Drought-displaced "in tens of thousands"

HARGEISA/NAIROBI, 30 March 2011 (IRIN) - With drought spreading to almost all regions of Somalia, officials and aid workers have expressed concern for those affected, saying drought was now a major cause of displacement.

"Drought, not insecurity, is now the main reason for new displacement in Somalia," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA Somalia) said in a March update. "More than 52,000 people have been displaced due to drought since 1 December 2010, many of them moving to urban areas in search of assistance."

In particular, the capital, Mogadishu, had experienced an increased influx of drought-affected pastoralists, said OCHA.

"Although migration of people and livestock is not unusual during the dry season, this appears to be the first time ever pastoralists and their livestock have migrated into the capital, a situation that portrays the severity of the drought situation in the country," OCHA said.

Abdi Haji Gobdon, spokesman for Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), told IRIN on 30 March: "The drought is spreading and getting worse. We are getting reports not only of livestock dying but people too.

"There is not a single region from the south to the north that is not suffering," he said.

Aid appeal

Gedo in the southwest, parts of southern regions and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, as well as central Somali regions, are the worst affected, according to Gobdon.

"Livestock are dying in their thousands, with families losing everything," he said, adding that the drought had forced many pastoralists into camps for the displaced. "They have lost everything and they think they may get help if they reach the camps."

Gobdon said the TFG could not address the situation alone and appealed to the international community for assistance.

"The problem with this drought is how long it has been going on," he said.

Gu rains should have started in most parts of the country. Gobdon said: "In a good year, it should be raining by now, but we have not seen a drop yet."

Targeting livelihoods

In response to the drought, the Common Humanitarian Fund for Somalia allocated US$4.5 million in March in emergency funding, targeting agriculture and livelihoods; water, sanitation and hygiene.

In the self-declared republic of Somaliland, more than four months of drought have led to disease outbreaks and severe water shortages, with government officials appealing for help for the most drought-affected populations.

"The government of Somaliland has appealed for support; so far we have collected about $500,000 from the public, which we spent on water-trucking to the drought-affected in remote areas," Hussein Abdi Du'alle, Somaliland's Minister for Water and Minerals, told a press conference in the capital, Hargeisa.

"Initially, only three regions were affected but now the drought has reached everywhere," Mohamed Muse Awale, the chairman of Somaliland's National Environmental Research and Disaster Preparedness Commission, said.

Mohamed Abdillahi, an elder in Hudun, 83km northeast of Las-anod district in Sool region, told IRIN: "The biggest problem is water shortages; water is trucked from Burou in Togdheer region, 260-270km away, and its price keeps rising. For example, a barrel [200l] of water was only $8 three months ago, now it is $15."

Deaths reported

In Sool region, eastern Somaliland, officials have reported four deaths following an outbreak of diarrhoea. Ali Bile, head of Awr-Bogeys health post in Sool, 50km northeast of Las-anod, said all four deaths - a man and three children - occurred in the past week.

Ali Bulale, mayor of Hudun district, said at least 40 people in the district had contracted diarrhoea, mostly children.

"The district was one of the few places which enjoyed the Deyr [long] rains; this caused many people from Sanag, Sool, Togdheer and even from Puntland to gather here in search of pasture," Bulale said. "Now nothing of the pasture is left."

Ahmed Abdi Bile, coordinator of the Red Crescent in Somaliland, said: "There are six mobile health-sector teams giving food to malnourished children in the regions of Sool, Sanag and Sahel. With the collaboration of UNICEF [UN Children's Fund], there are also seven more teams doing the same job in the regions of Sool, Sahel, Togdher, Awdal and Sanag."

Mark Bowden, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, has called for humanitarian access to support Somalis affected by drought.

"I am extremely concerned about the impact of the current drought on the well-being of children, women and the general population in Somalia," he said in a statement. "Severe water shortages require collective efforts and further cooperation at all levels to deliver a well-coordinated response to mitigate the consequences of the drought on the lives of the Somali population."

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Droughts and Livelihood Consequence

by Daud Abdi Daud Dhimbil

Weather affects people everyday and the weather is also important to human.

 

The Somali media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (SOMESHA) would like to articulate publicly today the current overview on Somalia's drought impacts.

 

The climate in a certain place does' not change very much from year to year even though the weather may change a great deal from season to season. So when people talk about climate, they are not talking about the weather on a certain day or in a certain season.

