Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, Issue #15, 8-15 April 2011

Key Overall Developments

Drought/Coordination Updates

The climate models predict that there is an increased likelihood of near to below normal rainfall in Somalia during the Gu (April-June) rainy season. On 12 April, various technical agencies issued the Climate Data update for March saying that the drought conditions persisted in most parts of the country, creating doubts about future food security and water availability. The areas worst hit are Hiraan, Middle Shabelle and Bay regions with Hiraan being the most affected. The levels of the Shabelle and Juba Rivers are also currently below normal and are expected to decrease if the rains perform poorly.

The Food Security & Nutrition Analysis Unit’s field analysts reported localized showers, with limited or no impact on water, pasture and browse, in parts of Gedo, Bakool, the Jubas and Togdheer regions towards the end of March. Light rains in Awdal and Galbeed in northwestern Somalia in the same period led to a slight regeneration of pasture and water. Reports from Diinsoor, Bay region, indicate that camels are dying due to the drought, which is an indication of the severity of the situation.

On 12 April, the Education Cluster shared information with donors on the schools, teachers and students affected by the drought and conflict in Somalia from the statistics gathered from the cluster members in early April. The cluster reported a 38 per cent drop in school enrolment between November 2010 and early April 2011 due to the drought and escalating conflict, mostly in south central Somalia. The situation has affected approximately 1,244 schools. More than 4,800 male and 1,500 female teachers have been displaced and have moved to safer areas in search of employment.

Conflict and Displacement

During the reporting week in Mogadishu, sporadic fighting continued between the African Union Mission in Somalia/Transitional Federal Government against Al Shabaab. On 12 April, two mortar rounds exploded inside the Medina Hospital compound killing two people and wounding eight others, including two hospital staff. In a separate incident, two people were reportedly killed and three others injured when a mortar round landed at the Bakara Market. The market remains inaccessible by main roads thus limiting livelihoods activities. According to WHO, from 1-10 April, 150 weapon-related injuries were reported in the two major hospitals in Mogadishu, six of these were children under 5 years of age and three died from their injuries.

UNHCR reports approximately 36,400 displacements have occurred countrywide since 23 February. Of these, 24,300 were due to insecurity and 9,500 were due to the drought. The majority of the displaced, 18,900 were from Mogadishu with 8,900 leaving the city and 10,000 moving to relatively safer areas of the city.