The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 183 countries. For more information: www.ifrc.org

In Brief

Period covered: June 2005 to October 2005; Appeal coverage: 111. 5%; Outstanding needs: N/A

Programme Update no. 1 refer to: http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/annual05/05AA00201.pdf

Appeal target: CHF 2,639,837 (USD 2,096,800 or EUR 1,700,400)

Related Emergency or Annual Appeals: N/A

Programme summary: The reporting period saw a high level of activity and some significant steps forward on the organizational development front for the national society, with the long-planned branch development review being undertaken during the second half of the year, and a branch development strategy for 2006-2010 formulated and adopted.

The expanded programme immunization (EPI) continued throughout the reporting period and a total of 17.78 and8.656 women were vaccinated during the reporting period

All the 24 Somali Red Crescent Society-run maternal and child health/out-patient department clinics addressed the health needs of the targeted communities during the period under review. However, sporadic inter-clan fighting flared up in many areas in the southern and central zones as well as Sool, Sanaag and South Galkayo and led to low clinic utilization and delay in air lifting drugs to the clinics due to rescheduling and suspension of flights.

Operational developments

WHO reported 15 polio cases in neighboring Ethiopia in August 2005, one of them near the border with Somalia . Since then, 42 cases were confirmed in Benadir area, detected by the continuous surveillance system. Following this confirmation, agencies were encouraged to undertake monthly polio vaccination campaigns in Somalia . After a case was confirmed in Mogadishu in September, a joint WHO/UNICEF emergency campaign began, targeting 1.5 million children under age 5 nationwide. Two more campaigns are planned in November and December targeting the same number of children.

Political developments continued as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) officially departed from Kenya in June. Since that time however, disputes have continued between the different factions in government over its location (in Jowhar or Mogadishu ) and the deployment of foreign troops in Somalia . In addition, Islamic fundamentalist groups continued to increase their influence particularly in Mogadishu area.

Recently the government and Jowhar-aligned parliamentary groups gained some political momentum with an important concession from Mogadishu groups that reconciliation talks could go ahead between the two sides without UN mediation, a condition set by the Jowhar group. An Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) foreign ministerial summit also successfully took place, a further sign of potential progress. Meanwhile plans were made for a UN/World Bank-sponsored Joint Needs Assessment to establish priorities and strategies for future recovery and rehabilitation efforts in Somalia .

The first elections in Somaliland took place in September, claimed by Somaliland leaders to complete the republic's "democratic process". Shared campaign stances between all 3 main parties included independence or sovereignty from the rest of Somalia and international recognition. The elections were conducted peacefully, despite fears of clashes in Sool and Sanaag beforehand when ballot boxes were being positioned in the disputed regions.

Piracy off the Somalia coast increased markedly throughout the period and has become a general threat to trade and transport in the area. Targets have included numerous cargo ships, including humanitarian supplies, and a passenger cruise ship which was attacked 100 km offshore, but managed to escape after sustaining damage from rocket propelled grenades and light arms. The United Arab Emirates and Kenyan shipping companies have reportedly begun to refuse their ships to transport goods to Somalia . Other reports say that ship owners have asked Somali businessmen to pay security deposits equivalent to the values of ships they want to charter. WFP stated that the rocketing piracy incidents had hampered the transportation of 2,000 metric tones of food from Mombassa to the wartorn country. The TFG has called for international assistance to police the waters.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Nairobi : Col. Nur Hassan Hussein, Secretary General, Somali Red Crescent Society, Nairobi ; Email: srcsnai@bishacas.org ; Phone +254.20.271.37.84; Fax +254.20.271.88.62

In Nairobi : Ed Cooper, Federation Head of Somalia Delegation, Nairobi ; Email: ed.cooper@ifrc.org; Phone +254.20.283.51.32; Fax +254.20.272.90.70

In Geneva : Amna Al Ahmar, Federation Regional Officer for East Africa , Africa Department, Geneva ; Email: amna.alahmar@ifrc.org; Phone +41.22.730.44.27; Fax +41.22.733.03.95

This Programme Update reflects activities to be implemented over a one-year period. This forms part of, and is based on, longer-term, multi-year planning (refer below to access the detailed logframe documents).

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org