 

Rather, they are talking about the kinds of weather they can expect during the course of many years. You already know about changing air temperatures from hot to cold and from cold to hot. You may also know about changing air pressure from high to low and from low to high. You may know about changing winds too.

 

The amount of moisture in the air also changes. Sometimes the air is very wet, and sometimes is very dry.

 

Drought impacts and people displacement

 

Dry weather in Somalia since October 2010 has resulted in drought conditions which are significantly affecting agricultural production, water resources and pasture.

 

The current drought situation continues to cause displacement, particularly of the pastoralist communities in various parts of the country. UNHCR estimates that of the 25,200 people displaced countrywide due to drought and insecurity since 23 February, 5,540 people are drought-affected. Livestock have also been affected by the critical shortage of water and pasture. Soaring prices will inevitably make it harder for many Somalis to get hold of food.

 

The likely poor performance of the April-June rains in Somalia is expected to result in further deterioration in food security. The most-likely scenario is that the erratic distribution of the rainfall over space and time is likely to significantly reduce its utility for crop and pasture growth. In the worst-case scenario according to Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) says, with significantly below average Gu rains, poor crop production, sustained high prices and very limited pasture/water replenishment in key grazing areas will occur. Emergency contingency planning and the development of new response strategies to address current and expected food deficits and malnutrition are critical to save lives.

 

Responses

 

On 23-24 March, UNHCR and partners distributed 2,000 NFI kits to families affected by the conflict in Belet Xaawo, Gedo region.

 

Food Assistance

 

WFP delivered a total of 2,371 metric tons of mixed food commodities to 141,000 beneficiaries through emergency school feeding, general food distribution, food for assets, food for work and nutrition programmes. Some 37,000 beneficiaries were in Somaliland, 64,000 in Puntland and the rest were in Mogadishu and Central Regions.

 

During the reporting week, the Xamar Jaabjab wet feeding center in Mogadishu was reopened after a brief closure last week. A total of 19 feeding centers are now operational providing more than 85,000 cooked meals daily to the poor and vulnerable.

 

Concern Worldwide distributed assorted food commodities to 433 households of which 231 households are displaced pregnant/lactating women in Mogadishu. The beneficiaries were screened by the organisation's nutrition teams using their own selection criteria.

 

Water Sanitation & Hygiene

 

Approximately1,600 drought-affected IDPs in Mogadishu benefited from a distribution of 1,600 empty jerry cans for carrying water, and 102 cartons of soaps, conducted by national NGO WARDI, supported by UNICEF, to commemorate World Water Day on 22 March.

 

UNICEF is supporting the rehabilitation of six water points to benefit 18,000 people in response to the increased influx of drought-affected into Mogadishu.

 

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) constructed 108 latrines for the newly displaced people in Medina districts in Mogadishu. NRC also distributed 90 sanitation kits (soap, towels, and basin) to five IDP settlements in Bossaso.

 

In Bari region, Puntland, NGO Shilcon started a water voucher activity in 63 drought-effected locations benefiting 30,600 people. In Sool and Sanaag regions, 10 boreholes were rehabilitated and are now benefiting 47,000 drought-affected people. In Bossaso and Badhan districts, two boreholes were rehabilitated and are benefiting 10,000 people.

 

Health

 

During the reporting week, Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu reported 136 cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) including 112 children under five years of age, of whom three died. Two of 20 samples collected during the week have tested positive for cholera and are awaiting laboratory confirmation. In response to the steady increase observed in the number of AWD cases reported from Banadir region since the beginning of March, WHO has collected approximately 70 samples for laboratory confirmation.

 

WHO is providing support to health partner COSV to verify rumours of AWD and to collect samples from Awdhegle district, Lower Shabelle region. Diarrheal Disease Kits have been pre-positioned at Marka and Qoryooley hospitals. Similarly, rumours of AWD have been reported from Baraag Ciise village in Galmudug. WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health with one inter-agency health kit (treats 10,000 people for 3 months) and one diarrheal disease kit (treats 100 severe cases).

 

From 19-20 March, WHO conducted a training on AWD case detection, management and control at the Xudur health centre, Bakool region, for 21 health workers from eight health facilities and for health committee members from four districts. The training also included a review of the integrated disease surveillance tools and case definitions.

 

The Somali Young Doctors Association trained 40 traditional birth attendants with the aim of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity risk, mostly among poor IDP women.

