 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
USAID Information:
External Links:
|
|
 |
 |
|
Somalia – Complex Emergency
June 17, 2009
Situation Report #6, Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 (PDF, 50kb)
Background
Since 1991, widespread violence, endemic poverty, recurrent droughts, and floods have generated a complex emergency
in Somalia. From December 2006 to January 2009, fighting between the Somalia Transitional Federal Government
(TFG), backed by Ethiopian forces, and armed militias opposed to the TFG led to a further deterioration in humanitarian
conditions. Following January 2009 Ethiopian troop withdrawals, conflict between armed militia groups in Somalia
continues to displace populations and limit access to affected areas. As a result, nearly 500,000 Somali refugees have
fled the country and more than 1.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), including long-term IDPs and
individuals displaced by increased fighting since February 2007, remain uprooted within Somalia.
In January 2009, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit
(FSNAU) reported that 3.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Somalia, representing 43 percent of
the total population and a 77 percent increase since January 2008. The combined effects of consecutive seasons of
failed or poor rainfall, continuing conflict, rising inflation, massive displacement, and diarrheal disease outbreaks have
severely exacerbated food insecurity and resulted in a significant increase in acute malnutrition rates, according to the
2009 U.N. Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) for Somalia. U.N. and partner agencies are coordinating efforts to
improve access, but insecurity and targeted attacks against relief staff hinder the provision of emergency assistance to
affected populations.
On October 31, 2008, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Michael E. Ranneberger redeclared a disaster in Somalia due to the
complex emergency. To date in FY 2009, the U.S. Government (USG) has provided more than $149 million for
humanitarian assistance programs in Somalia, including more than $9 million in USAID/OFDA funding to support
agriculture and food security, economy and market systems, health, nutrition, protection, and water, sanitation, and
hygiene interventions.
NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
| Total Population in Need of Emergency Assistance |
3.2 million |
FSAU – Jan. 2009 |
| IDPs since February 2007 |
1,288,288 |
UNHCR1 – Mar. 2009 |
| Long-Term IDPs |
275,000 |
FSAU – Jan. 2008 |
| Somali Refugees in East and Central Africa |
498,820 |
UNHCR – May 2009 |
|
FY 2009 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING
| USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance to Somalia: |
$9,084,706 |
| USAID/FFP2 Humanitarian Assistance to Somalia: |
$124,249,000 |
| State/PRM 3 Humanitarian Assistance to Somalia: |
.$16,000,000 |
| Total USAID and State Humanitarian Assistance to Somalia: |
$149,333,706 |
|
|
|
|
Current Situation
An escalation in fighting between TFG forces and
armed militia groups in Mogadishu since May 7 has
resulted in significant population displacement and
disruptions to trade and market activities, further
exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition. The
U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) notes that recent assessments project
the continuation of widespread food insecurity in many
parts of the country through November 2009.
Currently 3.2 million people, representing 43 percent
of the country’s population, require humanitarian
assistance and livelihood support, according to
FSNAU. In addition, in agro-pastoralist areas of Hiran
Region, FSNAU reports an escalation in global acute
malnutrition (GAM) and severe acute malnutrition
(SAM) rates exceeding 27 percent and 8 percent,
respectively, significantly above the GAM and SAM
emergency thresholds of 15 and 1 percent.
To date, the intermittent and sporadic performance of
the April to July gu rains have resulted in
predominantly below normal rainfall countrywide,
according to the USAID-supported Famine Early
Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET). Despite
normal rainfall levels in parts of Bay, Bakool, Middle
Shabelle, and Lower Shabelle regions, drought
conditions persist in Mudug, Galgadud, Nugal, Sool,
Sanag, and Togdher regions in central and northern
Somalia.
USAID/OFDA staff continue to monitor conditions
and address evolving needs resulting from the drought
and food security crisis, in addition to facilitating
coordination and information sharing among
international relief organizations.
Security and Access
Insecurity and targeted attacks against aid workers
continue to hinder humanitarian access and the delivery
of assistance and services to displaced and conflictaffected
populations. OCHA reports that increased
fighting in recent weeks has extended beyond the
capital of Mogadishu, including the major towns of
Jowhar and Mahaday, Middle Shabelle Region,
currently under the control of armed opposition groups
following May 17 and 18 attacks, respectively.
