Humanitarian Update
Somalia Civil Protection Programme removes land mines, makes Burao town habitable for returnees.

The Mine Action element of the Somali Civil Protection Programme (SCP) has successfully cleared in excess of 7,000 square metres of land in Burao town. Over 140 anti-personnel mines, two anti-tank mines and two 60 mm mortar rounds have been successfully removed and destroyed. As requested by the National Demining Agency of "Somaliland", UNDP's civil protection programme has expanded mine clearance in Burao to include the area where the traders intend to erect shops to provide commodities to the increasing number of people returning to settle Burao. In a bid to increase its mine and ordnance detection and disposal activities, the SCP has commissioned an international demining company and bomb "sniffing dog team" that arrived Burao on 9 August. This company hired 51 Somali humanitarian demining personnel, previously trained by SCP, to effectively expand mine removal and disposal activities. In cooperation with WFP, mine awareness in Burao will improve through the recruitment of women's groups to effectively provide instruction in mine awareness to the inhabitants of the areas in which mine action is undertaken. In support to Law Enforcement, the Somalia Civil Protection Programme has provided 830 police uniforms to divisions of the Hargeisa Police, Immigration, Customs, Mandera Police Training Center and Burao Police. Four police vehicles for the Burao Police Division have also been repaired and the Togdheer Police Regional Headquarters has been substantially rehabilitated.

National Immunization Days (NIDs): Update of the first round of "Kick-Polio-Out-of-Somalia" campaign (15-19 August).

In splendid show of solidarity, Somali leaders in Southern and Central Somalia have joined hands with the health workers from the UN, International NGOs and Somali health professionals at the start of the first round of a polio immunization campaign aimed at eradicating polio from Somalia. Participating in the five-day vaccination campaign, which kicked off on 15 August, are over 605 teams of about 2500 health workers using over 650 vehicles. The teams intend to vaccinate about 900,000 children under five in approximately 2800 villages, towns and nomadic settlements in central and southern Somalia. Reports received so far indicate that the campaign is going well even in the conflict towns of Baidoa, Mogadishu, Kismayo, Hoddur, Tiyeglow, Elberde, etc also including the small Indian Ocean islands (Fuma and Mudava) off the coast of Kismayo. International NGOs and Somali health authorities all over Southern and Central Somalia have reported successes in Bakool, Galgudud, Bay, Benadir, and Lower Juba regions. This is the first time that any developmental campaign is organized in Bakool and Galgudud regions in the last eight years. Also in the other five regions, namely Hiran, Middle and Lower Shabelle and Juba valley there are many districts where no health campaign was organized in the last two decades e.g. Mahas, Mataban, El-Wak, the desert districts of Galgudud-Galhareri, Elgaras, Elbur, Dhusamareb, Adado, Balambale and Abudwak, etc. The participating NGOs are ARC, TROCAIRE, MEMISA, IMC, COSV, AMREF, SCR, World Vision, Somali Red Crescent Society, Mercy International, MSF (B), MSF (S), CEFA, CISP, Muslim Aid (UK), and several Somali NGOs - Somaction, GRS (Grassroots Services), Somali Community Services (SCS), and the regional and district administrations of respective regions, Joint Health Authority in Mogadishu, great participation and contribution is evident from the Somali professionals and communities themselves.

In spite of the numerous difficulties, faced by Somalia, WHO and UNICEF had successfully concluded a National Polio Immunization Campaign in the Northeast and Northwest of Somalia last year. The campaign is implemented by the health sector NGOs jointly with their Somali counterparts. Vaccine contributions are from CDC Atlanta (USA), financial support from Rotary International, logistical support from UNICEF and UNDP, and both technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Relief and Development by Operational Areas.

SOUTHERN ZONE: Normal programme activities continued. On 15 August, the first round of the sub-National Immunization Days started in Kismayo and its environment.

CENTRAL ZONE: In Mogadishu and other parts of the central zone, the first round of the sub-National immunization days (NIDs) as part of the Kick-Polio-Out-of-Africa campaign continues in full speed. The reconstruction of Beled Weyne's airport by ICAO is in full progress. In the last half of July, WFP distributed a total of 996.8 metric tonnes, comprising 773.3 metric tonnes of cereals, 170.2 metric tonnes of pulses and 53.3 metric tonnes of oil, to beneficiaries in Bay, Hiran, Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, and Middle Juba regions. During this period, an emergency intervention in Bay and Bakool regions was carried out following crop failure in the two regions and population displacement due to shortage of food supplies. Food aid distributions were successfully carried out in Qansadhere, Berdale, Wajid, Elberde and Baidoa. Also from 20 - 23 July, a WFP Somalia team, consisting international and national staff members traveled to Bardera district of Gedo region and then by road to Qansadhere district of Bay region to oversee the distribution of relief food provided by the Programme.

NORTHEAST: Normal programme activities continue. On 27 July, the M/V "Jens Munk" chartered by the WFP arrived at the port of Bossaso with a cargo consisting of 901.76 metric tonnes of maize, wheat, pulses and vegetable oil.

NORTHWEST: Normal programme activities continued. As a result of the economic crisis currently being faced in the Northwest, the FSAU predicts an additional food requirement of 100 metric tonnes per month from September to December 1998, over and above the 270 metric tonnes already allocated to ongoing WFP programmes. A contribution from the Government of Italy will enable WFP to locally procure the required quantity of food aid in support of labour intensive projects.

Prepared by the United nations coordination unit (UNCU), in collaboration with the Chief Security Advisor.

United nations country team (UNCT) SOMALIA MONITOR is issued out of various reports received from the field. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the United Nations. Queries and submissions should be forwarded to the UNCU, Facsimile No: (254-2) 448439 and Telephone No: (254-2) 448434

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