The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) issues periodic Watches when there are indications of a possible food security crisis. Decision makers should pay increasing attention to the situation highlighted in this Watch, and prioritize preparedness and contingency planning measures to address the situation.

Staple food shortages may trigger price increases

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

NAIROBI, 22 December (IRIN) - The availability of food for pastoralists in Djibouti next year will be adequate despite poor rainfall in the region recently, the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS Net) has reported.

FEWS Net said the "Heys/Dada" rains - which are essential for the viability of coastal dry season grazing areas - performed poorly in November.

"These rains serve a vital function in the migration cycle of pastoralists; by replenishing pasture, browse

Weeks of heavy rains have caused extensive flooding in central and southern Somalia and neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia . More than 100 people have died and up to 2 million people are affected across the three countries. Severe food insecurity caused by a prolonged drought throughout the region is affecting up to 8.5 million people. Outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases have been reported in Ethiopia and Kenya and lack of access to clean drinking water and hygienic sanitation is an issue.

Appealing Agency:

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO)

FEWS NET Alert Status

Highest Priority—Urgent Action Required

Emergency

Chad: Conflicts have put the entire population of eastern Chad at risk of food insecurity, despite the record harvest this year. Agricultural, commercial and vital humanitarian operations have been severely curtailed. See back page for more details.

Although the food security situation for pastoralists is currently satisfactory, the Heys/Dada rains, essential for the viability of coastal dry season grazing areas, performed very poorly (less than 20 percent of average in many areas) in November. These rains serve a vital function in the migration cycle of pastoralists: by replenishing pasture, browse and water points along the coastal belt, they support the nutritional status of small ruminants during the important period of early pregnancy. The WFP Emergency Operation (EMOP) will continue to provide

The Global Appeal 2007

Introduction

UNHCR's Global Appeal is published yearly to alert governmental and private sector donors, Executive Committee (ExCom) members and Standing Committee observers, Governments and their Permanent Missions in Geneva, the UN Secretariat, UN agencies, intergovernmental agencies, NGOs, regional organizations and other institutions and interested individuals to the plight of millions of refugees and others of concern to UNHCR. This tenth Global Appeal outlines the Office's strategies and programmes for 2007, and will be launched officially at UNHCR's annual

After the provision of a significant pack of veterinary products to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and See, in charge of Hydraulic Resources management, FAO is running, with the former a series of projects dealing with the setting of 35 ha of small agropastoral areas.

The choice of these agropastoral settings has been made according to the priorities of the Ministry, as well as following the United Nations' goals which aims at softening the weakness of the pastoralist population against the effects and consequences of the drought by the realization

Weekly Introduction: Flooding continues in the Greater Horn

(pdf* format - 569 KB)

Somalis unite with Horn of Africa partners to address HIV/AIDS

Hargeisa - (Monday 13 November 2006) - "Due to the high level of mobility in the Horn of Africa, important population groups consistently remain outside the reach of national efforts to address HIV/AIDS. It is imperative that we jointly respond to HIV vulnerability among mobile populations and the host populations with whom they interact". This was the consensus of representatives of AIDS Commissions from Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, north and south Sudan, Somaliland, Puntland and