With the exception of a heavy rainstorm in late June, rainfall in southern Somalia was light and sporadic during June and July. Prospects for the gu (main season) harvest remain poor, but the heavy rainstorm replenished waterholes and improved pastures in the central rangelands. The rainstorm also reduced the rat population in some areas, possibly helping to contain crop damage from the severe rat infestations that agricultural areas are enduring this year.
Harvest prospects also remain poor in Somaliland. Recent sporadic rains have led some farmers and agropastoralists to sow short-cycle maize crops, mainly to provide fodder for their livestock. Most sorghum crops grown in Somaliland are long-cycle varieties; replanting after June is not an option.

The Somalia Food Security Assessment Unit estimates food aid needs in southern Somalia at 11,800 MT for July through September. However, stock levels in Somalia total only about 4,700 MT, which WFP is distributing during the same period. WFP-Rome recently approved a new Emergency Operations Program (EMOP) that will permit donors to make new pledges and that could allow borrowing of stocks from other food aid programs in the region. There are no signs yet of sudden increases in malnutrition or other indicators of problems brought on by food shortages. Based on the gu harvest assessment that it will release in September, the Somalia Food Security Assessment Unit will determine the amount of additional food aid needs between October and December.

The livestock import ban imposed by Saudi Arabia is still in effect. Somaliland lost more than US$30 million of livestock trade and US$3.6 million of revenue between February and June, and an economic crisis has ensued. In response, a Somalia Aid Coordination Body task force that comprises donor representatives has put together a short-term financial rescue package to carry Somaliland to the end of the year. The package focuses on quick-disbursing, labor-intensive public works projects that can be completed within 6 months and that primarily benefit former militia and police and the urban unemployed.

The FEWS bulletin is published for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Africa Bureau, Assistant Administrator, Disaster Response Coordination (AFR/AA/DRC) by: The FEWS Project, No. 698-0491 (Contract No. AOT-0491-C-00-5021-00), ARD, Inc. Contractor: Associates in Rural Development, Inc., Burlington, VT.

Electronic hypertext versions are available at http://www.info.usaid.gov/fews/fews.html. This document should not be construed as an official Agency pronouncement. Comments and suggestions regarding the FEWS bulletin should be addressed to the FEWS Director at the address below.

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