Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin

Issue # 5 29 January-5 February 2010

Key Overall Developments

FSNAU's Post-

Deyr Assessment findings

An estimated 3.2 million people - 42 percent of the total Somali population - is in need of emergency

humanitarian assistance and/or livelihood support. The Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit and partners

issued a press statement on 1 February saying that the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance

has decreased by 9 percent from the post-

Gu assessment (August 2009) when 3.64 million people were in

crisis. The 9 percent decrease is mainly due to a bumper harvest in the agricultural areas of Southern Somalia.

The epicentre of the humanitarian crisis continues to be in Central Somalia (Mudug, Galgaduud, and Hiraan

regions) due to ongoing drought which has left 70 percent of the population in need of assistance. These

regions are experiencing the sixth consecutive season of below average rainfall. Recent conflict and

displacement in these regions has also created a double burden for the drought affected populations, having to

support the displaced, yet with reduced access to assistance from aid agencies due to the insecurity.

Of concern also are the populations in crisis in the north, due to drought, following four seasons of belowaverage

rainfall. This has left 290,000 from the pastoral and agro-pastoral populations in crisis and in need of

both life-saving and livelihood support to recover from the prolonged crisis.

Nutrition

The overall Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates for Somalia are down from 19 percent to 16 percent. Now 1

in 6 children under five years are malnourished as opposed to the post-

Gu assessment rates of 1 in 5 in August

2009. In the south and central regions, however, the median rate remains at 19 percent GAM and 4.5 percent

Severely Acute Malnutrition (SAM). This means 1 in 5 children are acutely malnourished and 1 in 22 are

severely malnourished and at a 9 times greater risk of death compared to well-nourished children. This situation

remains unchanged from six months ago.

Currently, these rates translate into an estimated 240,000 children under five years of age in Somalia being

acutely malnourished, of which 63,000 are severely malnourished.

Mogadishu

The Somali capital has been experiencing heavy fighting during the reporting period. On 31 January, insurgents

and Transitional Federal Government/African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops clashed resulting in the

death of several people and more than 50 others injured. On 29 January, Islamist insurgents launched several

attacks on AMISOM bases and the presidential palace, reportedly killing at least 19 people, the majority being

women and children. More than 30 other people were injured.

On 2 February, a huge fire broke out in Bakara market – the biggest in Mogadishu – reportedly resulting from a

mortar shell that hit the petroleum section and spread quickly to other parts of the vast market. Property of an

unknown value was destroyed, and one person was reportedly killed and four others were wounded.

Displacement

On 2 February, UNHCR said that violence sharply escalated in January resulting in the death of 258 people and

another 253 wounded in central regions alone. This makes January the deadliest month since August 2009.

Additionally, some 29,000 people have been displaced by heavy fighting in Dhuusamarreeb in Galgaduud while

another 25,000 people fled their homes to escape renewed clashes in Belet Weyne, Hiraan region. In

Mogadishu, approximately 18,000 people have also been displaced during January. In total, at least 82,000

people have been displaced in Somalia in the past month.

 

Response

Food Aid

WFP and partners distributed 1,228 metric tons of assorted food commodities to 98,380 beneficiaries under the

general food distribution program in Hobyo, Gaalkacyo, Xarardheere, districts in Mudug region in Puntland.

Another 43,842 people received food in Cadaado district, Mudug. Some 57,960 beneficiaries received 457

metric tons of food in Mudug and Nugaal regions. Local NGO SDRA, a WFP partner, distributed 30 metric tons

of food to 3,503 malnourished children, lactating and pregnant women in Gaalkacyo. Following the screening

exercise of 4,691 children and women in Bossaso, Relief International (RI), a WFP partner, admitted 1,028

cases in six maternal child health clinics for the treatment of moderate malnutrition. RI has already distributed 2

metric tons of food to 420 beneficiaries (individual rations) in Bossaso, Bari region. The distribution of family

rations will start during the month, once implementation and coordination mechanisms are in place.

Health

This week, WHO and Merlin trained 28 health workers representing nine NGOs from over 18 health facilities in

Lower and Middle Juba as part of efforts to strengthen disease surveillance and reporting for outbreak response

for conflict-affected communities. So far this year, WHO and Merlin have trained over 55 health workers in

South Central Somalia in disease reporting and outbreak response working in 38 facilities and representing 15

NGOs.

Reproductive Health

UNFPA in collaboration with COCO, a local NGO, are conducting outreach activities on reproductive health

services in six IDP settlements in Mogadishu. During January, the teams reached 498 mothers with Ante-Natal

care Services (ANS), while 286 Post-Natal Services (PNS) were provided. Some 100 clean delivery kits were

distributed assisting 113 mothers with safe delivery with the help of skilled birth attendants. Another 200

hygiene kits were also distributed to pregnant and lactating mothers. UNFPA continued supporting eight Mother

and Child Health Centers in Mogadishu, with ANS and PNS reaching 2,742 mothers. Additionally, a total of 60

fistula

1 patients were operated on while an additional 40 are scheduled for operations this month.

Non-food item distribution

UNICEF and partners are responding to 3,000 families (15,000 people) of the 29,000 people displaced by the

fighting in Dhuusamarreeb in Galgaduud region in January. The families are benefiting from a comprehensive

relief kit which includes high energy biscuits and chlorine tablets for safe water. The situation is being assessed

to gain greater access to respond to additional needs.

Water and Sanitation

A total of 60,000 people in Galgaduud region now have increased access to safe drinking water following the

construction and equipping of two water yards in Bahdo town and Godinlabe towns in Cadaado district by

UNICEF and partners. The equipping of five water yards in Cabudwaaq town and construction of one borehole

in Bangele village was also completed. About 8,000 of the beneficiaries were recently displaced persons

following the recent conflict in Dhuusamarreeb.

Chlorination of water sources was intensified in Mareerguur, Xananburre and Ceel Dheer villages in

Dhuusamarreeb where IDPs moved. Over 5,000 people living in these areas are benefiting from the chlorination

activities. UNICEF is working with local NGOs in responding to the IDPs' needs.

During the reporting week, the drilling of two boreholes by NGO Yme/NoRsom and GSA in Jilable village, 60km

east of Gaalkacyo town and Matabaan district were completed. The project supported by the Humanitarian

Response Fund will benefit 21,000 people and 9,000 others respectively.

Contact

: For further information in English, contact: Rita Maingi on +254 734 800 120 – maingir@un.org In

Somali or English, contact Muna Mohamed on + 254 733 643 737 –

mohamed26@un.org