- A suicide attack on 3 December at Shamo Hotel in Mogadishu left 24 people dead, including four Transitional Federal Government (TFG) ministers, and more than 46 seriously injured. The hotel was hosting a graduation ceremony for medical students from Banadir University.

- According to the latest update from Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit's (FSNAU), there are signs of improvement in the overall food security in Somalia, following average and above average 2009 Deyr rains. As a result, in 2010, the total number

In its First Assessment Report in 1990, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that the gravest effects of climate change may be those on human mobility. Over the last year, some progress has been made within both the academic and the humanitarian policy community in seeking answers to some basic questions arising from this issue, such as how and where people are displaced, who and how many are displaced, and how (if at all) they are protected. In parallel, work has been done to highlight this issue in the climate change negotiations. (1)

WHO has confirmed the Pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 for the first time in Somalia. Two out of 10 samples tested positive for novel H1N1 (pandemic strain) on 3 November 2009 in a referral laboratory in Nairobi, Kenya. Ethiopia and Kenya have already confirmed cases of H1N1, including from within refugee camps close to the Somali border. In collaboration with Somali health authorities, WHO has developed a national plan for H1N1 vaccination (vaccination of health workers and high-risk groups such as pregnant women) in accordance with WHO guidelines.

Nairobi 10 November 2009

Aid groups are raising increasing alarm over a delay in international food aid towards famine-stricken Somalia. Concerns over the misdirection of aid to an Islamic militant group has threatened contributions from the United States and other Western donors.

The World Food Program says nearly half the Somali population is in need of emergency food relief.

Ongoing lawlessness, plus a brutal drought has left much of central and southern Somalia with a severe food deficit,

The food security situation in all livelihoods of Somalia remains as classified during the post Gu '09 assessment (June-July '09). The early Deyr rains have begun to improve the situation in the drought affected north and the central areas. There is a good off-season cereal and cash crop production in Juba regions in the south. Cereal prices have decreased in the south, except in areas that suffered from Gu '09 crop failure. The urban poor food security situation is showing improvement in the south, northeast and northwest, where declines in the cost of minimum

- Although early Deyr rains (October-December) have begun to improve the situation in some parts of Somalia, the overall food security situation in the country will not change in the coming six months. At least 3.6 million people, nearly 50 percent of the country's population, will continue to require humanitarian assistance or livelihood support.

- El Niño affected rains have increased the risk of flooding in southern Somalia. In October, localised flooding temporarily displaced up to 16,000 people. Water borne disease outbreaks

The Health Cluster Bulletin is issued on a monthly basis; and is available online at www.emro.who.int/somalia/healthcluster

Contributions are to be sent to cluster@nbo.emro.who.int

HIGHLIGHTS

- 2 cases of Cholera in Banadir hospital have been laboratory confirmed.

- War casualties were the major challenge