 

The Islamic Relief provided 980 IDP patients with free treatment and essential drugs as well as health care awareness. Twenty five people from targeted communities in Mogadishu received training on health messages to share with the rest of the community.

 

Nutrition

 

On 23 March, screening activities started at a Supplementary Feeding Programme in two districts of Bay region through UNICEF. Some 1,800 bags of corn-soya blend were distributed to benefit 1,138 children in 102 villages.

 

Since the beginning of the drought, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has distributed emergency supplies to half a million people throughout Somalia and has delivered water to almost one million. It is also helping people produce their own food by providing seed, tools and training.

 

The ICRC is providing long-term support to 36 clinics and 14 outpatient therapeutic feeding centres. With the ICRC's help, the Somali Red Crescent Society recently opened two new health clinics in Middle Juba, a region of southern Somalia affected by conflict and drought. These two clinics alone will benefit over 100,000 people in the region.

 

The £110,000 released by the British Red Cross will help the Somali Red Crescent to continue providing food, healthcare, water and sanitation facilities.

 

This is devastating to a population already weakened by almost two decades of armed conflict. Thirty-two percent of Somalia's population, around 2.4 million people, needs humanitarian assistance on the coming months as emergence.

Source:http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/profiles/blogs/somalia-droughts-and

Thriving Somali economy emerges in 'Little Mogadishu' in Kenya

Somali entrepreneurs have introduced new concepts of business in
Nairobi. Instead of going to a bank, preparing a business plan and
asking for a loan, as in the past, these entrepreneurs now prepare a
business plan, sell shares and implement the project. Somali-owned
businesses have also created jobs for local unskilled workers.

Somali Investment in Kenya charts the rise of Somali entrepreneurship
in Kenya in the context of economic breakdown in Somalia, its impact
on the Kenyan economy and the advantages and challenges.

Despite the collapse of the formal economy and of central government
in Somalia, a remarkably resilient 'parallel' economy has emerged.
Once a predominantly Asian residential estate, Eastleigh has become
the centre of Somali entrepreneurship in Kenya and is popularly
referred to as 'Little Mogadishu'. Eastleigh is at the centre of a
network of trade that connects the Arabian Peninsula, Somalia, Kenya
and East and Central Africa, with the Somali business community as the
common thread, says Chatham House.

Somali Investment in Kenya charts the rise of Somali entrepreneurship
in Kenya in the context of economic breakdown in Somalia, its impact
on the Kenyan economy and the advantages and challenges.

"Two factors characterise Somali business activities in Kenya. First,
they operate largely outside the formal economy of the country.
Secondly, they rely heavily, but not exclusively, on clan or kinship
networks of trust in their business dealings," Chatham House said.

Somali entrepreneurs have introduced new concepts of business in
Nairobi. Instead of going to a bank, preparing a business plan and
asking for a loan, as in the past, these entrepreneurs now prepare a
business plan, sell shares and implement the project. Somali-owned
businesses have also created jobs for local unskilled workers.

Growing Somali investment in Nairobi has also attracted banks and
other service-providers, demonstrating that urban refugees are not
necessarily a burden on the state and can be an economic asset.

"Although business rivalry often leads to overblown accusations that
Somali businesses are funded from the proceeds of piracy or
criminality, there are some genuine national security concerns about
activities within the Somali communities in Kenya. The long, open
border between the two countries provides easy access for the
supporters of extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam to
recruit and raise funds in Kenya," Chatham House said.

"Eastleigh, Nairobi, Kenya and East Africa have benefited from the
entrepreneurial activities of Somali business people. These activities
have developed despite, or even because of, the collapse of Somalia.
The experience has not been without problems. Governments in the
region and internationally should think about ways of protecting
investors and bringing more of these activities in the formal
economy," it added.

By: Contributor
Source: http://www.cpifinancial.net/v2/News.aspx?v=1&aid=7549&sec=The%20Economy

In Puntland, food prices jump as country endures drought

Abdi Hajji Hussein – AHN News Correspondent

Bosaso, Puntland, Somalia (AHN) – As strife-decimated Somalia suffers
under a lengthy drought, food prices have jumped in parts of Somalia's
semi-autonomous region of Puntland, a local businessman said Saturday.

In an interview with All Headline News, Ahmed Awil, a businessman in
Puntland's commercial town Bosaso described price increases for
essential foodstuffs in the markets there that may have an effect on
poor people who live in regions under Puntland control.

