OCHA Situation Report No. 7
Somalia: Drought
31 March 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Update

On 22 March, heavy fighting resumed in Mogadishu following attacks by 
militia from the Alliance of Islamic Courts against a member of the 
Coalition Against Terrorism. The fighting was a continuation of 
hostilities, which erupted in mid-February 2006 between the two groups 
as a Mogadishu faction leader announced the creation of the "Alliance 
for restoration of peace and counter of terrorism". The present 
fighting, however, is not only about moderates against fundamentalists 
but also about control over resources. Many casualties have been 
reported although it is unclear at this stage how many are civilians and 
how many are militiamen. Of serious concern are also reports of 
significant displacement and the lack of aid organisations present in 
the area to provide assistance. The ongoing fighting could spill over 
into parts of southern Somalia, with direct implications for access.

The revised Somalia 2006 CAP was launched on 21 March with good 
participation of representatives from UN agencies, NGOs and the donor 
community in addition to the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia 
which was represented by the Chairman of the TFG Disaster Committee 
(Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) and other members of the 
Committee. The revised CAP seeks $US 326,718,040, up from $US 
174,116,815 in December 2005. More than 85% of the increase is due to 
food relief requirements until the end of 2006. To date the Somalia CAP 
is 25% covered - with more known contributions pledged. So far Donors 
have shown a marked interest in Somalia in this first quarter of the 
year but sustained efforts will be needed if the response to the drought 
is to match needs, particularly in view of forecasts for a poor coming 
rain season. The Somalia CAP will be reflected in the Regional Appeal 
due to be launched on 7 April in Nairobi.

Following the allocation of $10 million to the Horn of Africa Region 
through the UN's new Central Emergency Response Fund, the Emergency 
Relief Coordinator is considering allocating an additional amount of US$ 
11.4 million to the region before the launch of the regional CAP on 7 
April 2006. Based on the proportions that were used for allocating the 
first CERF Grant (Kenya 25%, Somalia 30%, Eritrea 18%, Ethiopia 18%, 
Djibouti 9%) Somalia is likely to receive an amount of US$ 3.4 million.

Several cases of severe diarrhoea have been reported in Faanweyn village 
(60 km south-west of Garbahare town, South Gedo). The only source of 
water is from hand-dug wells from dry river bed (dry seasonal streams), 
which might have been contaminated resulting in one death during the 
period 2-9 March 2006. This village has no alternative source of water. 
GHC the only referral health center in Garbahare has been contacted and 
is planning to confirm the cause of the diarrhoea in this isolated 
village. Although, GHC and NCA are trying to intervene, the issue will 
further be discussed and solution sought during the UNICEF drought 
response water sector coordination meeting in Garbahare on 25 March 
2006.

LORDO, a local NGO based in Qoryoley district reported that hundreds of 
rural families and pastoralists with their livestock from nearby regions 
of Middle Juba and Bay were displaced by the drought in search of water 
and pasture. The migrating pastoralists population group arrived in the 
middle of February 2006 and settled around Qoryoley and nearby villages. 
The displaced are facing dire humanitarian problems including shortage 
of water, limited access to food, health services, and hardship 
conditions due to lack of adequate coping mechanisms. The arrival of the 
pastoralists in search of water, food and pasture is currently creating 
tension between the host communities and stressed migrant pastoralists 
over the meagre natural resources in Qoryoley district. The Governor of 
the Lower Shabelle region has expressed concerns and requested 
humanitarian assistance for the migrating pastoralists and rural 
families.

