ReliefWeb

HIGHLIGHTS

• Intensifying drought conditions contribute to deteriorating food security, trigger appeals for increased assistance

• UN releases 2017 HNO for Somalia

• USAID/FFP provides $30 million in FY 2017 emergency food assistance

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• Ongoing drought conditions are rapidly increasing and have exacerbated food insecurity and water shortages, particularly in the semi-autonomous regions of Puntland and Somaliland, as well as parts of Somalia’s central and southern regions. In October, the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) anticipated that the population experiencing Crisis—IPC 3—or Emergency—IPC 4—levels of food insecurity would increase from 1.1 to 1.4 million people by May 2017; recently, FEWS NET noted that poor October–December deyr rainfall might cause a further increase in the food-insecure population.

• Insecurity continues to prompt population displacement, exacerbate needs, and impede humanitarian access. Between October and mid-December, intercommunal conflict and clashes between armed groups and security forces displaced an estimated 144,700 people combined in Lower Shabell Region; Galkayo town, Mudug Region; and Qandala town, Puntland, according to UN reports.