Highlights
-
The humanitarian needs in Somalia in 2023 continue to be high, with 8.25 million people in urgent need of help. Conflict, insecurity, forced evictions, drought, and floods have resulted in the displacement of 3.8 million people, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.
-
The enduring conflict has caused widespread displacement. Among the 1,420,000 newly displaced people nationwide in 2023, 569,000 were displaced by conflict and insecurities. The government aims to further its offensive against Al-Shabab in Somalia's Galmadug state, a situation that is likely to worsen displacements.
-
The tragic incident in July where a landmine explosion in Hirshabelle took the lives of six children starkly underscores the importance of prioritizing children's safety in Somalia.
-
El Niño is expected to impact 1.2 million people in the last quarter of 2023. Severe flooding is projected along the Shebelle and Juba rivers.
-
Thus far in 2023, UNICEF has supported 439,163 people (60.5 per cent children) with an emergency water supply and 1,166,183 children and women who have received lifesaving health care, in addition to 329,739 children (183,936 girls) who have been treated for severe acute wasting. Emergency education interventions have reached 21,182 children, while 130,036 children and their caregivers have been provided with psychosocial support services.
-
UNICEF Somalia’s current humanitarian funding is markedly insufficient, amounting to merely 29 per cent. As a result, from January to July, UNICEF has only been able to reach less than 50 per cent of its targets for most of its interventions.
Situation in Numbers
5,100,000
children in need of humanitarian assistance (HNO 2023)
8,250,000
people in need (HNO 2023)
3,860,000
Internally Displaced People (HNO 2023)
Funding Overview and Partnership
UNICEF is seeking US$272.3 million to support its humanitarian action for children in 2023, which entails lifesaving health, nutrition, WASH, education, and child protection interventions. Currently, there is a significant shortfall of 71 per cent. As a result, from January to July, UNICEF has only been able to reach less than 50 per cent of its targets for most of its interventions. The financial shortfall has also constrained UNICEF’s ability to expand its reach geographically. UNICEF expresses its gratitude for the valuable contributions provided by all donors and partners thus far, and negotiations are underway with different donors for additional contributions as there is a need for swift and flexible funding to ramp up the current humanitarian response. Specifically, UNICEF requires an additional US$19.5 million to bolster preparedness for areas prone to El-Nino. UNICEF’s Cholera/AWD intervention plan has a funding gap of US$5.8 million (70 per cent). Furthermore, out of the $272.3 million, UNICEF's WASH program requires US$ 44.6 million to urgently expand the lifesaving emergency WASH support to 3 million people, a portion of the 8 million people predicted to need WASH services in 2023.UNICEF also requires an additional US$ 80.5 million to enhance its Health and Nutrition interventions. The substantially underfunded sectors of Education and Child Protection require additional funding of US$ 24.7 million and US$ 27 million, respectively. These funds will facilitate the provision of essential humanitarian services to 300,000 children. In the longer term, flexible and prompt donor support is paramount to sustaining lifesaving interventions.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
July was marked by a period of normal to above-average Gu rains across the country. While the rains are likely to bring some relief to areas affected by drought, complete recovery is expected to take years due to the severity of the drought. In addition, the number of children identified and treated for severe malnutrition continues to be high in most regions. This is particularly noticeable in low-lying areas impacted by flooding, such as Belet Weyne and Balcad.
The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) suggests that the prevailing rains are forecasted to introduce wetter conditions than usual in northern and southern coastal regions. Starting in October, above-average rainfall is expected, particularly along the Shabelle and Juba rivers, driven by a predicted El Niño coupled with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole. The flooding will likely result in a loss of life and property, displacement of people, as well as damage to infrastructure and crops. In the face of the imminent El Niño, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has advocated for proactive measures to preserve lives and livelihoods. According to the agency's warning, 1.2 million people are at risk.
Disputes between clans, political disagreements, local and international military operations against Al-Shabaab, along with the ongoing attacks by Al-Shabaab targeting civilians all collectively contribute to a sense of uncertainty and instability across the country. The government intends to carry on with the offensive in Galmudug state, where it is expected that individuals will be displaced from affected areas. In 2023, out of 1,420,000 people who were newly displaced across the country, 569,000 people were displaced due to conflict and insecurities.
Furthermore, the tragic event of a landmine explosion that resulted in the death of six children in Hirshabelle in July serves as a stern reminder of the necessity to prioritize children's safety. Advocacy efforts are continuously underway to safeguard children amidst the relentless military offensive. Meanwhile, UNICEF remains committed to strengthening the delivery of child protection services and improving children's access to these services.
Since January 2023, Somalia reported a total of 11,704 AWD/cholera cases along with 30 associated deaths (CFR 0.3 per cent) across twenty-eight districts. Out of these, a significant 54 per cent (6,315) were children under the age of 5; 51 per cent (6,023) were women; and 47 per cent (5,557) were severe cases. UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), has planned to conduct a cholera vaccination campaign in selected districts in south-central Somalia starting from August 13th, 2023.
In 2023, the country reported 7,591 suspected cases of measles, with a staggering 74 per cent (5,592) of the cases being children under five years of age. The regions reporting the highest number of cases were Banadir (2,082 cases),
Bay (1,662 cases), and Lower Juba (1,038 cases).
The Education Cluster has reported that about 4.84 million children, aged between 5 and 17, are currently out of school. This includes an alarming, estimated total of approximately 3.85 million children from both displaced and non-displaced communities who are desperately in need to have access to emergency educational services. Regrettably, only 21 percent of these newly displaced children manage to get to education, compared to the significantly higher 39 percent of children who are not displaced.
UNICEF, in collaboration with its partners, is intensifying its measures across all sectors to address the growing needs of the population affected by droughts, floods, conflicts, and disease outbreaks. Because of the country's critical humanitarian state, there is a necessity to increase aid efforts to prevent acute water scarcity, immense risks of food insecurity, chronic malnutrition, and severe wasting. Despite the complex operational circumstances, UNICEF and its partners continue to provide services across Somalia.