Appeal Target: US$ - 3,800,321

Geneva, 17 February 2009

Dear Colleagues,

- The latest nutrition surveys conducted by the UN Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) in October and November confirm the continuing humanitarian crisis, particularly in Central Somalia where some levels of severe malnutrition are nearly 6% compared to 3% in May 2008. The emergency threshold is 4%. FSAU highlighted the urgent need for livelihood and humanitarian interventions to save lives and livelihoods.

- In the Shabelle regions, however, the nutrition situation including among the displaced populations has improved and is now below the emergency threshold.

ETHIOPIA: Increased humanitarian

FAO's Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) reported that the threats of floods in the riverine areas of South Somalia are diminishing in the upper river reaches of Juba River. However, river levels are still high in the mid-and lower reaches. Consequently, there is still the possibility of reduced moderate flooding in the lower reaches of the Juba for the coming week. River levels for the Shabelle have been rising and raising concerns especially near Jowhar, in Middle Shabelle region, and surrounding areas where uncontrolled irrigation

The flooding occurred around the town of Kurtunwarey, 140km south of Mogadishu.

"In Afgoye Yarey alone, the population of some 1,750 families [about 10,500 people], were affected. Not a single resident is there now," Sidow Hassan Arkey, an elder, told IRIN on 19 November.

"We were about to harvest [crops]

During the week, Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) raised the flood alert from moderate to high on the Shabelle and Juba Rivers following significant rainfall in parts of South Somalia and the Ethiopian highlands where the two rivers originate. According to SWALIM, river levels have increased dramatically with massive waters seen at Doolow, Luuq and Baardheere in Gedo region raising serious concerns of flooding in the lower reaches of the Juba River. The rainfall forecast for the coming days is light to moderate rains in

In these five Districts of M/Shabelle Region namely: Warsheik, Adale, Aden Yabaal, Mahaday and Balad the Sanitation and Hygiene conditions were very poor after the collapse of previous regime. People have inadequate of access getting of safe drinking water, people are eating contaminated food.

As result of these conditions many people died, malnourished and got sick especially marginalized women and children and Aged people who can not cope the effects of poor sanitation and hygiene.

There were high influx of IDPs fled from