Since January 2016, an outbreak of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) /Cholera has affected southern and central Somalia, while severe flooding has been experienced in Belet Weyne district in Hiraan region. In Puntland and Somaliland drought has affected the livelihoods of thousands of people. These come amid an already fragile humanitarian situation. Overall some 4.7 million people require life-saving assistance and livelihood support
Flooding
Heavy rains in parts of Somalia and Ethiopian highlands led to flooding in southern and central Somalia. Belet Weyne town is the most affected with over 70,000 people displaced. Of these, 36,000 people are in Ceel Jaale settlement alone, while others moved to other neighbouring villages.
Humanitarians are scaling up critical life-saving assistance in flood-affected areas. Hygiene promotion activities have been intensified in areas of displacement.
Mobile clinics have also been established.
Disease Outbreak
A spike in AWD/ cholera cases in southern and central Somalia is of serious concern. Over 8,000 cases have been reported in 2016. Of these, 59 per cent are children under age 5 while 437 deaths were reported. There are reports of an outbreak of the deadly Chikungunya virus in Banadir region. According to WHO 3 of 5 blood samples have tested positive, more tests are being conducted
The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) will provide US$2 million for AWD/cholera outbreak response. Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF) has allocated $600,000 for AWD/cholera response in Kismayo. Health and WASH supplies are being distributed for an estimated 17,000 cases. In Mogadishu response to curb Chikungunya outbreak is underway.
Funding
US$885 million Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) request for 2016
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.