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Somalia

Somalia: Floods Situation Report - 06 Dec 2006

Main Developments

The Flood Response Plan was launched in Geneva today, appealing for US$18.2 million. (Total needs for ongoing flood response are estimated at US$28.6 million, of which US$10.4 have already been provided through the CERF.) The funds appealed for will provide immediate life-saving assistance to flood-affected populations for the next three months. The appeal prioritizes interventions in the areas of water and sanitation, health, nutrition and food.

As part of the special flood-response operation launched by WFP, involving the dispatch of boats and the stationing of two helicopters in Wajid, the first of WFP's helicopters departed Wajid this morning. It delivered a load of 1.7t of cooking oil to Arare in Lower Juba before refueling at Kismayo.

The latest estimates released by FSAU are of 444,000 displaced by flooding between the Shabelle (298,000) and Juba (146,000) riverine areas. Middle Shabelle has exceeded the ten-year return period for inundated populations. The SWALIM rainfall forecast for the coming week is calling for heavy rains for western Gedo region. Otherwise, light rains are forecast for both Juba and Shabelle catchments in Ethiopia and within Somalia. Shabelle river levels at Beletweyne and Bulo Burti (upper reaches) continued to decrease over the last week. Levels are still high in the lower reaches of the Shabelle but, in the absence of rainfall in the area, may stabiliize towards the end of the week. Juba river levels at Luuq and Bardheere(upper reaches) have also decreased, but are expected to remain high in the lower reaches. High risk of flooding in the lower parts of the Juba and Shabelle riverine areas remains.

LNGO Centre for Education and Development (CED) has dispatched ten boats to flood-affected areas: 5 to Balad and 3 to Jowhar districts (Middle Shabelle); and 2 to Kurtunwarey (Lower Shabelle). The boats will be used for transportation of relief items to villages surrounded by water as well as evacuations. CED boats have supported delivery of relief items by UNICEF and CONCERN in Balad district. The boats are available to the other agencies delivering relief items to flood-affected communities.

The ICU Flood and Emergency Relief Committee has reported that three consecutive fund raising programmes received pledges by Somalis inside and outside the country totalling US$500,000. Nearly US$300,000 has so far been received and the remainder is expected to be forthcoming. Approximately US$200,000 has been sent in cash to local flood committees. Purchased food commodities were sent to Middle and Lower Shabelle, also to be managed by local flood committees.

Developments Along the Shabelle River

Lower Shabelle - UAE Red Crescent Society has delivered 40 mt of food, medicine and NFIs to the ICU Flood and Emergency Committee which will be distributed in Lower Shabelle region in the coming days. CARE has completed dewatering of Qoryoley town and is currently dewatering nearby Madulow village. On 25 November, WFP conducted a rapid needs assessment for Balad district and has estimated 5,774 affected households in 56 villages. WFP will distribute one-month of full rations to the affected households. CED has begun distributing food (50mt of maize and 3.2mt of oil) to flood-affected people in Balad district, as well as to those affected in Kurtunwarey. Within the first days of December, UNHCR distributed sleeping mats, plastic sheeting and ITNs to flood-affected victims in Balad, Jowhar, Qoryoley and Kurtunwarey districts.

Developments Along the Juba River

Jilib/Buale (Middle Juba) - Flooding is reported to be receding in Jilib and Buale, with water draining back into the river. Some villages are now muddy and without stagnating water. Farmland remains full of water, though bush and grazing land are reportedly draining. In Homboy village (southeast of Jilib) there are fears of flooding; Homboy is now inaccessible by road.

Jamame (Lower Juba) - River levels remain high, with water coming from bush land on the west side. New flooding has been reported in Arare, Singlare and Baarka, (midway between Kismayo and Jamame), with families displaced to the tarmac road. In Alsoin Wirkoy and Bulllo Gaduud villages (about 30km north of Kismayo), there is imminent danger of flooding. Jamame is now threatened by the Shabelle River, which has cut off Middle and Lower Juba from Lower Shabelle and Mogadishu, making transport impossible. Water is crossing the tarmac road (to Kismayo) up as far as Homboy. However, UNICEF is still delivering NFIs into Jamame by road, as well as restocking supplies by sea into Kismayo. Muslim Aid has provided family rations of rice and oil to 240 families.

Gedo - CARE has begun distribution of 8,417mt of food for 36,119hh in El-Wak, Beled Hawa, Luuq and Dollow.

Information

All partners operational in flood-affected regions are encouraged to access on-line SWALIM and UNOSAT maps and to print these maps as needed for distribution in the field.

http://www.faoswalim.org/viewpage.php?PageID=bf88c2a7f49ef5e5d35f474df4464d25

http://unosat.web.cern.ch/unosat/asp/prod_free.asp?id(

For further information, contact:

Molly McCloskey or Rita Maingi at +254 (20) 375 4150-5

Agencies and partners are encouraged to send updates and information from field reports to: Matthew Olins olins@un.org and Molly McCloskey mccloskeym@un.org

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