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Ethiopia + 2 more

Situation Report Somalia Crisis 19 Mar 2007

Essential Information - SOMALIA:

Total Assessed Caseload:

The total number of flood-affected persons remains the same as previously reported at 455,000 persons. Of these, the number of people displaced by the floods is 255,000 (FSAU Post Deyr Assessment January 2007).

Total MT distributed since 1 November 2006: 16,560 MT

Number of beneficiaries: 849,000

Staff in South/Central Somalia: 116

In country Stocks as on 19 March 2007: 13,500 MT

Essential Information - KENYA:

Total Assessed Caseload: 171,065

Total MT distributed since 1 January 2007: 7,117.4 MT

Staff on location: 22 (includes SSA contract holders)

In camp stocks as at 18 March 2007: 4,926.2 MT

Essential Information - ETHIOPIA:

Total Assessed Caseload: Estimated 52,360 Somali asylum seekers (unregistered

Total MT dispatched: No assistance given so far to the unregistered asylum seekers.

Staff on location: Gode Sub Office (SO): 19, Jijiga SO: 20

In country stocks as on 19 March 2007 (all operations): 90,690 MT

1. HIGHLIGHTS

Two United Nations staff (UNDSS) escaped unharmed on Tuesday 20 March after their convoy heading to Mogadishu was attacked when gunmen set off a roadside bomb and then opened fire, wounding three policemen escorting the convoy.

Escalating violence and insecurity in the Somali capital continue to force people out of Mogadishu. More than 40,000 people reportedly left Mogadishu in February. Insecurity has restricted mobility and access of humanitarian agencies to respond adequately to the humanitarian situation in the capital.

As of 17 March, the Government of Somaliland stopped flights to and from southern Somalia (including Mogadishu and Bossaso) in fear of a pandemic of watery diarrhea. A press release from the office of the minister for Somaliland Air Transportation stated that all commercial flights from Somalia were barred from landing at Hargeisa international airport indefinitely.

The Somali government has asked the United States for help to secure the release of a UN-chartered food aid ship hijacked last month off the coast of Somalia. The freighter was seized on February 25 after it had delivered 1,800 tones of food aid from the UN World Food Programme to the Somali semi-autonomous region of Puntland. The Somali Government also appealed to Washington to help fight all pirates targeting commercial vessels off the country's unpatrolled territorial waters.

The Kenya/Somalia border remains closed, although a small number of spontaneous arrivals continue to arrive.

There are reports of recent influxes of people from Somalia arriving to Gode and Korahe zones in the Ethiopian Somali region.

The school feeding programme in Kenya refugee camps resumed after agreement between CARE and the striking teachers was reached.

58 suspected cases of adult measles in Hagadera and Ifo camps have been reported with eight cases confirmed positive.

ECHO, SIDA, the UNHCR Director of Africa Bureau and the UN doctor visited Dadaab camp.

56 refugees have been arrested at Liboi border on their way to Somalia.

The UN-Secretary General has sent an inter-agency technical assessment mission, led by the UN Department of Political Affairs, to Ethiopia, AU and Somalia (and Kenya). The mission was in Ethiopia 15-16 March 2007.

2. OPERATIONAL ISSUES

SOMALIA

The vessel "MV Rozen" hijacked on its way back to Mombassa after delivery of 1,800 mt of WFP food aid is still not released. The 12 crewmembers continue to be held captive.

The UN has resumed flights into Baidoa after the authorities waved the payment of $50 for visas for UN staff holding Laissez passé. The UN Common Air Services (UNCAS) and UN Humanitarian Air Services flights into Baidoa were suspended on 9th March following this new demand.

Further to the difficulties over the past month in securing flights into Merka (Lower Shabelle), Jowhar (Middle Shabelle) and K50 (Benadir) due to a lack of local security arrangements and assurances from the TFG, a letter has been sent by the Humanitarian Coordinator to the TFG. The letter requests access to K50, which would enable humanitarian actors to reach IDPs in Afgoye, Merka and elsewhere in Lower Shabelle.