Coordination

On 20th March 2006, a joint drought response meeting attended by WHO, 
UNICEF and OCHA was held in Wajid and to discuss strategies, planned 
interventions and coordination in response to needs of drought affected 
populations. The discussion highlighted linkages between respective 
clusters with emphasis on food aid, health-nutrition and 
water/sanitation. It was agreed that there is a need for prioritization 
of interventions by geographical areas and by the type of interventions 
because of limited capacity of agencies. The main strategy in the health 
sector would focus on reinforcing existing systems by working through 
partners and build the capacity of the local actors as an exit strategy. 
WHO planned activities in the health-sector included 1) measles campaign 
(currently ongoing), 2) surveillance & early warning system (suspected 
outbreaks include cholera, bloody diarrhea & meningitis), 3) delivery of 
emergency health kits and of mobile laboratory health kits, lab kits to 
be reinforced by a referral network (to be pre-positioned in strategic 
locations) in addition to 4) reinforcement of coordination of health 
emergency response by identifying focal points at different levels 
(regional level and district levels) and delegating responsibility of 
coordination to health implementing partners at field level. In 
conclusion, the need to design a monitoring strategy (to ensure that 
basic minimum standards are applied) was emphasized, given that agencies 
have limited access and presence in the operational areas.

A meeting of Cluster Heads was organized on 23 March to discuss the 
allocation of CERF funds to Somalia (US$ 3.4 million).

In summary the clusters agreed: US$ 2 million will go toward 
logistics/telecommunication/common premises for the improvement of 
access in southern Somalia; US$ 500,000 to school feeding; US$ 270,000 
to de-stocking; US$ 300,000 to mobile clinics; and US$ 350,000 to 
supplementary feeding. Detailed project proposals have been submitted by 
the agencies appealing for funds and disbursement of funds is expected 
before the launch of the regional appeal for the Horn for the Horn of 
Africa on 7 April 2006.

Ongoing response

Food security

WFP distributed a total of 8,700MT to 520,000 beneficiaries as drought 
response up to date. A total of 8,500 MT of food have been transported 
from WFP warehouses in South Somalia for imminent distributions.

In addition, distribution of 2,115 MT is ongoing under Food-for-Work and 
selective feeding activities to about 120,000 beneficiaries in Bakool 
region.

Number of communities from Gedo, Lower and Middle Juba regions sent 
letters of appreciation to WFP for successful relief food distribution. 
However, security remains an issue for humanitarian access in some parts 
of drought affect regions.

Field level data collection of the inter-agency nutrition assessment 
mission for Gedo region has been completed.  Report on nutrition 
assessment in Gedo region is expected to be finalised by mid April.

Another nutrition assessment mission for Middle Juba is scheduled from 
1-13 April 2006. WFP is discussing with FSAU for a nutrition assessment 
of Afmadow district under Lower Juba region.

With the funding from the Central Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF), WFP 
is preparing a plan on provision of Logistics and IT supports to other 
agencies in UN clusters.

Media mission to South Somalia with journalists, organised by WFP from 
27 to 30 March 2006, completed successfully.

CARE Somalia-assisted Relief and FFW activities are ongoing in Gedo 
region to 37,019 households with a total of 2,320 MT of food.  The 
relief distribution coverage in Gedo in April is likely to increase to 
40,000 households.  A total of 1,192 MT of food has already been 
distributed in Mudug and Galgadud to 10,207 households. Distribution is 
being planned for Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions.

A total 7,000 MT of food is in the pipeline for distribution in April 
2006. Additionally, 18,500 MT of sorghum is expected to arrive in May 
2006.

The ICRC relief distribution covers a total of 32,500 families (8,500 in 
Bakool, 3,000 in Bay, 6,000 in Gedo, 8,000 in Lower Shabelle and 7,000 
in Muduq.  ICRC also distributed seed to 7,500 families in Bakool and 
Bay, 3,000 families in Galgadud, 3,000 families in Gedo region. Seed 
distribution in Lower Shabelle is planned next week.

Agriculture and livelihoods

Livestock and pastoralist related activities are still on going. They 
focus mainly on:

(i) De-stocking - ICRC reported that some 30,000 animals have been 
de-stocked since early January, while FAO with UN (CERF) funds will 
target some 5,000 cattle in the coming few weeks (Gedo, Lower Juba and 
Bakol Regions);

(ii) Animal health - VSF - Suisse and COOPI continue animal health 
interventions (over 600,000 animals). FAO will support COOPI between 
April and June (3 months) to boost operational capacity in the Juba 
valley (420,000 animals targeted);

(iii) Water trucking - VETAID, SADO and ASEP started water-trucking 
activity mid-March in Gedo region, targeting over 2,000 breeding 
animals.