Awil said that the main factor in the state of the country is that
business hinges on give and take or a way of exchange.

"Trade is based on give and take…when you want to charter or
rent a boat for business purposes; the owner of the boat may tell you
if he is taking goods or livestock to the destination (one of Arab
nations) where you want to make business or not. But the situation
today is differ from so, no livestock to be exported and severe
drought hit many regions in the country including Puntland," the
trader explained.

He says it is difficult to pay a boat's round-trip rental fee. "If it
is so, all businessmen are needed to increase the price to save the
existence of their trade. Inflation in the essential foodstuffs comes
next as the people are right now complaining it."

Local residents have expressed a deep concern about the skyrocketing
price of food. However, authorities of Puntland have not made any
public statements about the food price increase.

Food Product Last Week This Week

(Prices in USD for 50-kilogram/110-pound bag)

1. Flour $26 $34

2. Sugar $42 $43

3. Rice $26 $28

With the nationwide drought, dozens of people died of hunger and
thirst late last year and the beginning of 2011 after Islamist
militants banned aid agencies from south-central Somalia.

Somalia has not had any functioning central rule to regulate all kinds
of social and environmental issues for more than two decades.
Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

http://gantdaily.com/2011/03/26/somalia-in-puntland-food-prices-jump-as-country-endures-drought/

Hungry for learning in Dadaab camps

DADAAB , 22 March 2011 (IRIN) - In one of the largest and oldest refugee settlements in the world, education is a luxury denied most of the 90,739 children who live there.

Set up at the outset of Somalia's civil war in 1991 to accommodate 90,000 refugees, three camps near the northeastern Kenyan town of Dadaab - Hagadera, Ifo and Dagahaley - are now home to more than three times that number, and persistent conflict in Somalia, from where 95 percent of the refugees originate, means the population grows daily.

According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the primary school attendance rate is 43 percent while in secondary schools the rate is just 12 percent. Across the three camps, there are 19 primary schools, funded by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). In addition there are 11 private, fee-paying primary and six secondary schools.

In 2010, some 2,500 refugee children sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. Of these, barely a fifth won a place at secondary school. National statistics for Kenya are considerably higher, at 82 percent and 49 percent for primary and secondary attendance respectively. The picture is far worse in Somalia itself, [ http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=90425 ], where primary school enrolment is 20 percent, with fewer than 10 percent going on to secondary school, according to UNICEF.

In Dadaab, money is the main problem. Despite being classified as a fundamental human right and recognized as providing much-needed psychological, physical and cognitive protection in emergency situations, education is the most underfunded sector in humanitarian aid. According to a recent report by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), [ http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/ED/pdf/gmr2011-facts-figures.pdf ] only 2 percent of total humanitarian assistance is spent on education.

In 2010, UNHCR received only 20 percent of the US$30 million required to educate refugee children. Worldwide, according to UNICEF, approximately 75 million children are not enrolled in primary school. Half of them live in countries affected by conflict.

"The international community is failing Somali refugees by not prioritizing access to education," Elizabeth Campbell of Refugees International (RI), an advocacy group, told IRIN. "The main reasons are lack of funding and lack of trained teachers. Even if there were more funding, there is a capacity problem that will be more challenging to address.

"Also, the Kenyan authorities have made it difficult to expand educational opportunities in Dadaab by not providing additional land required to build new structures."

According to a 2010 report by UNICEF assessing education in Dadaab's refugee camps, primary schools are stretched far beyond the standards for quality education, with each class accommodating 80 pupils instead of the stipulated 45. The schools also "have few Kenyan qualified teachers with nine trained and 800 untrained teachers in primary, 50 untrained and 35 trained teachers in secondary school".

Community initiatives

Three secondary schools have been set up by refugees themselves, but they only very partially bridge the gap in educational needs and they suffer from their own resource constraints.

"It is very difficult to manage a high school on a zero budget. We ask the students to pay some money for the teachers and maintenance," Mohamed Kasim, chairman and founder of the community-run secondary schools, told IRIN.

Another obstacle to quality education comes from a lack of materials such as laboratory apparatus and basic equipment for practical classes like science subjects. "I have never attended a laboratory class for the past three years. I am very worried about how I will handle the practical examination during the KCSE [Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education]," said Aweys, a form-four student.

