Operation Highlights

Somalia is the country generating the third highest number of refugees in the world, after Afghanistan and Iraq. UNHCR leads protection and emergency relief interventions targeting 700,000 IDPs out of a total IDP population estimated at 1.1 million and over 2,300 refugees in Somalia.

Somalia’s main rainy season (Gu) began in mid March. While bringing relief to dry conditions, the intense rains have led to flooding, crop damage and displacements. Flash floods were reported in Baidoa and Jowhar and strong rains in the Ethiopian highlands led to increased water levels along the Juba and Shabelle rivers. River embankment openings and breakages have led to localized flooding. The most affected areas include parts of Middle and Lower Shabelle and Bay region.

The Global Overview collates information from a range of sources and displays it in a manner that allows for quick comparison of different humanitarian crises.

Floods and droughts have been particularly devastating to the region, bringing significant water shortages, economic losses and adverse social consequences.

Overview

Across the East Africa region, consecutive good seasons transformed food security conditions from the initial low point in 2011, which was a great relief coming out of a severe drought. However, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) continued working with other players including government and regional bodies such as the Inter-Governmental Climate Information, Prediction,

AFR/2610
PA/11

NEW YORK, 30 April (Department of Political Affairs) — The United Nations Trust Fund for the Fight against Piracy today approved a package of projects in support of anti-piracy efforts in Somalia and other affected States in the region, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Maldives and the Seychelles.

The announcement was made in New York by United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, who chaired the Board of the Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.

Des améliorations limitées par le début de la période de soudure

MESSAGES CLÉS

• Compte tenu de l'impact des faibles précipitations, et du début de la période de soudure, on s’attend généralement à ce que la sécurité alimentaire se détériore au cours des six prochains mois, en particulier dans les zones de mode de vie du Sud-est frontalier et les zones rurales de la région d’Obock.

White maize is the main staple grain consumed in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia. In Uganda, white maize is grown mainly as a commercial crop for export in the region. Imported rice is a major staple for Djibouti and Somalia, which mainly consume belem—the imported red rice. Tanzania is also a major producer and source of rice in the region while Kenya and Uganda are minor producers. Both red and white sorghum are produced and consumed in the region. This is an important staple in Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia as well as in other marginal agricultural areas of the region.

Failure of the Heys/Dadaa rains

KEY MESSAGES

• Most households in areas especially hard hit by the failure of the Heys/Dadaa rains are experiencing Crisis acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3). There is mounting strain on their livelihoods and normal sources of food and income will continue to fail to meet household food consumption requirements.

• High staple food prices are beyond the purchasing power of poor households. Market prices in non-coastal areas hinge on the availability of food assistance.