Humanitarian Crises in Southern and Eastern Africa
At the beginning of 2017, warnings were issued of imminent famine in parts of South Sudan, while the Somali and Kenyan governments declared national disasters due to the ongoing drought. In the event, famine was staved off in the region thanks to timely and robust intervention; however, the 2017 seasonal rains have not been sufficient to reverse the effects of the drought on crop production and food security in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. Meanwhile, in South Sudan, the continuing conflict - it has now entered its fifth year - has meant the humanitarian crisis continues to intensify, with seven million people needing help this year (OCHA, 20 Feb 2018).
In Kenya, six counties (Isiolo, Kajiado, Tana River, Garissa, Kilifi , Wajir) are in alarm drought status and experiencing a worsening trend. The five counties in alert drought status are Mandera, Kitui, Marsabit, Taita Taveta and Tharaka Nithi. In addition, 13 of the 23 ASAL Counties (56%) are experiencing normal drought status. According to World Vision, 3.4 million people need assistance, but this figure is likely to fall over the course of the year (World Vision, 31 Jan 2018).
The situation in Ethiopia and Somalia is also not improving. According to FEWS NET, large areas of southeastern Ethiopia are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and Crisis (IPC Phase 3), with humanitarian assistance preventing worse outcomes in some areas. Sustained, large-scale assistance is needed through at least mid-2018 to mitigate the risk of increases in acute malnutrition and a further deterioration of outcomes, particularly in Dollo, Korahe, and Jarar zones. Large-scale displacement due to conflict in late 2017 in areas along the Oromia-Somali border remains a concern.
In Somalia, says FEWS NET, the Deyr harvest, some milk availability, and large-scale assistance are supporting Stressed (IPC Phase 2) and Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes in many areas. Despite improvements, Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are likely in August, in the absence of assistance, as many households have depleted key livelihood assets and a fifth consecutive below-average season is forecast (FEWS NET, 16 Feb 2018).
Meanwhile, in southern Africa, the fall army worm infestation shows no sign of abating, with concomitant effects on food security. Says FAO: “The pest is now present across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) except Mauritius and Lesotho. Partial fall army worm monitoring has pointed to Malawi as the hotspot in the 2017/18 season, and the country has since declared a national disaster” (FAO, 9 Feb 2018).
Indeed, the situation is so severe that a Special Alert was issued on 8 February 2018: “In the absence of consistent rains in February, dry conditions experienced in December to January will diminish water supplies for domestic, agricultural and commercial use. In other areas, including southern and central Mozambique, parts of southern Malawi and southern Zimbabwe, mild rains only returned in late January, by which time many crops had permanently wilted. Southern and central Zambia, southern Malawi and southern Madagascar continue to experience extended periods of below average rainfall and subsequent crop moisture stress. Even if normal rains are received during the remainder of season, it is likely too late for most of the early-planted crops to recover (FSNWG, 8 Feb 2018).
All Updates on Humanitarian Crises in Southern and Eastern Africa
Current major event
EWARN in humanitarian emergencies
As many as seven countries– Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Syria in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region have established an early warning system for disease outbreaks with a view to early detecting and rapidly investigating any public health event of potential concern. Such a system, in the absence of a routine disease surveillance system, needs continuous monitoring and assessment using a set of performance benchmarks.
Editorial note
Malaria on the rise in White Nile and East Darfur States.
Significant WASH gaps persist in South Darfur.
Partners support asset building for refugee women in North Darfur and South Kordofan States.
TOTAL INTER-AGENCY FUNDING REQUIRED FOR SUDAN UNDER THE REVISED 2018 REGIONAL REFUGEE RESPONSE PLAN (RRRP)
USD 294.8 M
Funded 9% 27.9 M*
Population Update
GAMBELLA, Ethiopia—UNFPA’s Deputy Executive Director (Programme), Dereje Wordofa, and a team of UNFPA Regional Directors and Country Representatives this week visited Gambella, one of nine ethnic divisions in Ethiopia, which hosts more than 423,000 refugees.
About 64 per cent of these refugees are under 18 years old and 88 per cent of them are women and children.
Eritrea—The strengthening of partnerships to sustain development gains in Eritrea was the focus of a mission led by the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director (Programme), Dereje Wordofa and sister UN agencies. The high level UN delegation met with senior officials of the Eritrean Government during a visit to the country on 18 and 19 October.
I. Introduction
I. Introduction
I. Introduction
The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 33 of Security Council resolution 2383 (2017), in which the Council requested me to provide an annual report on the situation with respect to piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia.
October 19, 2018 (JUBA) - The military and political leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and Army In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) has issued a statement denying claims that its fighters have been involved in abuses against civil population in Western Equatoria region, pushing blames instead on the government forces and local commanded militia groups allied to senior government officials at the national level.
A strategy meeting on the Horn of Africa and Yemen was held by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, in Addis Ababa on 13 and 14 October to develop a framework and action plan to guide the Fund’s work and partnerships in the region.
Forced displacement, family separation, and lack of basic protection mechanisms and essential services put women and girls at risk of sexual violence in particular. Together with high fertility rates, this scenario is putting pressure on limited resources and negatively impacting the future of youth.
Mogadishu, 19 October 2018 – Officers from the Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali national security forces have completed a five-day training on the importance of civil-military cooperation in peace support operations.
The training, organized to enhance participants’ knowledge on civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) and peacekeeping, was attended by officers from the contingents of Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda as well as those from the Somali National Army (SNA), Danab Special Forces and National Intelligence Security Agency (NISA).
Prime Minister Should End Repressive Tactics
Felix Horne
Senior Researcher, Horn of Africa
@felixhorne1
Highlights
- Conflict results in nearly 383,000 civilian deaths from December 2013–April 2018
- 6.1 million people experience acute food insecurity in July and August
- Relief actors face access impediments disrupting assistance to 1.5 million people
Situation
Djibouti is an arid, desert-like country, characterized by low rainfall, extremely limited agricultural production and a heavy reliance on food imports. Approximately 42 percent of the population lives in absolute poverty, mostly in rural areas.
RESEARCH SUMMARY
In the course of this ground-breaking research, thousands of girls and young women have shared their stories of harassment and violence for the first time, providing a never-before seen glimpse of what they experience in their cities and the impact this has on their lives.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
Situation Overview
October 19, 2018
Over 69,000 people in nine countries will benefit; includes humanitarian response in South Sudan and longer-term agricultural support for families in northern Kenya affected by frequent drought
Over 69,000 people in nine countries will benefit from twelve projects totaling $3 million committed by Canadian Foodgrains Bank in August and September
