur, Tayegloow, Wanla Weyn,
Afgoove, Qoryoole, Kurtuwaatey and Baraawe in Bakool.

ICRC has started culling goats and sheep in Gedo and distributing the
meat for free to vulnerable drought affected families. ICRC plans to buy
up to 10,000 shoats from the local pastoral community at market price.
The meat will be distributed to families at the rate of 1 goat or sheep
per family.

VETAID, in partnership with ASEP and SADO, plans to truck water to 2,500
breeding cattle and 1,100 sheep and goats to allow them to utilise good
pasture areas of Bardera and El-wak districts. The project will also
supply water to 3,600 pastoralist families (approximately 21,600
individuals). The project has been submitted to the Humanitarian
Response Fund.

Mapping of NGO presence and thematic activities will be driven by FAO
using Dynamic Atlas data- warehouse system.

Health and nutrition

FAO/FSAU January 2006 Nutrition Update warned of high levels of
malnutrition in Gedo, Middle and Lower Juba, and parts of Bay and Bakool
regions. Reports on highly vulnerable internally displaced populations
in Wajid indicate critical levels of acute malnutrition in this
population.

In early February, an interagency (FSAU, ACF, UNICEF and WFP) assessment
in two of three IDP sites in Wajiid town recorded a global acute
malnutrition - GAM (W/H<-2 Z score or oedema) of 27.1% and severe acute
malnutrition - SAM (W/H<-3 Z score or oedema) of 8.6%. About 3.5% of the
children surveyed had oedema. A total of 142 children from 111
households were assessed. Dietary diversity was very poor with almost
all (99%) households consuming three or fewer food groups . IDPs mainly
came from within Wajid district (50%), Belet Hawa (18%), Rabdhure (13%)
and Elberde (10%) and the main reasons for movement were lack of food
(52%), water shortage (18%), civil insecurity (9%) and search for
employment (9%). Malnutrition rates recorded at the sites are
significantly higher than those in surrounding areas and than the
typical district levels.

In late January 2006, FSAU, ACF, UNICEF and WFP undertook an interagency
assessment in Wajid district (excluding IDPs in Wajid town).  The GAM
rate (weight for height <-2 Z score or oedema) was 14.7% (95%CI: 12.5 -
17.2) and SAM (weight for height <-3 or oedema) was 2.2% (95%CI: 1.4 -
3.5).  Six cases of oedema cases were recorded.  Food security appeared
to be better in the southern part of the district than in the north.
Malnutrition rates appear to be within the range considered typical in
Wajid district.

A similar interagency (FSAU, IMC and UNICEF) assessment conducted in
Rabdhure district in January 2006 recorded a GAM (W/H<-2 Z score or
oedema) rate of 15.9% (CI: 13.6 - 18.5) and a SAM (W/H<-3 Z score or
oedema) of 1.4% (CI 0.8 - 2.5).  No cases of oedema were identified.
Malnutrition rates appear to be within the range considered typical in
Rabdhure district.

FSAU is planning a nutrition survey for Gedo region for the end of
March. World Vision is planning a nutrition survey for Buale next month.

The nutrition cluster met on 6 March as part of the regular SACB
nutrition working group.

In Wajid, WFP and World Vision are planning the resumption of
Supplementary Feeding (SFP), while ACF is to start a Therapeutic Feeding
Programme (TFP) targeting around 150 admissions per month. World Vision
is also planning supplementary feeding through the MCHs in Tayeglow. ACF
will start nutrition monitoring in Wajid from end of March. MSF-H has a
TFP in Marere and can expand capacity if required. The NGO is also
planning to expand its SFP in Marere and Jilib. A rapid nutrition
assessment was carried out in Afmadow. In Gedo, GHC is doing therapeutic
feeding in Luuq, Belet Xaawo and Garbahare. GHC is planning community
based therapeutic feeding from April. In Bakool, IMC has supplementary
feeding centres in Rabdhure, Elberde and Huddur districts. MSF-B is
operating the only health care centre with therapeutic feeding in Hudur.
The measles vaccination campaign has started in Gedo this week. After
Gedo Bay, Middle Juba and Lower Juba will be targeted.

The wild poliovirus outbreak has now reached 194 confirmed cases. To
contain the outbreak and stop transmission, eight rounds of National
Immunization Days (NIDs) have been planned for 2006. The February NIDs
were completed and synchronized with neighbouring countries including
Ethiopia and Sudan. Emphasis was put on ensuring high quality campaign
through improved planning and intensified supervision.