KENYA

With the introduction of bulgur wheat in the food basket, awareness campaigns and food demonstrations were conducted in all the three camps to promote acceptability of the commodity and proper utilization and consumption by the beneficiaries.

58 suspected cases of adult measles in Hagadera and Ifo camps have been reported. Out of the 15 cases suspected in Ifo, three have been confirmed positive while out of the 43 suspected cases in Hagadera, five have been confirmed positive. Case management and disease surveillance is being implemented by WHO, GTZ and MOH.

56 refugees were arrested at the Liboi border trying to return to Somalia without UNHCR authorization. The majority of those arrested are refugees from Hagadera with ration cards. When interviewed, they indicated that they were returning to Somalia for a relative's funeral. The 56 are being held at Dadaab police station while police investigations are being carried out.

ETHIOPIA

UNHCR RLO is seeking funds for their proposal for assistance to the reported refugees, which includes re-opening of one refugee camp combined with community-based assistance.

3. CONSTRAINTS

SOMALIA

The hijacking of vessels has constrained WFP's ability to obtain shipping contracts and delays in food deliveries. WFP has 2,423 mt of food aid awaiting shipment at the port in Tanzania.

Movement of UN international staff continues to be restricted in most areas of south and central Somalia except Wajid and Baidoa.

KENYA

Missing beneficiary ration card numbers in the UNHCR prepared manifests remains a challenge to WFP general food distribution.

ETHIOPIA

Poor road infrastructure and the precarious security situation in the Somali region continue to hinder the transportation and distributions of relief food.

4. PROGRAMMING ISSUES

4.1 Target populations/beneficiaries

SOMALIA

Between 1st January and 10th March 07, the number of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) cases registered in South/Central was 5,542, with 252 deaths. Case fatality is decreasing in most regions. However, Mogadishu remains an area of serious concern, due to difficulties accessing affected populations. Puntland is also experiencing an increase in cases of AWD, with 504 cases and 19 deaths reported between 26 February and 14 March.

KENYA

A total of 174,402 beneficiaries were presented by UNHCR for feeding during the first cycle of March, while a total of 174,849 were presented for the second cycle. The figures include registered population and asylum seekers and persons of concern.

ETHIOPIA

There are reports of recent influxes of people from Somalia to the Ethiopian Somali region, including 255 households in Ferfer (Gode zone), 142 households in Shilabo (Korahe zone) and 22 households in Gode town.

4.2 Assessments

SOMALIA

An above-normal precipitation in the April rainy season could lead to another situation of flooding in southern Somalia, where river banks were eroded after torrential rainfall in 2006. If the rains in the upper catchments are above normal, this will potentially result in another season of flooding in the riverine areas of southern Somalia, food security analysis unit (FSAU) has reported on Friday 16 March 2007. The FSAU report, which focuses on food security and nutrition, indicated another season of flooding would only aggravate the current humanitarian emergency among Juba and Hiran riverine communities.

KENYA

No changes

ETHIOPIA

Nothing new to report.

4.3 Food Distributions

SOMALIA

In Lower Juba in Jamame two food distribution cycles have started, and a total of 23,262 beneficiaries were reached with 965.96 mt of food.

In Gedo Region in Gerbahary, a total of 8,370 beneficiaries were reached with 427.43 mt of food distributed.

In Gedo in Berdera Town the fire-affected victims have received, a total of 4,050 beneficiaries of food reached with 167 mt of food.

KENYA

The first cycle of March general food distribution was completed on the 5th in Dagahaley and on 6th in Hagadera and Ifo. Out of a total of 174,402 persons targeted for feeding, only 169,786 (97.3%) persons were fed with 4,616 no shows reported.

The current food basket for second cycle of March contained culturally acceptable foods to the Somali community with a total of 2175.250 Kcal per person per day.

The second cycle March general food distribution started on 15th of March in all the camps. It is expected to be completed on 20th in Dagahaley and 21st in Ifo and Hagadera.

School feeding and Selective feeding (SFP, TFP in-patient and HFP) continued as planned in all the three camps

ETHIOPIA

No assistance has been given to date to the unregistered and newly registered Somali refugees.

