OCHA Situation Report
Somalia
2 March 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Main Developments

The first mortar attack in Mogadishu since 22 February occurred today, 
with at least 5 mortars targeting the seaport. Two of the mortars struck 
private residences and one landed near a minibus. Injuries have been 
reported but no deaths yet confirmed. Despite the absence of such 
attacks in the last week, Mogadishu did suffer insecurity in the form of 
a number of assassinations, including the killing of close associates of 
government officials. Meanwhile, displacement from the capital has 
escalated over the last week, as thousands of people have fled, fearing 
a continuation of confrontations between TFG/Ethiopian troops and 
insurgents. [see Displacement]

About 30 Ugandan officers arrived in Baidoa on 1 March in advance of the 
expected arrival of AU troops. It is not known when the first battalion 
of Ugandan troops will arrive.

Recent WHO figures for vector and water-borne diseases in south/central 
Somalia show a decrease in recorded malaria cases since mid-February. 
For the week ending 23 February there have been a total of 623 recorded 
cases of malaria in south/central, down from the previous week's figure 
of 1,201. The upsurge was linked to post-flooding conditions; however, 
now that the environment is drying out, the incidence of malaria is 
decreasing. Meanwhile, WHO reports that since the beginning of 2007, out 
of 2,858 recorded cases there have been an estimated 103 deaths due to 
Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) in Hiran, Middle and Lower Shabelle and 
Lower Juba. In Lower Shabelle, the number of cases is increasing due to 
the influx of IDPs (which places additional strain on available health 
care and water/sanitation resources), while insecurity continues to 
present obstacles to access and response. [see Response]

Displacement

A field report issued 26 February has estimated that approximately 3,000 
households have left Mogadishu during the month of February due to 
insecurity, moving to Bay, and Lower and Middle Shabelle regions. A 
further 800 to 1,000 IDP households (mainly comprised of women and 
children) have moved about 25km from Mogadishu in the direction of 
Afgoye. Many of these families are being hosted by the local community. 
Concerns are rising regarding the health and sanitation situation for 
the IDPs, as available social services are limited - particularly water 
supply systems - and the new arrivals are placing additional strain on 
already inadequate resources. The price of water, for instance, is said 
to have more than doubled since the IDPs began arriving.

In Baidoa, trucks loaded with women and children from Mogadishu are 
reportedly arriving on a daily basis. Most are said to head for Bardera, 
Belet-Hawa, Luuq and Garbaharey in Gedo region. It is estimated that 
Baidoa itself now has approximately 800-1000 IDP families. Other recent 
arrivals who have not gone on to Gedo are said to be with relatives in 
existing communities in Baidoa.

Access and Response

Twenty-five WFP trucks that were loading at El Wak (Kenya) with 791mt of 
food crossed the Somali border today and are en route to Gedo for 
distribution.

Response is ongoing to the caseloads of AWD in south/central Somalia. In 
Hiran, IMC, ICRC/SRCS, MSF, Save the Children-UK, WHO, UNICEF and Hiran 
Water Supply are responding. Adequate supplies have been mobilized, and 
the number of AWD cases is decreasing due to water and sanitation 
interventions. In Middle Shabelle, MSF-S, InterSOS, UNICEF, WHO and 
ICRC/SRCS are engaged in the response. Again, adequate supplies have 
been mobilized, and WHO Mogadishu has recently conducted training in 
Jowhar and Balad. Adequate supplies are also reported to be present in 
Kismayo (Lower Juba), with WHO, ICRC/SRCS, Muslim Aid-UK and Kismayo 
hospital and community representatives coordinating the response. In 
Lower Shabelle, where the number of cases is increasing, WHO, UNICEF, 
ACF and COSV are responding. It is important that water and sanitation 
interventions continue in all areas until April/May, and that the 
wat/san response be upscaled in the Jubas and other areas heavily 
affected by the recent flooding.

In South Galkayo (Puntland), distribution by Islamic Relief of NFIs 
(provided by UNICEF and UNHCR) was concluded on 27 February to 2,000 IDP 
households registered during the third week in February. Following the 
completion of the verification exercise in the coming days, more NFIs 
are planned for distribution. While the finalization of the verification 
exercise will provide a clearer idea of IDP numbers, insecurity in 
Mogadishu may prompt more arrivals to the area.

CERF funds of US$1million have been approved for the project Enhanced 
Security for UN Personnel in Somalia, to be implemented by UNDP, UNDSS, 
and WFP between March-December 2007. The project will focus on 
improvement of inter-agency communication systems and of UN common 
premises and accommodation (including rehabilitating UN compounds to 
make them EMOSS-compliant). Such improvements will allow for greater 
international staff presence (including INGO staff) in south/central, as 
well as more effective program implementation and improved access to 
populations in need.

In addition, US$2.8 million has been earmarked for WFP/UNHAS pre-paid 
cargo flights. This money represents CERF funds that were not used for 
air drops during the recent flooding and have now been transferred to 
the cargo operations. The funding will cover flights through March.

Reports detailing response activities by cluster (Who does What Where) 
are available on the OCHA website at 
http://ochaonline2.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=5066

For further information, contact:

Molly McCloskey (mob: +254 727 659 100)
mccloskeym@un.org

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