The Gu planting season is under preparation. Major actors include ICRC 
and FAO covering respectively 23,000 and 22,000 households. With 
resources available, it is estimated that close to 50% of the estimated 
needy families will receive planting material (sorghum and cowpea 
seeds).

FAO conducted seed surveys in Wajid, Baidoa, Belet Weyne, Afmadow, 
Garbaharey, Bardheere and Dolow, including quantitative and qualitative 
elements. While seeds are reported available in local market, quality 
control is still on going to establish germination and moisture rate.

While the above activities focus primarily on short-term intervention, 
additional funds where received as well to address some of the root 
causes of pastoral livelihood erosion.  In particular, FAO will pilot a 
fodder production scheme along Juba River with 200 households, covering 
some 2,000 hectares (Columbus grass, Sudan grass, Cowpea). Grass seeds 
will be imported from neighboring countries, as they are not available 
in Somalia. The project will also dedicate part of the land to fodder 
crop seed production.


Health and nutrition

As part of relentless efforts to halt the polio outbreak in Somalia, a 
round of national immunization days -- which has just concluded in most 
parts of the country -- commenced on 26 March 2006.  Approximately 1.4 
million under-fives were expected to be covered during this round.

In total, 199 wild poliovirus cases have been confirmed since July 2005, 
when the explosive outbreak was first identified; 185 of the cases were 
confirmed in 2005, and another 14 were identified in 2006.  Banadir has 
been the epicenter of the outbreak, reporting 158 cases (85% of the 
total) in 2005.  However, repeated supplemental immunization activities 
have seen the number of cases in Banadir plummet significantly to only 
three wild poliovirus cases out of 14 in 2006.

The virus has, however, spread to new regions, including Lower Shabelle, 
Bay, Sool, Middle Shabelle, Gedo, Mudug, and more recently, Lower Juba.

Effective active acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance has been 
maintained in the last few months to ensure that AFP cases - as well as 
measles cases - are reported and paid the due attention.

The Southern and Central part of Somalia is faced by an imminent food 
security and nutrition crisis following the drought period experienced 
in the past two consecutive seasons and incidences of civil insecurity. 
The malnutrition levels in the drought affected areas have persistently 
been serious (GAM rates of between 10.0-14.9%) or critical (GAM rates of 
over 15%) but the heightened concern is the prevailing aggravating 
factors like deteriorating diet, reduced food intake, poor water and 
sanitation and the compromised childcare and feeding practices. These 
factors potentially may undermine the population well being and finally 
lead to increased mortality levels.

In response to the prevailing crisis, a number of initiatives have been 
made, including nutrition partners' coordination meetings in Nairobi and 
Huddur, Bakool. Bilateral meetings have also been held by nutrition 
cluster agencies to facilitate intervention expansion plans, needs 
identification and technical, logistical and supply support to 
implementing partners. By April 2006, 28 supplementary feeding 
programmes (SFP) are expected to be operational targeting about 26,000 
malnourished in Bay, Bakool, Middle Juba and Hiran Regions.  Agencies 
involved in SFP include IMC, SRCS, DMO and World Vision with support 
from UNICEF and WFP.  WFP provides the family ration to households with 
malnourished children while UNICEF provides drugs, micronutrient 
supplements and vaccines. Plans are underway to open five new 
therapeutic feeding programmes with capacity of 300 beneficiaries in 
Bakool. A nutrition intervention matrix has been developed and mapping 
of intervention is in progress.

