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Somalia

Somalia: Assessment report on the mechanisms and needs of the population living in Jowhar, Adale, and Adal Yabal, Warsheikh districts of Middle Shabelle region

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3. Introduction:

Middle Shabelle is located in the south central zone of Somalia

The region borders: Galgadud to the north, Hiran to the West, Lower Shabelle and Banadir regions to the south and the Indian Ocean to the east.

A pre - war census estimated the population at 1.4 million and today the regional council claims that the region's population is 1.6 million. The major clans are predominant Hawie and shiidle. Among hawiye clans: Abgal, Galjecel, monirity include: Mobilen, Hawadle, Kabole and Hilibi.

The regional consists of seven (7) districts: Jowhar - the regional capital, Bal'ad, Adale, A/yabal, War sheikh, Runirgon and Mahaday.

The region supports livestock production, rain-fed and gravity irrigated agriculture and fisheries, with an annual rainfall between 150 and 500 millimeters covering an area of approximately 60,000 square kilometers, the region has a 400 km coastline on Indian Ocean.

The Shabelle River runs through 150 kms in the region.

4. General Objectives

a. Developed a clear understanding of the mechanisms in the MSH region and the districts of Jowhar, Adale and Adan yabal and warsheikh

b. Identification of the needs of the population in these three districts.

c. Develop an appropriate program opportunities.

5. Specific Objectives.

a. Propose an understandable context habits of the population.

b. Propose understandable context of the local mechanism at micro-micro levels, weakness and opportunities.

c. Identification of quantity and quality of various communities and representatives of association and NGOs

d. Measurement of acceptance over the international presence/feasibility of the project/program implementation.

e. Fixable capacity to cope natural disasters and identification of the most vulnerable population in regard to nutritional acid.

f. WATSAN point of views within in the community to identify the IDPs....

6. General and Social demographic, economical mechanism in Middle Shabelle Region

The region is in the south/central zone of Somalia, it is located in what it use to b ex - Banadir - Galgadud to the north, Hiran to the west, lower Shabelle and Banadir to the south and the Indian Ocean to the east.

Census made in late 70s estimated the population about 1.2 million.

The clans compose of the Hawie (Abgal the majority, Galjecel and the Shidle (Bantu) in the riverine districts. Other clans Moblen, Hawadle and Kabole.

Region consists of eight districts: Jowhar, Bal'ad, Adale, Adanyabal, War sheikh, Runirgod, Ragelle and Mahaday.

The region has livestock, rain-fed and gravity irrigated agriculture as well as fisheries. The annual rainfall 150 - 500mm

The area of the region is estimated to be about 60,000 km2, the region has 400km long sea shore bordered to the Indian Ocean and riverine area of 150km Shabelle River through the region.

After collapse of the central government of 1991 the region never recovered from destruction of the private properties a huge influx of refugees fled from the region to other parties of the country to the neighboring countries and the USA,N. America, Europe, Middle east and Africa.

Infrastructure, governmental and private buildings either destroyed or looted.

There always exists at least once a year a devastating floods that destroys all the farm lands in the reverine villages cuts all forms of communication to reverine communities, makes accessibility in possible, cuts the high way to and from Mogadishu and the rest of the country.

The coastal districts of the region: Adale War Sheikh and Runirgod are pastoralist, agro-pastoralist and fisherman; the region has large number of livestock, camel, cattle ships and goats. The area has various marine life deep sea fishing; coastal fishing coral netting activities are very common in the region.

In late 2004, the coastal districts of the region received yet the worst blow ever, Tsunami which destroyed all the fishing gears, fishing boats, equipments about 300 fishing villages wiped out and entirely destroyed, includes the infrastructure human lives and properties.

There exists a massive seasonal flooding from the Shabelle river, the heavy rains in the Ethiopian high lands which resulted the destruction of the cash crops, village settlements, seasonal crop storage facilities and all infrastructures such as bridges, radial gates, canal outlets, dike and the water way systems.

From 1st to 10th of December 2007 SHARDO team carried out this assessment at reverine agricultural villages and the coastal villages of the region to find the livelihood situation of these farming and fishing folk communities and their food security situation. The team met, the community elders and women committees, the team delivered the object of their mission to the communities and their leaders..