4.4 Monitoring

SOMALIA

Nothing new to report.

KENYA

General food distribution monitoring carried out.

ETHIOPIA

WFP is regularly monitoring both the flood affected and border areas with refugee influx from Somalia.

4.5 Pipelines and Food Supply

SOMALIA

The expected late arrival of Maize and Pulses may cause a temporary break in the food pipeline by April 2007. The CO is required to repay an outstanding IRA loan of $2.8 million. If this repayment is made now from the recent contributions from Canada and Japan, a pipeline break will occur in May 2007.

KENYA

The PRRO pipeline remains healthy, with culturally acceptable foods i.e wheat flour and maize meal.

Stock levels at the camps remain adequate with CO moving large a consignment of commodities to preposition adequate supplies before the onset of rains.

ETHIOPIA

New contributions are still required to replenish the IRA and to meet needs beyond June 2007, when the Refugee PRRO 10127.2 is expected to face shortfalls again.

5. LOGISTICS

SOMALIA

Loading for 1,235.7 mt of assorted food commodities to Jilib commenced on 14/03 and the convoy left Mogadishu on 18/03 and will arrived in Jilib on 24/03.

The Load of 600.7 mt for World Vision Somalia supplementary feeding projects in Bualle started on 13/03, so far 469.08 mt for 5 FDP'S has been loaded and distributed. The balance 131.5 mt was loaded and the distribution is set to end today, 19 March.

MV Al marjan is fixed to load 3,528.3 mt of assorted food commodities from Dar-es-salaam/MSA to Kismayu & Marka. The vessel arrived in Dar-es-salaam on 10/03 and the loading commenced 16/03. So far 1,623 mt of food has been loaded out of 2,423 mt that was supposed to be uplifted ex Dar. The exercise will be completed today.

Four trucks carrying 50 mt of High Energy Biscuits (HEB) ex-Nairobi to Wajid that left on 10/03 arrived in Mandera on 14/03 and the departure of the trucks from Mandera is revised to 21/03. ETA in Wajid will be 26/03.

It was reported that the number of roadblocks has increased dramatically, particularly on the road from Mogadishu to lower and Middle Juba. The Mogadishu-Beletweyne road remains risky due to sporadic ambushes.

KENYA

A total of 4,926.151 mt is in camp, with more food arriving soon from Mombasa.

Construction of additional rubhalls - three in Hagadera, two in Dagahaley and one in Ifo - to facilitate additional storage facilities due to the increasing population and the approaching rainy season is ongoing.

With the increase in population in Hagadera camp, WFP is funding CARE to construct an additional distribution shed to reduce pressure on the existing structure. CARE is in the process of preparing a budget to submit to WFP for approval.

ETHIOPIA

Most of the roads are passable for trucks.

6. COORDINATION/ EXTERNAL RELATIONS

SOMALIA

Food Aid Cluster meeting is planned on 29th March 2007.

KENYA

The monthly interagency meetings, monthly food coordination meeting as well as the weekly security meetings went on as planned.

A SIDA delegation, the UNHCR director of African bureau and the UN doctor visited Dadaab camps on the 14th of March while an ECHO delegation made a two day visit (16th and 17th of March). The delegations visited FDP, TFP, Hospital feeding programmes and firewood distribution site at the camps as well as the new site in Ifo two. The UN doctor met with staff, surveyed and assessed the possibility of establishing a staff clinic at Dadaab.

ETHIOPIA

UNOCHA continues to have the main responsibility for the coordination of the UN country team's contingency planning process.

Contacts:

Peter Goossens, Country Director, WFP Somalia
Email: Peter.Goossens@wfp.org;
Phone: +254-20-7202000

Burkard Oberle, Country Director, WFP Kenya
Email: Burkhard.Oberle@wfp.org
Phone: +254-20-6222043

Mohamed Diab, Country Director, WFP Ethiopia
Email: Mohamed.Diab@wfp.org
Phone: +251-11-5515188