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NAIROBI, July 18, 2009 – The
Health and Water, Sanitation '&' Hygiene (WASH) clusters of the United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are
below 20 % funded in the 2009 Consolidated Appeal for Somalia, said UN
OCHA Somalia in its latest update on the security, displacement, access
and humanitarian response in Somalia where the civil strife is having
devastating effect on the social services infrastructure, particularly
health, in the South/Central regions.
Fighting between government forces and insurgents continued during the
week in Mogadishu.
This week, WASH issued donor alerts for urgent funding for activities in
Somalia. The WASH donor alert issued on 14 July said that the cluster
needs US$11 million for emergency programmes, especially in the Afgooye
corridor where hundreds of thousands of people are displaced. WASH
partners are only able to supply an average of 6.3 liters of water per
person per day in Afgooye and in some parts; some people get as little
as 2 liters of water per day.
Sanitation in Somalia, said OCHA, is also insufficient. Currently there
is an average of one latrine for every 212 displaced persons. Latrine is
a structure (usually small, holding a single person, and freestanding)
for defecation and urination. SPHERE standards, set by Sphere
Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response,
prescribe one latrine for 20 people. As of 14 July, the cluster was only
18 percent funded.
Health cluster partners issued a donor alert on 16 July stating that the
civil strife in Somalia has had a devastating effect on the social
services infrastructure, particularly health, in the South/Central
regions. The alert sited the need for improvement in access and
availability of skilled, and emergency obstetric care for internally
displaced persons -IDPs- and vulnerable communities as a critical health
need.
Sustained coverage of basic primary and secondary health care services
including life saving drugs and other medical/trauma supplies,
especially for expanding IDP camps and other informal settlements in
remote areas is also crucial. As of 16 July, the cluster was only 12
percent funded.
Fighting between government forces and insurgents continued during the
week in Mogadishu. On 11 - 12 July, at least 50 people were killed and
more than 120 civilians and combatants were injured in Abdulaziz, Shibis
and Yaaqshiid districts in north Mogadishu. At least 135,000 people have
been displaced since 1 June, with 34,000 having moved to alternative
areas in Mogadishu. Some 37,000 have moved to the Afgooye corridor while
63,000 have moved to other parts of Somalia. A statement issued on 16
July by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), stated that
almost 300 weapon-wounded patients have been admitted to Keysaney and
Medina hospitals since last weekend. "Doctors and nurses are working
strenuously to care for the patients," said Valery Sasin, a surgeon
coordinating ICRC's health activities in Somalia.
During the week, the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, with local
partners distributed hygiene kits to 1,000 displaced women in four
settlements along the Afgooye corridor. A hygiene kit consists of soap,
a towel, detergent and sanitary towels, among other things.
ACF admitted 135 severely malnourished children out 336 screened in
south Mogadishu during the past two weeks, while another 823 children
are being treated at Out-Patient Therapeutic Feeding Programs and
In-Patient Therapeutic Programs in Mogadishu. In Waajid, Bakool region,
90 severely malnourished children out of 203 screened where admitted,
while another 654 children received treatment from nine Out-Patient
Therapeutic Programs and In-Patient Therapeutic Programs in the region.
In Somaliland, WFP and partners distributed 537 metric tons of food to
59,305 beneficiaries in Hargeysa, Ceerigaabo, Laas Caanood, Caynabo and
Berbera districts.
In Puntland, 7,182 beneficiaries received 92 metric tons of assorted
food commodities under the food for training program in Gardo town,
including 100 people living with HIV/AIDS who received 10 metric tons.
Some 373 Tuberculosis patients received 38 metric tons of food under
institutional feeding in Bossaso town. In Bakool, Bay, Gedo, Hiraan and
Galgaduud regions in South/Central Somalia, 210,630 people received food
commodities and supplementary feeding in Mudug region. In Middle and
Lower Juba regions, WFP and partners distributed 331 metric tons of food
commodities to 3,011 beneficiaries under supplementary feeding programme
through individual and family rations.
On 12 July, a women's network WAWA, distributed non-food items to 150
women affected by a fire at the Tawakal settlement two weeks ago in
Bossaso, Puntland. UNHCR distributed NFIs to 60 families affected by
another fire on 8 July in Inji settlement and 25 families from Tawakal
settlement in Bossaso, sais OCHA.
OCHA's presence in Somalia dates back to 1999 with the establishment of
a UN Coordination Unit. A full-fledged OCHA office came into being in
2003. Since 1999, OCHA's coordination role has grown in relevance as
well as in size as the humanitarian situation has developed in Somalia.
Since 2004, as the country has experienced drought, the tsunami, floods,
inter/intra clan violence, chronic food insecurity, environmental
degradation and displacement, OCHA Somalia has persevered in its efforts
to mobilise and coordinate an effective and principled inter-agency
humanitarian response. It has also expanded its in-country presence,
which now includes eight sub-offices in the three zones of Somaliland
(Hargeysa), Puntland (Garowe, and Bossaso) and South/Central (Dolow,
Jamame, Marka, Mogadishu, and Wajid). The field offices are supported by
a central office in Nairobi.
WAM/MMYS
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