Humanitarian response in Somalia: Monthly cluster report, Nov 2008

This report was written in cooperation with the cluster coordinators for the humanitarian operation in Somalia and provides a monthly update on ongoing activities and humanitarian response.

HIGHLIGHTS

- 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 levels of severe acute malnutrition have reached nearly 6% compared to 3% in May 2008.

- During the month of November, more than 72,000 people were displaced in Somalia mainly due to insecurity.

- In November, WFP and ICRC distributed a total of 35,915 mt food aid to 1.6 million beneficiaries.

- WFP Somalia projected a food shortfall of 77,660mt valued at US$90.9million, from December 2008 to May 2009.

- The 2008 Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) for Somalia was 71% funded as of mid-December 2008.

- The Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) disbursed US$1,459,682 to five projects benefiting an estimated 206,000 people in the Afgooye corridor, Bakool, Galgaduud and Togdheer regions.

ACCESS & LOGISTICS

Due to continuing insecurity and violence challenging access, the UN relocated and reduced staff in a number of locations inside Somalia. The UN decided to upgrade Hargeysa and the route to Mandera and Gebiley from UN Security Phase 3 (Relocation) to 4 (Emergency Operation - ready for evacuation) following the 29 October bombings. The UN Security phase classification for the whole country is now Phase 4 except for Mogadishu and parts of Lower Juba which are in phase 5 (Evacuation).

In an effort to continue operational flexibility, WFP has set up a Rapid Response Support Team based in north-eastern Kenya on the boarder of Somalia. This will keep staff in closer proximity to Somalia and facilitate missions. Other fall-back options within Somalia are also being explored.

WFP transported 1,250 mt of food aid in 41 trucks across the Kenya-Somalia border into Gedo, Lower and Middle Juba regions of Somalia through Mandera and Liboi border following the reopening of the border posts on 28 November. The Kenyan Government had closed the border for all goods including relief cargo due to security concerns triggered by the abduction of two nuns in El Wak. Trans-border deliveries of humanitarian food aid into South Somalia were hampered, causing decreased deliveries for November distributions.

The new estimated non-food item (NFIs) pipeline for January to June 2009 is 350 cubic meters per month which is equal to 12 containers. This is a substantial reduction in cargo planned for Somalia in 2009 compared to 2008.

Many NFI consignments aimed for distribution to northern Somalia continued to be transshipped through Mombasa port instead of Djibouti. This is causing delays and increased risk of piracy, due to the long route. The cluster is therefore encouraging partners to plan their up-stream pipeline for the North of Somalia using Djibouti as the transshipment port for the relief items to be sent directly to Bossaso and Berbera ports. This will cut down on shipping costs, reduce both lead-times and risks of piracy.

Cluster Coordinator - Logistics:
Francesco Nicolo Cornaro, WFP, FrancescoNicolo.cornaro@wfp.org