ReliefWeb

This report is produced by OCHA Somalia in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 20 to 27 June 2017.

Highlights

• Drought conditions are deepening as a result of poor Gu rains and are now expected to continue until the coming Deyr season in October. According to the Gu 2017 Rainfall Performance report issued by the FAO-led Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM), the much-anticipated Gu rainy season was generally poor and considerably below normal, across the country.

• While the general trend for new displacements since May has been downward, interim statistics issued in June by the UNHCR-led Protection and Return Monitoring Network (PRMN) indicate a renewed increase in drought-induced movements, particularly in Bay Region. An estimated 13,500 people arrived in Baidoa town between 1 and 23 June, originating mainly from villages in Bardaale town, Diinsoor and Qansax Dheere districts, Bay region, and Rab Dhuure district in Bakool.

• AWD/cholera cases continue to be reported in the displacement settlements in Baidao, Banadir and other locations. More than 53,000 AWD/cholera cases and 795 related deaths have been recorded countrywide in 2017, according to the latest reports by the Ministry of Health for Somalia.

• More than 19.2 million heads of livestock have been treated against common diseases since March,benefiting 2.9 million people across all regions of Somalia (with the exception of Middle Juba, due to insecurity).

6.7 m People in need.

3.2 m in IPC Phase 3 and 4

761,000 People displaced by drought since November 2016

11,776 Reported cases of suspected measles in 2017

19.2 million heads of livestock treated for common diseases

53,015 Reported cases of AWD/cholera in 2017, including 795 deaths

$772m Total reported humanitarian funding in 2017 (HRP+ non-HRP funding)

Situation Overview

Drought conditions continue to affect most parts of the country, following a generally poor Gu 2017 rainy season.

The Gu 2017 Rainfall Performance Report issued by the FAO-led SWALIM on 27 June indicates that except for a few places in Puntland, Somaliland and the southern regions of Bay, Lower and Middle Juba that received good rains in May and June, many parts of the country received below-average rainfall. The rains were sporadic and scattered, with an early cessation reported in Puntland and many parts of southern and central regions. The rains received in May boosted growth of pasture and crop production in the agropastoral areas of Somaliland that may continue to benefit from the Karan rains between June and August. Increased river levels were reported along the Juba and Shabelle river basins, and were good for irrigation, livestock and domestic use. Most parts of the country remain water stressed, with only 20 to 40 per cent of the ground water sources sufficiently re-charged.

The drought conditions are expected to continue until the coming Deyr season in October. Climate model predictions indicate a 45 per cent possibility of an El Niño event in late 2017, which often results in enhanced rainfall in Somalia. More rains are required to end the impacts of the drought in the country.

Protection partners (PRMN) recorded significant drought-related distress migrations from parts of Bakool, Bay, parts of Ethiopia, Lower and Middle Shabelle regions, into urban centres and settlements in Baidoa, Banadir, Gedo, Lower Juba and Togdheer regions. These areas have received very little rainfall in 2017. New arrivals interviewed by protection partners reported increased livestock losses due to severe water shortages. Absorption capacities in Baidoa have been overstretched, forcing new arrivals to settle in the outskirts of the town. According to WASH cluster partners, women and children were left behind forcing them to move to main towns where some have integrated with host communities, while others moved to already existing displaced people’s camps.
Some 22,000 new drought displacement people were recorded between 1 and 23 June; 60 per cent (13,600 people) being new arrivals in Baidoa town alone. Since November 2016, more than 761,000 people have been displaced due to drought, including 175,000 people in Baidoa and 162,000 individuals in Mogadishu.

For more information click: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/58292)

People displaced by drought remain acutely vulnerable to the spread of the AWD/cholera and other communicable diseases, due to limited access to safe water, coupled with poor sanitation and hygiene conditions in the settlements. AWD/cholera alerts continued to be reported from Bakool, Galgaduud, Gedo, Middle Juba, and Togdheer regions. Health partners report that verification of the AWD/cholera alerts in inaccessible areas remains a challenge due to insecurity.

A cumulative 53,015 cases of AWD/cholera and 795 related deaths have been recorded from 52 districts across 16 regions since the beginning of 2017.

In addition, an estimated 12,000 suspected measles cases have been reported in 2017; half of these are children under age 5. The health cluster has recommended a nation-wide measles vaccination campaign, and is actively seeking funding in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF and IFRC to step up response.

Scaling up sanitation and hygiene promotion, including distribution of hygiene kits and chlorination of existing water sources is critical to avert additional disease outbreaks.