Key Overall Developments
This week, water shortages were reported in Bu'aale and Sakow, Middle Juba, where populations are moving to other parts of Somalia and across the Kenyan boarder, together with their livestock in search of better conditions. The livestock situation is deteriorating and some herds are dying of dehydration. Other parts of the country that have recorded deteriorating humanitarian conditions due to water shortages include Nugaal, Sool and Mudug regions in Puntland, Galgaduud and Gedo regions in South/Central and several areas in Somaliland. The Jilaal dry season lasts from January –March, while the Gu season rains are expected in mid-April – mid-June and may ease the situation.
The lack of clean drinking water, due to dried up water points have contributed to outbreaks of Acute Watery Diarrhea. As of 29 March, in Yaqbariweine village in Lower Shabelle, a total of 346 cases and 30 related deaths of AWD have been reported with 73 percent of the deaths being children aged five years and above. In Mogadishu's Banadir hospital, 203 cases have been reported, of which 176 (86.7 percent) were children under five years of age.
During the week, several security incidents affecting civilians and government officials were reported. In Mogadishu, where calm reigned for the better part of March, clashes between warring groups on 25 - 26 March killed at least 10 civilians in Yaaqshiid district and wounded more than 40 others. On 1 April, a Government Minister of Interior was wounded and one of his assistants killed when his convoy was involved in a roadside blast in Mogadishu. Another prominent politician and his two bodyguards were killed on 30 March in Waaberi district, Mogadishu. In Puntland, two explosions were reported, one in Garowe where one person was killed and several others wounded for unknown reasons. In Bossaso, another explosion occurred targeting the Puntland Intelligence Service, with no casualties reported.
WFP will dispatch 34,375 metric tons of food revised from 44,600 metric tons planned for March distributions to an estimated 2.8 million people in South/Central Somalia. WFP has been in dialogue with authorities in order to obtain safety and security commitments for its staff, following the killing of two WFP staff members in January. As of 31 March, 27,266 metric tons of dispatched food had been safely delivered to various final distribution points while 3,350 metric tons was in transit. The balance is expected to be delivered during the first week of April.
On 1 April, shelters for approximately 130 families were burnt following a fire outbreak in the Bulo-Mingis IDP settlement in Bossaso, Puntland. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.
Response
With the increasing number of AWD cases in Lower Shabelle, a Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) has been opened with volunteer nurses and community health workers managing the cases and assisting in household water treatment as well as community awareness activities. These efforts have been made possible by WHO, UNICEF, the NGO Muslim Aid, COSV and several local partners. Distribution of emergency AWD case management supplies including 1,000 sachets of Oral Re-hydration Salts, 500,000 aqua tabs, two cholera kits (one kit can treat 10,000 people) have taken place while others will be distributed in the coming days in Wanla Weyn District.
UNICEF and partners continue to respond to water shortages across Somalia. In Nugaal, Sool and Mudug regions, more than 39,500 people are benefiting from water trucking. Light rains have been reported in these areas, but the trucking will continue until the rains are sufficient. In Wanla Weyn, Lower Shebelle, water trucking began on 2 April reaching at least 46,000 people who are also affected by an AWD outbreak. Distribution of Plumpy'doz, a ready-to use food to prevent malnutrition, is ongoing in Wanla Weyn district aiming to reach 5,000 children.
For further Information in English, contact:
Rita Maingi on +254 734 800 120 – maingir@un.org,
in Somali or English, contact
Muna Mohamed on + 254 733 643 737 – mohamed26@un.org
Website address: http://ochaonline.un.org/somalia
