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USAID Information:
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Somalia – Complex Emergency
April 21, 2008
Situation Report #4, Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 (PDF, 50kb)
Map (PDF, 281kb)
Background
Since 1991, widespread violence, endemic poverty, and recurrent droughts and floods have generated a complex emergency in Somalia. Continued civil strife and inter-clan conflicts have complicated the humanitarian situation and limited access to affected areas. Large-scale fighting since late December 2006 between the Somalia Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Ethiopian forces, and armed militias opposed to the TFG has led to a further deterioration in humanitarian conditions. As a result, approximately 335,000 Somali refugees have fled the country, and approximately 1 million people have been displaced within Somalia.
In February 2008, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) for Somalia reported that nearly 2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, an increase from approximately 1 million as of January 2007. The combined effects of the failed April–June (gu) rains, poor October–December (deyr) rains, conflict, massive displacement, and diarrheal disease in 2007 have severely exacerbated the food security situation and resulted in a significant increase in acute malnutrition rates, according to the 2008 U.N. Consolidated Appeal for Somalia. U.N. and relief agencies are coordinating efforts to improve access, but insecurity continues to hinder the provision of emergency assistance to affected populations.
On October 3, 2007, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Michael E. Ranneberger redeclared a disaster due to the ongoing complex emergency in Somalia. In FY 2007 and to date in FY 2008, the U.S. Government (USG) has provided more than $167 million for emergency food assistance, health, nutrition, agriculture and food security, livelihoods coordination, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene programs, as well as peacebuilding activities, refugee assistance, and air operations.
Numbers at a Glance
|
| Source |
|---|
| Estimated Displacement from Mogadishu (1) |
745,000 |
FSAU – Apr. 9, 2008 |
| Long-Term IDP(2) Caseload |
400,000 |
OCHA(3) – July 31, 2007 |
| Additional Population in Need of Assistance |
910,000 |
FSAU – Apr. 2008 |
| Somalia Refugees in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Yemen |
335,000 |
UNHCR (4) 2006 Global Trends Report – June 2007 |
FY 2007 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING PROVIDED TO DATE
| Amount |
| USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance to Somalia: |
$27,780,587 |
| USAID/FFP (5) Humanitarian Assistance to Somalia: |
$124,654,000 |
| USAID/OTI (6) Assistance to Somalia |
$1,000,000 |
| USAID/CMM (7) Assistance to Somalia |
$750,000 |
| State/PRM (8) Humanitarian Assistance to Somalia: |
$13,471,560 |
| Total USAID and State Humanitarian Assistance to Somalia: |
$167,656,147 |
Current Situation
Humanitarian conditions in Somalia continue to deteriorate as a result of the cumulative impact of ongoing insecurity, widespread displacement, the onset of drought conditions, and escalating food prices, particularly affecting Galgadud, Mudug, Hiran, Middle Shabelle, and Lower Shabelle regions, as well as northern areas of Sool and Nugal regions. In April, a joint report by USAID’s Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) and FSAU projected an increase in the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance and livelihood support from 2 million to as many as 2.5 million over the next six months.
On March 26, nearly 40 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) released a joint statement highlighting the increasing number of displaced and affected persons and reduced humanitarian access resulting from an increase in targeted attacks against humanitarian workers in recent months. In addition, OCHA reports that insecurity and fighting have expanded beyond Mogadishu to other parts of the country, including Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions.
Population Movements and Protection
According to UNHCR, insecurity and sustained attacks against TFG and Ethiopian troops have displaced more than 78,000 people from Mogadishu since January 1, 2008, bringing the total number of IDPs to approximately 745,000 since January 2007. In addition, IDPs identify food shortages and an increased cost of living as contributing factors to displacement from the capital. In March, clashes in Mogadishu’s main Bakara market resulted in civilian casualties and further population displacement to other areas of the city and nearby regions.
In addition to ongoing population movements out of Mogadishu due to security concerns, UNHCR reports a growing trend of IDPs moving to and from urban and rural areas due to increasing food and water shortages. UNHCR also notes family movements between Mogadishu and adjacent Afgooye, Lower Shabelle Region, to maximize access to humanitarian assistance. However, since February, an estimated 1,200 IDPs have returned from Galgadud Region to Mogadishu, as host communities facing severe drought conditions are unable to accommodate IDPs. Water shortages have also led to the displacement of an additional 6,000 people from areas of Mudug, Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, Bay, and Galgadud regions.
Humanitarian Access
The expansion of conflict to areas outside of Mogadishu and a rise in targeted attacks against humanitarian staff, including killings, kidnappings, and carjacking, are exacerbating restrictions on humanitarian access. Since January, OCHA reports 7 relief worker deaths, 5 kidnappings, and 14 carjackings or attempted carjackings. On April 5, a group of armed men attacked two UNHCR staff members in Garowe, Nugal Region.
Since January 2007, relief agencies report that the number of checkpoints and roadblocks throughout Somalia has nearly tripled, bringing the current total to 396. Since early April, insecurity along the main route in Middle Shabelle Region has delayed the departure of food convoys from Mogadishu to Galgadud and Mudug regions. At present, the convoys remain in Mogadishu, pending an improvement in the security situation, according to OCHA.
Agriculture and Food Security
An abnormally severe January–March (jilaal) dry season, increasing rates of inflation, and insufficient March to May rains have increased food insecurity in central and southern Somalia and among urban poor and IDP populations, according to FSAU and FEWS NET. The rapid devaluation of the Somali shilling, increased transportation costs, and conflict-related disruptions in trade and import activities have also contributed to significant commodity price increases in many parts of central and southern Somalia, further exacerbating food security concerns. OCHA reports increases in maize and sorghum prices of up to 400 percent in the last 12 months.
According to OCHA, current climate conditions indicate the likelihood of below normal performance of the May to June (gu) rains, critical to replenishing water sources, regenerating pasture, and sustaining the August harvest.
In light of FEWSNET and FSAU's estimate of increasing numbers of individuals in need of humanitarian assistance, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) and CARE are revising food assistance programs to address increased needs and expand the number of current beneficiaries from 1 million to 1.9 million. To date in FY 2008, USAID/FFP has provided more than $89 million to WFP and CARE for emergency food assistance to displaced and vulnerable populations throughout Somalia.
Health and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Between March 10 and April 18, OCHA reported more than 750 cases of acute watery diarrhea, including 11 deaths, in Dhahar District, Sanaag Region. OCHA reports that limited health staff capacity in the area is undermining efforts to contain the outbreak. However, the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) are providing chlorine for drinking water and implementing hygiene and sanitation interventions. In FY 2008, USAID/OFDA is supporting U.N. and NGO partner health and water, sanitation, and hygiene activities countrywide, including nearly $600,000 to Merlin to promote safe hygiene practices and to improve access to health services in Galgadud Region.
On March 25, WHO announced the successful eradication of polio in Somalia due to the coordinated implementation of a national vaccine program reaching more than 1.8 million children under the age of five.
For detailed information on U.S. Government humanitarian assistance to Somalia, please see Somalia Complex Emergency - Situation Report #4 (pdf, 49kb)
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