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Somalia

EPI watch: Epidemiological Bulletin for Epidemic-prone diseases in Somalia for Week 24-25 of 2023 (12 - 25th Jun 2023)

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Current situation

Somalia is experiencing worsening drought following five consecutive seasons of failed rainy season. According to the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) and Famine Early Warning Network (FEWS NEST), Somalia received suboptimal amount of dyer rains than expected since October 2021. Currently, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) estimates that the number of people affected by extreme drought has risen from 7.8 million in January to 8.3 million in March 2023, with 1.3 million displaced from their homes in search of water, food, and pasture. Nearly 6.6 million people – 38.8 per cent of the population - are acutely food insecure. For the first time since 2017, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has confirmed pockets of emergency food insecurity affecting 4.3 million people (IPC 3) and 40350 in catastrophic food insecurity (Phase 5). An estimated 1.8 million children under 5 face acute malnutrition, including 478 000 who are severely malnourished. According to the weather forecast by FSNAU, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected over several areas in southern, central, and north-western parts of Somalia with dry conditions only in the north-eastern coastal areas. The heavy rains that started in April have affected 468 000 people and displaced 176 000 in Beletweyne and other districts The floods destroyed and contaminated 97 percent of water sources in Belwteyne town of Hirshabelle state. It is also estimated that about 8 million people in Somalia lack access to safe water and proper sanitation. The current situation including the displacement has led to more people being vulnerable to epidemic prone diseases, particularly acute diarrhoeal disease, and measles.