During the May 17 attack on Jowhar, armed militias
raided and looted the U.N Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
warehouse, resulting in significant property loss and
the destruction of most of UNICEF’s immunization
cold chain for central and south Somalia, as well as the
theft of food and nutrition commodities. In a May 20
report, UNICEF highlighted the disruption of
countrywide services due to losses associated with the
Jowhar site that served as the main hub for service
delivery to central and south Somalia, including
interruptions in the treatment of approximately 50,000
severely malnourished and more than 85,000
moderately malnourished children in central and south
Somalia and delays in the implementation of the
second round of the Child Health Days campaign. The
Child Health Days campaign provides health services
to children and to women of child-bearing age.
Between January 1 and April 30, the U.N reported the
abduction and subsequent release of six aid workers in
Somalia. However, 16 of the 26 aid workers abducted
during 2008 remain in captivity. In addition,
unidentified gunmen killed three local nongovernmental
organization (NGO) staff in an April 10
attack in Bakool Region.
In response to ongoing security concerns, the United
Nations Security Council passed a resolution extending
the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to
January 31, 2010. The May 22 resolution also
condemned the recent resurgence in fighting and
emphasized the need for all parties’ cooperation to
ensure unhindered humanitarian access to affected
populations.
Population Movements
An escalation in fighting since May 7 has reversed a
previously UNHCR-reported trend of increased IDP
returns to the capital in 2009 that had reached nearly
75,000 people between January 1 and early May.
However, between May 7 and June 10, conflict
between TFG forces and armed militias resulted in the
displacement of more than 122,000 people from
Mogadishu, including recently returned IDPs,
according to UNHCR. Of the total, approximately
34,000 IDPs moved to areas along the Afgooye
corridor adjacent to the capital, which accommodates
an estimated 400,000 previously displaced individuals.
Conflict displaced an additional 37,000 individuals
within Mogadishu and another 51,000 people to more
distant locations in Galgadud, Middle Shabelle, and
Lower Shabelle regions. OCHA reports shelter and
health assistance as priority needs among the newly
displaced.
In addition to internal displacement, insecurity
continues to contribute to increased population
movement across international borders. According to a
June 12 OCHA report, the number of Somali refugees
arriving in Kenya has recently doubled from an
average of 100 refugees a day to nearly 200 new
arrivals a day. Since January 1, nearly 32,000 Somalia
refugees have arrived in Kenya, increasing the total
number of Somali refugees in Kenya to more than
297,000 to date.
Severe overcrowding at the Dadaab refugee complex in
the North Eastern Province of Kenya remains a critical
concern among humanitarian agencies operating in the
area. Intended to accommodate 90,000 people, the
Dadaab complex currently hosts approximately
274,000 refugees, resulting in a lack of basic services
and associated health risks. Negotiations remain
ongoing between UNHCR and the Government of
Kenya to secure land for additional camp construction.
In addition, UNHCR plans to transfer up to 10,000
refugees to Kakuma camp in the Rift Valley Province
in northwestern Kenya to help reduce overcrowding in
Dadaab.
To date in FY 2009, State/PRM has contributed nearly
$9 million earmarked to support Somali refugees in
Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Yemen, as well as $16
million for UNHCR and International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) operations within Somalia.
Food Security
As a result of the poor performance of the gu rains in
the pastoral regions of Togdher, Sool, Nugal, and most
of Bari, Mudug, and Galgadud regions, FEWS NET
reports significant water and pasture shortages, leading
to reduced livestock productivity and associated
increases in food insecurity, as well as abnormal
migration patterns as pastoralist attempt to locate
alternative resources for their livestock. OCHA notes
that poor livestock conditions in affected areas have
contributed to a 20 to 35 percent decline below the
five-year average in pastoralists’ purchasing power,
further exacerbating food security concerns.
FEWS NET also reports the potential for inadequate
rainfall in agricultural areas of Hiran Region, and parts
of Bakool, Gedo, and Middle Juba regions to result in
below-normal August crop production.
Despite a slight decrease in local staple food prices in
April, price levels remain above the five-year average,
according to FEWS NET. In addition, FEWS NET
notes that disruptions to market activities resulting
from increased conflict and insecurity in Mogadishu
are expected to negatively impact the prices of food,
fuel, and other commodities in the coming weeks.
