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Somalia

Somalia - Livelihoods and food security: Fact sheet - Nov 2007

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LIVELIHOODS IN SOMALIA

Somalis live in extremely poor and underdeveloped conditions. Livelihoods are broadly based on subsistence farming and pastoralism with limited opportunity to earn wages. The predominant livelihood systems are outlined below:

Pastoralism is found throughout areas of rural Somalia but predominantly in the arid lands of northern and central Somalia, as well as along the Ethiopian and Kenyan borders. The livestock sector is the largest contributor to Somali livelihoods, with over 65% of the population engaged in the industry in some way. Livestock export and their products account for 80% of exports in normal years, but trade has been periodically interrupted by droughts and international bans. Despite the ban imposed by Saudi Arabia in 2000 due to an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF), livestock exports continue to be the largest traded commodity for Somalia. Livestock is shipped to various countries in the Arabian Peninsula, and trekked or transported to markets in Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia. Livestock also enter Somalia through the borders with Ethiopia and Kenya. Furthermore, livestock products are a key local consumption commodity for household food security.

Agriculture is an important livelihood activity in Somalia, not only in terms of meeting the food needs of the population (nearly 50% of population's cereal requirements are met through domestic production), but also generating income through crop sales and agricultural labor opportunities. Agriculture is a major component particularly for two of the main rural livelihood systems in Somalia:

i) Agro-pastoralists; which mix of agriculture and livestock production for their livelihood. Agro-pastoralists are found in the inter-riverine regions of Bay, Bakol, western Hiran, eastern Gedo, Lower Shabelle and Lower Juba in Southern Somalia as well as parts of Awdal and Western Galbeed in the north-west.

ii) Agriculturalists who solely depend on agriculture based livelihood. Two areas are considered high potential for crop production with rainfall ranging from 400milimetres to 600mm: a small area in the Northwest (west of Hargeisa) and a much larger inter-riverine area between the Shabelle and Juba river valleys. Agriculture is primarily rain fed making this livelihood extremely vulnerable to climatic hazards.

Fishing: Fishing as a livelihood system involves fishermen along the Somali coast as well as casual labour migrants from further inland. The Somali coastline, the longest in Africa, is under-utilized by Somalis as the fisheries sector is under-developed. Instead, marine resources are exploited by international fleets and business interests such large-scale fishing activities. It is estimated that Somalia loses approximately US$ 100 million to illegal fishing activities, resources that could go a long way towards improving the livelihoods of Somalis.

Urban Residents and IDPs: Urbanization is providing new opportunities and livelihood linkages. The large urban towns are Hargeysa, Mogadishu, Kismayo, Bossaso and Baidoa. IDPs are a particularly vulnerable sub-strata of urban populations concentrated in these large towns. Livelihood systems are strongly interlinked through trade, social networks or sharing and competition for resources. Livelihood systems are also characterized by disparities and differences based on assets, including natural, physical, financial, social and human as well as structures and institutions that enable/disrupt economic, social and political progress. Livelihoods in Somalia are vulnerable to shocks stemming from naturalhazards, international livestock bans or conflict. Household coping mechanisms to deal with these shocks can, in extreme situations, undermine the livelihood itself. For example, in 2004, during the peak of the drought in the north, some pastoralists resorted to burning wood to make charcoal, which damages the environmental viability of pastoralism. Somalia has a strong social network and support system that is resorted to as a coping mechanism in times of difficulty. The Somali diaspora transfers about US$1 billion into Somalia annually, which exceeds international aid assistance to the country. The financial lifeline it represents stimulates both local and international trade, averting a worse humanitarian crisis.

HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY IN 2006/2007

At the turn of 2007, the Deyr (October - December) rains caused severe flooding displacing about 255,000 people in the Shabelle and Juba riverine areas. In late December 2006, just as floodwaters were receding, widespread fighting erupted between forces of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), backed by Ethiopian troops. An estimated 65,000-70,000 people were displaced at the peak of the fighting, some of whom had already been displaced by flooding. Access to IDPs and other vulnerable groups in early 2007 was hampered by conflict, military air operations, inter- and intra-clan fighting, and a lack of local authorities/counterparts.

Despite the flooding, the Deyr rains resulted in an improvement in livelihoods and food security. In early 2007, around 1 million people (including the 400,000 IDPs) were identified in need of assistance until June 2007. Around 360,000 people were in Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis, while around 230,000 people were in Humanitarian Emergency, mostly in Gedo, Middle and Lower Juba. The situation improved in all regions except for riverine areas of the Juba and the Shabelle rivers. Due to a combination of drought, flooding and displacement, riverine areas of Middle and Lower Juba, Gedo and Hiran were in a state of Humanitarian Emergency, while agro-pastoral and pastoral areas of Hiran, Bay and Bakool (except for some pockets) saw an improvement and were out of Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis, as is the North.

The Post Gu ((April - June) analysis (August) highlighted an appalling situation in Middle and Lower Shabelle regions, normally the most resilient and most agriculturally product regions in south/central Somalia. Most or 85% of those identified in Humanitarian Emergency and 31% identified in Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis are in the Shabelle regions. A number of factors like ongoing conflict in Mogadishu, failed Gu rains, increase in essential food commodities among others contributed to the crisis. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance increased from 1 million to 1.5 million. Of these, 295,000 are in Humanitarian Emergency, 490,000 are in Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis, 325,000 people are newly displaced IDPs from Mogadishu and 400,000 protracted IDPs.

Anti-government elements continued to fight Ethiopian/TFG forces based in Mogadishu triggering massive movements of people in and out of the city. According to United Nation's High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)'s Population Movement Tracking, an estimated 600,000 remain displaced in and out of Mogadishu since February. As recent as 27 October, more than 200,000 people (about 60% of Mogadishu's population) have left, leaving entire neighbourhoods in the capital nearly empty headed for Lower Shabelle, other locations in Mogadishu, Galgadud region, Mudug region and Middle Shabelle.

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