Somalia: Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin No. 43, 30 Oct - 06 Nov 2009

Key Overall Developments

The Flood Information Group (FIG) estimates that at least 16,000 people have been displaced by flooding in Hiraan, Gedo and Lower Shabelle regions. The floods have damaged river embankments, collapsed latrines and contaminated shallow wells. Most of the displaced populations so far have been able to move to houses of relatives located in elevated places. The forecast for the coming week is moderate risk of flooding in the lower reaches of the Shabelle and Juba rivers due to moderate rains in the catchments of the two rivers both in Ethiopia and Somalia. Go to http://www.faoswalim.org/subsites/frrmis/currentlyflooded.php for more information.

During the week, two employees of a WFP-contracted transport company were killed in an ambush by an armed group that attempted to loot a food convoy leaving Mogadishu for Waajid.

The distribution of Plumpy 'doz is expected to resume and/or continue in almost all project locations in South/Central during November with the exception of Afgooye and Mogadishu, where more than 55,000 children aged 6-59 months have been provided with blanket UNIMIX (blended fortified food) since August. The distribution for about 70,000 beneficiaries in Afgooye and Mogadishu, of the originally intended 108,000 children in South/Central, was suspended in July after four months of distribution due to security/access problems and the loss of UNICEF supplies as a result of looting in Jowhar.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is disturbed by the increasing wave of intolerance against journalism in Somalia. In a statement issued on 1 November, NUSOJ said that militia stormed into a radio station in Baidoa during the week and arrested the director. The station had been closed since 21 October indefinitely by Al Shabaab. Two other journalists were detained in Mogadishu as they were on duty; their footage and photographs were erased.

On 1 November, Al Shabaab closed down three grassroots women's organizations in Belet Xawa, Gedo. Reportedly, this is to stop women from working, saying that they should stay at home and take care of their children as Islam does not allow women to go to offices.

Response

UNICEF, WHO and partners targeted over 54,000 children under five years and over 62,000 women of child bearing age in Afgooye district including IDPs in the Afgooye Corridor, with a package of life-saving health services. The recently concluded campaign in Afgooye is part of a nation-wide Child Health Days campaign supported by UNICEF and WHO to promote child survival. Children under five years were immunized against measles and polio, diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus, and provided with Vitamin A, de-worming tablets and nutritional screening. Women of child bearing age were immunized against neonatal tetanus. The package also distributed oral re-hydration salts to treat diarrhea, and water treatment tablets.

UNICEF continues to provide support to Outpatient Therapeutic Programmes ( OTP) for the treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in over 230 sites (19 in Puntland, 26 in Somaliland and 187 in South/Central) with about 30 stabilization centers. The facilities in the north reported more than 3,000 children with SAM under treatment in September. While the most recent admission reports are not available for South/Central, over 10,000 children are expected to be under treatment each month.

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) launched a water trucking programme along the Balcad corridor, Middle Shabelle, reaching 18,000 IDPs with 144,000 litres of water daily. Additionally, another 56,000 litres were delivered in Galgato IDP camps benefiting 7,000 IDPs daily. In Laas Caanood, DRC is constructing ten public latrines for markets, prisons and schools.

During the week the Norwegian Refugee Council, distributed 400 fire prevention drums to IDP settlements in Bossaso, Puntland, as mitigation measures during heavy winds.

WHO has pre-positioned some 20 tents and 240 beds in Somalia in anticipation of high numbers of patients during the "Cholera season". Additionally, during October, WHO distributed 7,200 litres of diesel and 90kg oil each to Baidoa, Banadir and Marka hospitals for a three month period to ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential health services particularly to conflict-affected communities in Southern Somalia.

WFP and partners distributed 33 metric tons of food to 3,126 beneficiaries under general food distribution in Belet Weyne, Hiraan. Some 354 metric tons of food was distributed to 29,988 people under supplementary feeding programmes and 2,022 Tuberculosis patients received a monthly ration of 26 metric tons under institutional feeding programme in Bay, Bakool and Hiraan. In Gedo region, 33,480 beneficiaries received 377 metric tons of food under relief interventions. Food distributions planned for Afmadow and Ceel Waaq districts did not take place due to road conditions from current heavy rains in the area.

WFP launched two boats on the Juba River for an assessment mission to access areas around Bu'aale in the Juba regions, and to prepare for the response to possible flood areas in South/Central regions. The Logistics Cluster is working on pre-positioning supplies on behalf of agencies.

Contact: For further information in English, contact: Rita Maingi on +254 734 800 120 - maingir@un.org. In Somali or English, contact Muna Mohamed on + 254 733 643 737 - mohamed26@un.org