Main Developments

An increase in food insecurity is being reported (OCHA) in parts of Bay region, particularly Qansahdhere district and Berdale and Ufurow villages. Agropastoralist households (numbers unknown) in these areas are said to have fled their farms in the past week due to fear of conflict and to be facing food shortages. There are also reports of deteriorating health conditions in some districts of Bay and Bakool regions because of recent rains and resulting poor sanitary conditions (particularly deterioration of water points). There have been reports of increasing cases of watery diarrhea and malaria in Bay (Baidoa, Berdale and Qansahdhere) and Bakool (Hudur and Elbarde). Poor road conditions in Bakool and increasing tension in Bay is limiting humanitarian access to the districts, although UNICEF has distributed family relief kits to IDPs/evicted families in Baidoa town, and other agencies (eg, CONCERN) are planning to distribute tents to the same population.  

Food distribution is ongoing in riverine districts of the Shabelle. WFP is distributing 888mt targeting 45,000 people in Jowhar, Mahadey and Balad (Middle Shabelle) and 950mt targeting 48,000 people in Lower Shabelle. Meanwhile, CARE has completed distribution of 1,511mt of food to 12,939hhs in Beletweyne and Buloburti districts of Hiran. Through a combination of improved access and planned airdrops, it is expected that the delivery of food assistance to the more difficult to reach areas will improve. 

Given increasing concern about water-borne diseases, water and sanitation interventions and healthcare to prevent and/or treat such diseases remain prioritized. Geographical and response priorities were identified by the Flood Working Group in Nairobi on 15 December as follows:

1. Jilib (Middle Juba): water and sanitation; NFIs; health
2. Jamame (Lower Juba): water and sanitation; NFIs; health
3. Lower Juba non-riverine districts of Afmadow, Hagar and Badhadhe: food; NFIs; water and sanitation; health
4. Middle Shabelle: Water and sanitation; health; in districts northeast and northwest of Jowhar and in Balad, food is considered the highest priority.
5. Southern Gedo (Bardera district): water and sanitation; NFIs; health
6. Lower Shabelle: water and sanitation; NFIs (shelter, kitchen utensils); health; livestock vaccines
7. Hiran: water and sanitation; health; livestock vaccines

Developments Along the Shabelle River

Jowhar (Middle Shabelle) – Sporadic rains in Jowhar are reportedly continuing to worsen conditions of all incoming and outgoing roads to Jowhar. The rehabilitation by the ICU of the tarmac road to Mogadishu (supported by UNICEF) is ongoing, although hampered by rain. Meanwhile, the road from Jowhar to Beletweyne remains cut off, severely limiting movement for the entire central regions. Access to the west villages of Jowhar remains difficult.

Wanleweyn (Lower Shabelle) – Muslim Aid reports increased flooding as of the end of last week in several villages and farmlands in the eastern part of Wanleweyn district. Inhabitants are reportedly leaving their villages and the flood water is threatening to reach the tarmac road to Mogadishu.

Qoryooley (Lower Shabelle) – Despite river embankments and canals being fortified with sandbags, flooding conditions are said to be worsening and access deteriorating in the villages of Gaywarow, Haduman, Bandar, Adimole, Majabto and Murale.

Kurtunwarey (Lower Shabelle) – In Kurtunwarey district, river breakages are resulting in water flowing to the villages of Kobertibo, Bula Haji and Mustaqbal. The populations of these villages are reportedly moving to escape the flood water. On 17 December, CONCERN distributed 7000 sandbags to reinforce weak spots of the river bank at various sites in Kurtunwarey district. Meanwhile, two shallow wells dug by CONCERN in Muruqmal village have been destroyed by rains. 

Developments Along the Juba River

Jilib/Jamame (Middle/Lower Juba) – Downstream river levels are still very high and inflow is reportedly continuing from the Laaq Dheer river in Kenya and from the east as a result of the Juba’s confluence with the Shabelle. Any rain in the coming days or weeks will exacerbate the situation in Jilib and Jamame districts.  

Funding

To date, over US$5 million has been pledged against the Flood Response Plan appeal, launched in Geneva on 6 December. The contributions will come from the governments of the Netherlands and Norway and from the US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). On 14 December, the 2007 CAP for Somalia was launched in Nairobi. The CAP does not encompass flood-response activities. However, based on the flood response that agencies are able to implement in early 2007, the CAP will be revised to reflect evolving needs. 

Information and Coordination

The 3W – a database collecting flood-response information on which organizations are carrying out which activities in which locations – is now operational on the OCHA website: http://ochaonline.un.org/somalia. With regard to the different clusters’ response, the 3W includes project descriptions and status, target beneficiaries, implementing partners and funding details.  

SWALIM and UNOSAT maps of flood-affected regions are available at:

http://www.faoswalim.org/viewpage.php?PageID=bf88c2a7f49ef5e5d35f474df4464d25

http://unosat.web.cern.ch/unosat/asp/prod_free.asp?id=28 

For further information, contact:

Molly McCloskey or Rita Maingi at +254 (20) 375 4150-5

Agencies and partners are encouraged to send updates and information from field reports to: Matthew Olins [email protected] and Molly McCloskey [email protected]