To date in FY 2009, USAID/OFDA has provided more
than $1.1 million to support agriculture and food
security programs in Somalia, including animal health
interventions intended to safeguard livelihood assets.
Health and Nutrition
Recent nutrition surveys confirm escalating levels of
acute malnutrition throughout Somalia. According to
FSNAU, seven nutrition assessments conducted
between March and April 2009 identified GAM and
SAM rates significantly above emergency thresholds in
Hiran Region and among Somaliland IDP populations
in Hargeisa, Burao, and Berbera. FSNAU confirmed
the highest malnutrition levels among Hiran Region
agro-pastoralists, with GAM and SAM rates averaging
25.5 percent and 8 percent, respectively, in children
under five years of age.
The U.N. estimates that approximately 45 percent of
the Somali population is moderately malnourished, in
addition to 90,000 children identified as severely
malnourished by UNICEF.
In response to increased malnutrition concerns, the
U.N. World Food Program (WFP) and partner
organizations have extended blanket supplementary
feeding programs to include nearly 90,000 targeted
children between 6 and 59 months of age in Mudug
and Galgadud regions, as well as nutrition
interventions for 20,000 malnourished children in Gedo
Region. In addition, OCHA reported that as of June
12, UNICEF and the U.N. World Health Organization
(WHO) Child Health Days campaign in southern
Somalia had reached more than 1 million children
under five years of age and more than 788,000 women
of child-bearing age. The campaign consists of
Vitamin A supplements, de-worming vaccinations,
nutrition screening, referral services, and oral rehydration
therapy.
To date in FY 2009, USAID/OFDA has provided more
than $1.8 million to support health and nutrition
activities in Somalia, including programs aimed at
improving essential health service provision for
vulnerable populations, as well as the continuation and
expansion of nutrition assessments. In addition, FY
2008 USAID/OFDA funding supports ongoing
nutrition and health programs, including the UNICEF
and WHO Child Health Days campaign and programs
aimed at mitigating acute malnutrition impacts on
children under five years of age.
Emergency Food Assistance
In April, WFP distributed more than 38,000 metric tons
(MT) of food to 2.9 million beneficiaries throughout
Somalia, representing 83 percent of planned
distributions. As a result of WFP road rehabilitation
programs, WFP notes improved food deliveries
typically impeded during the April to July rainy season
due to poor road infrastructure. According to WFP, the
WFP food assistance pipeline is projected to remain
full through October 2009.
Sea piracy off the coast of Somalia continues to pose a
significant security threat to the delivery of critical
humanitarian assistance to the region. As of June 12,
the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported 132
piracy incidents in 2009, exceeding the total number of
111 incidents in 2008. However, IMB reports indicate
that despite an increase in the number of attempted
hijackings, the number of successful hijackings has
remained below 2008 levels, with only 29 to date.
Increased piracy incidents underscore the need for
escorts to ensure delivery of critical humanitarian food
assistance to affected populations in Somalia. Since
December 2008, European Union naval escorts of
WFP-contracted ships have safely delivered more than
176,000 MT of assorted food to Somalia.
To date in FY 2009, USAID/FFP has provided nearly
160,000 MT of P.L. 480 Title II emergency food
assistance, valued at more than $124 million, to WFP
and CARE for distribution to vulnerable populations.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
The presence of waterborne diseases due to poor
sanitation and hygiene and a lack of safe drinking
water presents significant health risks for populations
throughout Somalia, particularly in drought-affected
areas. WHO cautioned that recent confirmed cases of
cholera in Mogadishu, Lower Juba, Lower Shabelle,
and Bay regions indicate the potential for a widespread
cholera outbreak.
To date in FY 2009, USAID/OFDA has provided
nearly $1.2 million to support water, sanitation, and
hygiene interventions countrywide, including programs
designed to increase access to safe drinking water
among IDP populations, as well as hygiene education
programs aimed at reducing the spread of waterborne
diseases.
For detailed information on U.S. Government humanitarian assistance to Somalia, please see Situation Report #6, Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 (PDF, 50kb)
Back to Top ^
|