The headmaster of Towfiq Community Secondary School in Ifo camp, Hassan A. Saney, said that despite the hardships, he is optimistic about his students sitting his school's first upcoming national examination. "We are expecting to receive some laboratory equipment by mid-March and hopefully we will have done something before we sit for the final examination," he said.

The community initiative attracted support from NGOs Windle Trust Kenya (WTK) and CARE in the form of donations toward stationery and reference books. UNHCR also brought in qualified national teachers to the community schools.

WTK said a funding crisis meant money for schooling had to go to refugee teachers serving the schools and end-of-term examination papers. In addition, each student is required to pay KSh3,300, or $38 to be fully registered for 2011 admission, which many cannot afford. "We ourselves are forced to pay this money but in reality, we cannot afford it. We have to sell the little food we are given by WFP [World Food Programme] which is not even enough," said Farhio, a form-four student from Towfiq Community Secondary School.

Schoolteachers insist that non-payment of fees should not be a hindrance. "We never allow qualified students to leave the school because they can't afford to pay the money but a contribution from the community is paramount for a better society," said Abdullahi, a teacher in Dagahaley community secondary school.

A grim future

Except in the unlikely event of resettlement to a third country, even those who manage to complete secondary education in Dadaab have few opportunities for employment within the camps. But as RI's Campbell says: "I don't think that should be a reason to deny any child access to education. Some of the refugee graduates filter into urban areas or move elsewhere in the region and are able to start businesses and gain access to income and self-sufficiency."

Refugee teachers are paid about $70 a month. While many refugees work for aid agencies in various capacities, they tend to receive meagre "incentive payments" rather than proper salaries, purportedly because of Kenya's restrictive labour laws.

Lack of opportunity is a concern: "These idle youths turn to drugs and then indulge in criminal activities which in turn lead to insecurity problems. If something is not done I am afraid that these youth might even join the militia groups fighting back in their homes of origin," said Liban Rashid, a youth spokesperson from Ifo camp.

In 2009, Human Rights Watch reported that Somalia's Transitional Federal Government was also recruiting in the Dadaab camps and claimed that despite their denials, the Kenyan government was involved in the process.

mh/zm/am/mw[END]

Record charcoal prices in Somaliland prompt search for alternatives

Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)

Date: 08 Mar 2011

HARGEISA, 8 March 2011 (IRIN) - Record charcoal prices in Somalia's self-declared independent region of Somaliland are threatening the livelihoods of many poor urban families who have limited alternative energy sources.

"Charcoal prices in Somaliland have increased in the past six months from 25,000 [Somaliland] shillings [US$5.50] per 25kg sack to 40,000 shillings [$7.50], making it difficult to us to buy charcoal, which we depend on to cook food for our families," Muna Ahmed, an internally displaced mother of nine, told IRIN. "We are now suffering; we do not know what to cook with."

The average urban household uses two to three bags of charcoal per month. In 2005, this monthly expenditure was about $10.

Abdi-Risak Bashir Libah, an environmental director at Candlelight for Health, Education and Environment, an NGO [ http://candlelightsomal.org/ ] , said: "Because of the increasing urban population in Somaliland and the high demand for charcoal, its prices will increase even more. The problem will continue, unless alternatives are found."

Some 95 percent of Somaliland's 1.6m urban residents - about half the total population - use charcoal as their main source of cooking energy. This amounts to an annual consumption of some two million bags and up to 2.5 million trees, according to a 2007 report by the Academy for Peace and Development (APD) [ http://www.apd-somaliland.org/docs/apd2006rbc.pdf ].

The consequent deforestation reduces rainfall, soil depth and grass cover in Somaliland, where up to 65 percent of the population are pastoralists. As the viability of this livelihood diminishes, many pastoralists have turned to charcoal production to make ends meet, further accelerating the deforestation.

Alternatives

In an effort to slow down this vicious cycle, the government has imposed load limits on charcoal trucks, and is working on longer-term solutions, according to Abdikarim Aden Omar, director of the Environment Department in Somaliland's Ministry of Livestock, Environment and Pastoralist Development.

"We know that prices of woodland charcoal have increased, even though it is the only energy for cooking in Somaliland; but as a ministry, we can't do anything in the short term. Our plan is to put in place a long-term strategy, which includes searching for investments in coal [of which Somaliland has considerable unexploited deposits], solar, and gas energy sources," Omar said.

