Inter-cluster Rapid Assessment Report IDPs in Afmadow town, Lower Juba region 17-23 July, 2016

Background

Afmadow town which is located 157 km from Dhobley and 120km from Kismayo sea port city has been experiencing manmade and natural disasters including drought, water problems, water borne diseases, IDP influx from Middle Juba and other locations as a result of insecurity, floods and the search for humanitarian assistance. Afmadow town was recovered from “Al Shabaab by AMISOM/SNA on June, 2012.
At the beginning of June 2016, the Jubba River broke its banks and floods affected an estimated 5,000 households (30,000people) in 45 villages in Bu’ale and Jilib districts mostly along the river including farmlands according to local elders.

As the result an estimated 800 IDPs households ( 4,800 people) mainly of Somali Bantu origin arrived in Afmadow resulting in an increase in number of IDPs by 64 per cent in the town to a total of 7,900 people. Food, WASH, Shelter/NFIs, improved nutrition and health services remain the key priority needs.

From 17-23 July, with OCHA in the lead, humanitarian partners including WFP, IOM,WASDA, ARC, Adeso and WRRS and the Food Security and Livelihoods, Health, Education, and WASH cluster focal points, conducted a rapid assessment in Afmadow town to better understand the humanitarian situation of the IDPs and refugee returnees from Kenya and identify their immediate needs.

General observations

• According to the local authority, the population of Afmadow town is estimated at 14,750 households (89,000 people)
• According to the local administration and IDPs leadership nearly 70-80 per cent of new arrivals of IDPs are women and children.
• Double and heavy taxation that is imposed on commercial activities, flow of goods and services by both State and non-State actors is resulting in an increase in prices of goods and services which affect the living conditions of the population.
• Free movement of people particularly humanitarian partners on the road to and from Afmadow remains a challenge.
• Access to safe and clean water is the main challenge faced by both IDPs and the host community.
• Provision of safe water is a key priority according to the local administration and well as the local community. The population solely depends on shallow wells that in turn depends on good rains and flooding of lagdhera basin for water supply.
• According water committees interviewed, out of 35 shallow wells, only 5 are functional. Water sources are feared to be depleting for good in Afmadow town.
• Main social amenities (community facilities) such hospitals, schools, police/judiciary and market are operational but with very poor capacity and they all require rehabilitation to upgrade their standard. The absence of district offices have further limited the capacity of the local administration to deliver services to the population.