Proposal for soliciting project fund to facilitate expansion was made 
and US$ 0.8 million emergency nutrition project has received support 
from the CERF. Gedo Nutrition assessment is underway with participation 
of UNICEF, WFP, GHC, SRCS and COSV. Advocacy for blanket general food 
distribution, with an additional supplementary food to the vulnerable 
household members, continues.

Two coordination meetings were held in Nairobi and Huddur where 
intervention update and planned activities were discussed by the health 
and nutrition partners (1) . Agencies' supply, training and capacity 
needs were also addressed. Synchronized supplementary food distribution 
in the existing and proposed SFP sites was discussed.

Access difficulties and presence of few agencies in Juba valley are 
major constraints to service delivery in the area. Difficulties in 
intervention monitoring in the Juba valley are anticipated. There is 
lack of agencies to establish nutrition interventions covering the rural 
parts of Bay Region.

Funding for securing adequate blended food for distribution through 
blanket food distribution as well as for targeted SFP is yet to be made 
available. At least 34,000 under five children are malnourished in the 
drought-affected regions and are in need of general food ration 
supplementation. Consequently about US$ 0.25 million is needed every 
month to supplement the general food ration.

About 3000 children received blended food through the existing SFPs in 
Bakool and Hiran regions in February 2006. More than double 
beneficiaries are anticipated with the expansion of SFP and TFP coverage 
and update will be available in the coming weeks.

Improved coverage of intervention is aimed at and mapping of the same 
will be done. A comprehensive four-month plan for the response will be 
finalized. Advocacy for nutrition, water and sanitation and food aid 
interventions convergence in the critical drought affected areas will 
continue.

Education

A quick assessment from SCUK in Lower Juba, Middle Juba and Southern 
Gedo indicates that in the district and town of Sakow (M/Juba) 100% of 
the schools have been closed due to the drought; in Bardera (Southern 
Gedo) town 20% dropout rate has been registered, while in the entire 
district there is no school functioning.

In Afmadow (L/Juba) 60% of dropout rate has been registered.

In areas where there is INGO presence and active involvement in the 
education sector, the school situation is more stable. However, current 
NGO coverage is limited to an estimated 10% in the 5 major affected 
regions of Central-South Somalia due to limited INGO capacity and budget 
constraints. UNICEF assistance alone has reached an estimated 33% of the 
schools in Bay and Bakol regions with provision of school material and 
emergency school tents.

There is need of expansion of INGO presence in the drought affected 
regions, since constant monitoring and supervision are key elements for 
ensuring an effective assistance to the education sector in Somalia.

Moreover, there is need of expanding the implementation of the drought 
emergency response for the education sector, whose key elements are 
provision of teacher incentives and food for school children (in 
collaboration with WFP).

A pilot emergency school-feeding project by WFP in collaboration with 
UNICEF is under preparation. The project will provide school feeding for 
about 13,500 children in the drought-affected regions until July.

UNICEF is looking forward to expanding the response plan coverage 
through the full involvement of both National and International NGOs. 
Project cooperation Agreements will be signed during the first two weeks 
of April.

Assessments conducted by INGOs have so far provided reliable but 
scattered information on the impact of the drought on the education 
sector in Somalia. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment is planned by 
UNICEF in the month of April for a baseline data. From this assessment, 
the issue of considering the number of beneficiaries instead of the 
number of schools as benchmark for coverage statistics will be analyzed 
and eventually applied

Upcoming events

Food Security

The next Food Coordination meeting is scheduled on 06 April 2006 at 
14:30 hours, IRC Office.

For further information, please contact Amanda Di Lorenzo, Information 
Officer, or Kazimiro Rudolf, Deputy Head of Office.

Footnote:

1) Agencies participating in the coordination meeting: Nairobi meeting: 
SHSC/SACB, GHC, UNICEF, FSAU, UNDP, MSF-Spain, OFDA/USAID, ACF, MSF-H, 
CISP, World Vision, IMC and SRCS. Huddur meeting: MSF-Belgium, ACF, IMC, 
DMO, SC-UK, UN-OCHA, World Vision, UNICEF, WFP

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