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Somalia

Somalia: Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin No. 17, 29 Apr - 07 May 2010

Attachments

Key Overall Developments

Survey shows high levels of Anaemia in women and children

A recent survey shows that Somali women and children are suffering from shocking levels of anaemia and Vitamin 'A' deficiencies. A press statement issued by the Food Security Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) on 6 May, said that 50 percent of all women, 30 percent of all school aged children and 60 percent of children under five years are anaemic. The interim Chief Technical Advisor of the FSNAU, Grainne Moloney said, "Anaemia in Somalia is caused by a range of factors including frequent exposure to diseases which are often untreated, and the consumption of predominantly-cereal based diets, which are missing key vitamins and minerals." The study, a first of its kind in Somalia, was conducted between March and August 2009 in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO and WFP under the technical leadership of the Institute of Child Health, University of London, funded by the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency.

Nutrition situation improves in Togdheer region.

Togdheer region in northern Somalia recorded a 3.9 percent improvement in the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate in a recent nutrition survey. In a Nutrition Update for March and April issued on 4 May by FSNAU said that the GAM rate in Togdheer is 12.2 percent, down from 16.1 percent six months ago, with no cases of oedema reported. The improvement is attributed to the good rains which improved productivity of animals, increasing household access to milk, leading to improved dietary diversity. A similar survey in Bari region revealed that the GAM rates remain at 13.9 percent due to a variety of reasons including: limited health facilities, poorly qualified health personnel and inaccessibility to existing health facilities.

Floods in Middle Juba regions

During the reporting week, the Juba River levels rose significantly in Sakow, Bu'aale and Jilib districts causing damage on crops and fallow land. In Sakow district, approximately 60 percent of cropland was affected, 75 percent in Bu'aale and about 80 percent in Jilib. The situation is predicted to improve due to lowering of the river levels in these areas in the coming days, but downstream the Jamaame district is at a high risk of flooding. The situation is being monitored closely. Log on to http://www.faoswalim.org/subsites/frrmis/flood_mgt.php for more detailed information.

Cholera/Acute Watery Diarrhea Update

WHO says that though the cholera outbreak has stabilised, the risk still remains high in Mogadishu and its environs. Since January, 1,580 cholera cases have been reported in Banadir Hospital of which 1,263 are children under five. A total of 32 deaths have occurred, of which all but four were children under five years, except for four. In the reporting week, the number of AWD cases reported from Lower Shabelle region since January remained relatively stable 1002 cases, compared to the previous week when 918 cases were reported. Marka and Afgooye districts accounted for 48 percent and 45 percent of all reported cases respectively.

WFP Trucks released

A convoy of 32 trucks carrying 633 metric tons of food that were stuck in Lass Caanood pending clearance with Puntland authorities was released during the week and some of them are already moving towards their assigned destinations.

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