Somalia: Situation Report No. 29 - 25 Jul 2008

Main developments

According to the FAO Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU), the number of people in humanitarian emergency continues to increase in the drought-stricken regions of Galgaduud, Mudug, Hiraan and Bakool, due to the failure of the 2008 Gu rains - now the fourth consecutive season of failed rains in some regions. Severe water and pasture shortages have led to the massive migration of livestock and people, who are now concentrating around permanent water sources, including boreholes, and affecting up to 50% of pastoralist settlements. In addition to drought, the situation has been exacerbated by a series of factors including sustained and still increasing food prices, continued currency devaluation and increased civil insecurity. As the next rains are not expected before mid-October, the situation will deteriorate further without adequate humanitarian and livelihood support interventions.

Findings from 17 nutrition surveys conducted by FSAU and partners in May/June in South Central indicate sustained critical rates of acute malnutrition. From the 17 surveys conducted, 11 report rates above the emergency threshold of 15%, with six reporting very critical rates above 20%. The median rate of acute malnutrition for South Central now stands at 18.4%, which means 1 in 6 children under five years are acutely malnourished. Severe malnutrition rates are at 2.5%, meaning 1 in 40 are severely malnourished. All these children need nutritional rehabilitation, and these numbers represent an increase from 15.4% or 1 in 7, six months ago. The estimated caseload of acutely malnourished children from South Central and IDPs in the northeast is now estimated at 180,000, of which 25,000 are severely malnourished; this also indicates an increase of 11% from six months ago. Despite concerted efforts of UN agencies, local and international NGOs and community-based organizations, most of these children do not have access to integrated management of their acute malnutrition.

Meanwhile, on 23 July, United Nations agencies from the Horn of Africa region called on donor agencies to provide more funds to curb the worsening crisis in Somalia, Ethiopia and other countries. The agencies concurred that the humanitarian situation could worsen in the coming months, estimating that over 14 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Djibouti will require food and other forms of assistance. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden, called upon donors to avail more support to the current Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP), requesting USD$637 million, up from USD$406 million in January, of which only 37 per cent has been funded so far. 'We fear that we are moving into a very acute crisis in Somalia, we need far more support externally to be able to do what is probably one of the most difficult relief jobs in the world at the moment,' he said.

The civilian population in the Central Somalia town of Belet Weyne continues to face security challenges as armed confrontation between forces loyal to the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and the Ethiopian troops based some 4 km outside the town intensified. Efforts made by clan elders on 12 July to secure the town were unsuccessful. Unknown groups have since distributed leaflets warning those having contact with Ethiopian troops will face severe punishment. On 24 July fighting erupted in the town between the Ethiopian troops and ICU forces causing displacement of the civilian population. At least nine civilians have been reportedly killed and many more wounded.

On 23 July, NGO Horn Relief announced it is closing its office in Kismaayo following the brutal assassination of its head of Office, Mr. Ahmed Bario, on the 17 May 2008. The NGO will however continue supporting schools and enterprises providing education and skills training in Kismaayo.

At one of the 16 food kitchens in Mogadishu's Heliwa district, a group of 13 armed militia looted food and other cooking items. Workers at the site were beaten and some badly wounded. Heliwa site was the last to be opened (June 2008) and is said to be insecure. Despite this challenge, the NGO which is implementing the programme, SAACID, is determined to keep the site open, as there are many IDPs and urban poor with no capacity to relocate to other safer areas in search of food. SAACID says Heliwa is the only area in Mogadishu where, to date, verified deaths from starvation have been recorded.

On 19 July, when the general food distribution to the last of the 54 Jowhar distribution sites in Middle Shabelle, was to be finalized, gunmen came to the site and started shooting. This resulted in the deaths of two children under-five. On 16 July, three people were injured during a food distribution to IDPs in Jowhar when a mob entered the site to loot food.

Pirates struck again this week seizing a Japanese ship with 18 crew members off the Somali coast in the northern region of Puntland. Since January, according to Maritime Bureau, about 31 ships have been seized in Somali waters hampering WFP food aid shipments into the country.

Assistance by aid agencies continues in various locations in Somalia despite the harsh security conditions. In Mudug region, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is rehabilitating wells in order to provide clean drinking water to more than 2,400 families, about 14,400 people, and their livestock. The IRC is also constructing 200 latrines and is working with communities to raise awareness on good hygiene practices.

During the reporting week, WFP Somalia delivered over 4,000 mt of food aid which will assist over 25,000 beneficiaries. In interviews last week, the WFP Somalia Country Director Peter Goossens said that despite piracy and attacks on aid workers, it is still delivering large amounts of food assistance every month to people in need in Somalia and can continue its operations and scale up as long as donors support its life-saving work.

On 22 July, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) approved USD$2.71 million for UNHAS to continue the provision of critical and safe passenger air services, at a subsidised cost, in support of life-saving humanitarian activities. With the CERF-funded subsidy, the maximum cost per flight to all destinations in Somalia will be reduced to USD$500 from the current USD$600. The continuation of subsidized flights for UN and NGO staff is necessary to support and scale-up humanitarian operations for a possible 3.5 million Somalis who will need assistance by the end of the year.