ReliefWeb

FAO has received a total of US$1 391 604 for tsunami relief in Somalia from the Governments of Norway and Trinidad and Tobago as well as from private sources such as the Italian private supermarket company CONAD and the Church of God in Christ COGIC, an Afro-American religious organization. The Government of Germany (BMVEL) has recently signed a project document to provide additional resources (€114 000) and it is expected that the Standard Bank of South Africa (SBS) will do the same in December. Activities are directly benefiting more than 2 000 fishers in 28 villages along the Indian Ocean coast. Indirect beneficiaries include an estimated 20 000 shore workers, traders and family members in these fishing communities.
Funds received so far have been used to:

• procure approximately US$603 000 worth of fishing gear and boats for the affected communities to replace those lost - at the request of local authorities, larger, improved boats are being procured to "build back better" in a way which facilitates preservation of the most fragile resources close to the shore; the boats are going to be manufactured locally, which will provide employment and further support development of the sector;
  
  
• carry out training programmes for fishers, focusing on fish handling and processing as well as the environment and the management of marine resources - critical in circumstances where post harvest losses are as high as 50-70% - and for mechanics in boat engine repair, essential to ensure sustained performance of the fishing fleet;
  
  
• prepare a Fisheries Association Statutes template, which has been used by four district associations recently established with the assistance of FAO, whose legal status has been officially recognized by local authorities - these associations will be fully involved in distribution of the boats and gear to their members and take charge of revolving funds for the maintenance of the fishers' equipment and further investments;
  
  
• carry out assessments to obtain a more precise idea of damage caused by the tsunami, not only in the worst affected northeastern part of the country, but also in the centre and south of Somalia;
  
  
• identify suitable locations for installation of ice-making machines, critical for the preservation of fish and reduction of post harvest losses.

FAO works closely with the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management Agency (HADMA), established by the Puntland authorities as a governmental body responsible for the overall coordination of the post Tsunami Interventions.

While the on going procurement actions are aimed at the relief of the fishers, a major recovery effort is underway to bring the region back to and beyond its pre-tsunami condition and to help achieve longer-term development objectives. A prime concern of the UN country team is to ensure that resources are made available in such a way as to ensure equitable and continued assistance to all communities in need of aid.