Water and sanitation

Assessments: COOPI/UNICEF: Bakool, Middle Juba, needs assessment for
WATSAN response completed. NCA: Needs assessment ongoing for
rehabilitation shallow wells in Gedo. World Concern, Middle and Lower
Juba: Rapid needs assessment on the accessibility and availability of
water for pastoral, agro-pastoral and riverine communities has been
completed. In Gedo, Oxfam has carried out a water trucking needs
assessments of 14 pastoralist satellite sites in the lower part of
Ceel-Waq district around Causqureun, Fafaxdun, Geriley and Darussalam
centers. COOPI/UNICEF have completed a rapid needs assessment in Gedo,
Bay and Middle Juba for constructing shallow wells, de-silting dams and
water trucking.

Ongoing activities: in Bay and Bakool, UNICEF is providing spare parts
for strategic boreholes (Abdigarun and Berdale) and has provided
chlorine provided to CBOs in Gedo, Bay and Bakool and trained
chlorinators, who are now chlorinating water sources in their area of
coverage. ADRA is providing a generator and submersible pump to
rehabilitate a borehole in Warsila village, in the area of Huddur.
Concern World Wide has started rehabilitating two shallow wells and the
training of 8 water management committees in Bay. UNICEF: Watertrucking
has continued for locations Warweyn, Gobato, Rugey and Mugi Arrow in
Bakol, Dhato and Leheley in Ghedo and Burhakaba in Bay and monitoring on
water trucking has started for Gobato, Burdhunle, Sadda Burod, Iskah
Reh, Is Dhorta and Rabdhurre. In Bakol, the rehabilitation of Geliyai
boreholw is ongoing, while the deepening of the shallow well at La Galay
is starting. The rehabilitation of Danunay and Alio Marayle boreholes is
completed.

ACF has started water trucking operations in Bur Basle, Buur Bakor,
Bansoye and Warfaesh in Wajid district, and in Lower Juba. Oxfam has
started water trucking to Diff centre. In Gedo, Care is planning water
trucking and the rehabilitation of shallow wells. World Vision/COOPI
have started chlorination and deepening shallow well activities in
Middle Juba, Bualle and Sakow. World Concern: Middle, Lower Juba, West
Bank of Jilib district, activities for rehabilitation of hand dug wells
ongoing.

In Gedo, Khadijo Haji, Dinsor, Yed, water trucking is ongoing by ICRC
and provision of empty drums in Sakow and Afmadow for transport of water
for domestic consumption and livestock has been completed. Water
trucking has also started in Dapta from Dobble (subm. Pump broke). ICRC
has provided 500 empty 200 litres metallic drums to transport to and
supply isolated people/livestock with water and provision of 1'000 half
drums to be used as movable troughs by transitioning pastoralists in
Bay, Bakol, Gedo and Juba.

In Bakol, Garasweyn, ICRC has provided riser pipes for the
rehabilitation of the borehole, while throughout Bay and Bakool, ICRC
has started the deepening and improvement of 17 hand dug wells and
de-silting of 21 rain water catchments. In Juba, ICRC is rehabilitating
Gololey and Mido boreholes, supplying generators and submersible pumps
for Tabta, Mido, Bibi and Jilib, as well as supplying Oxfam with a tank
to Bliskoqani.

On the basis of information sharing in the coordination meetings in
Nairobi and Wajid on water trucking, agencies are providing inputs on
the modalities for water trucking. A matrix was developed and on the
basis of collected information, agencies are expected to come up with
common guiding principles for water trucking.

A matrix was developed by UNOCHA to be completed by WATSAN partners for
mapping purposes of the CSZ Drought response.

The next coordination meeting for partners present in Bay and Bakol will
take place at the MSF compound in Hudur on Wednesday 22 March at 10 am.

Water cluster partners are completing SWIMS sheets on WATSAN response
actions to be shared with FAO/SWALIM for activity mapping. FSAU has been
requested to develop a global map on the WATSAN response

Protection

The coordination of Population Tracking Movement continues - a
population movement information database has been established. Ongoing
movements are following trends noted in past drought situations, which
are a combination of Livestock Migration and Resource-Based Movements.

The collection and analysis of information related to drought induced
movement will provide valuable data on which to build advocacy
strategies for response and access.

Upcoming events

Health and Nutrition: To harmonise drought-related activities and
planning in the health and nutrition cluster, UNICEF is organising a
coordination meeting with partners from Bay and Bakool on 15-17 March in
Huddur, Bakool Region. Participants are expected to arrive in Huddur on
14 March and depart on Saturday, 18 March.

Water and sanitation: The next SACB WSISC meeting is scheduled for
13March at 14:30

Coordination: The next Drought Working Group meeting, which will take
place on Thursday 16 March at 2.30 pm, OCHA Somalia conference room. The
main objectives of the meeting will be to discuss the current on-going
Drought Response Activities.

For further information, please contact Amanda Di Lorenzo, Information
Officer Tel: +254 20 375 4150 - 5 (ext. 113) or Marie Spaak, Drought
Focal Point (ext. 103)

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