In 2005, a presidential task force was set up to look into alternatives to charcoal, but political upheavals in the country interfered. "After we discussed the issue, we agreed to send some people to India to get more experience, because India uses cattle waste as cooking energy," Somaliland's former vice-president, Ahmed Yusuf Yasin, told IRIN. "But before we did that, the new government came in [after parliamentary elections in September 2005]."

Libah says Candlelight has also been exploring alternatives to charcoal. "We have urged the government to decrease taxes on gas and kerosene stoves as well as on natural gas," he said. The organization also promotes more fuel-efficient stoves and the use of mesquite, an invasive plant that has been expanding in Somaliland over the past 20 years.

While using kerosene to cook would cost the average household some $14.30 a month, only about 5 percent of the population uses this fuel because it is not well known and supplies have been unreliable in the past.

Liquefied petroleum gas is another option, but one 11kg cylinder requires a $45 deposit, with each refill costing around $20 and lasting the average household about 20 days. Another deterrent is the widespread belief that the cylinders tend to explode.

Electrical energy is also beyond the reach of most households, with each kilowatt/hour costing about $1, one of the highest rates in the world.

However, for major shifts to take effect and for the high charcoal prices to push people toward alternatives, solutions cannot come from communities and the business sector alone, according to Candlelight executive director, Ahmad Ibrahim Awale.

"Viable solutions can work but they lack necessary support, promotion and social marketing from development agencies," he said.

"The link between deforestation and recurring droughts should also be clearly highlighted. A political will and commitment from the government to support the process through enactment of conducive polices, tax exemption from all alternative energies, will also play a pivotal role facilitating such shift."

Mohamed Hashi Elmi, Somaliland's Minister of Finance, says such steps are being taken.

"Somaliland government is encouraging everything to stop charcoal use and environmental degradation in the country. We have already made 100 percent tax cuts on imported LPG equipment and we will do the same for gas stove importers," he said.

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WFP Steps Up Response To Somalia Drought With New Food Distributions In Mogadishu

Source: United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Date: 08 Mar 2011

MOGADISHU – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners this week began an emergency distribution of food to an additional 50,000 people in Mogadishu in response to the drought gripping much of the country.

"WFP and its partners are doing all we can to feed the hungry – especially women and children - who have been forced from their homes by a combination of drought and conflict," said Stefano Porretti, WFP Somalia Country Director. "They are caught in the middle, squeezed on all sides, and need our support."

The additional food, consisting of high energy biscuits, fortified with vitamins and minerals, was distributed at 20 camps on the outskirts of the capital. The distribution followed an assessment by WFP and the Danish Refugee Council and Norwegian Refugee Council of the needs of displaced families forced to move closer to the capital because of the drought.

Breakdown:

- In total, WFP aims to provide food assistance to 1.2 million people in Somalia in 2011.

- As well as providing high energy biscuits to an additional 50,000 people in Mogadishu, WFP will work with its partners to open new centres providing cooked meals in or near camps for displaced people.

- These new centres will be in addition to 20 feeding centres that WFP supports across Mogadishu, feeding a total of 85,000 people each day.

- The total number of people being fed by WFP in Mogadishu now stands at 240,000.

- WFP is feeding 710,000 people in central and northern Somalia because of drought, conflict, rising food and fuel prices.

- Overall in responding to the increasing needs, WFP is using general food distributions where the need is clear but also focusing on approaches that are more tightly targeted – such as supplementary feeding of malnourished children.

- In February, WFP and eight partners began supplementary feeding of 18,200 malnourished children and pregnant or nursing mothers at 49 locations in six-drought stricken districts in the Mudug and Galgadud regions of central Somalia.

- The families of malnourished children also receive a WFP ration, raising the total being fed as part of the new initiative in the six districts to 100,000 people.

- Since January to the end of March, WFP targets 170,000 displaced people in three districts in central Somalia with food on top of 250,000 receiving monthly general food distributions.

- In Somaliland in the Northwest, WFP trebled in the last three months the number of children and pregnant or nursing women assisted to combat malnutrition.

- In Puntland in the Northeast, WFP is doubling the number of women and children being helped through nutrition programmes.

WFP urgently needs US$46 million to feed 1.2 million people in Somalia for the next six months and we have already reduced the size of rations for vulnerable groups including the displaced in Mogadishu because of the shortfalls.