Key Overall Developments

The WFP compound in Waajid, Bakool region, was attacked by armed militia on 16 August. This is the fourth UN compound deliberately targeted in Somalia within two months. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC), a.i. for Somalia, Mr. Graham Farmer issued a press statement condemning the attack. He called on all parties to allow unhindered humanitarian access. WFP's operations under the Waajid sub-office are ongoing with supplementary feeding programs in the region reaching a total of 106,695 beneficiaries.

The first World Humanitarian Day (WHD) was marked on 19 August. In a message for Somalia, the RC/HC dedicated the day to humanitarian workers who have lost their lives or have been abducted in Somalia. Some 43 aid workers have been killed, 33 abducted and 13 remain in captivity. Mr Farmer said there was a continued and growing threat to humanitarian operations and called upon authorities to recognise the life-saving assistance it brings to those in need.

On 21 August fighting erupted in Mogadishu killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 40 others, mostly civilians. More than 250,000 people have been displaced from Mogadishu since fighting started in early May. In other parts of South/Central Somalia, there were clashes between Islamist groups and government forces.

On 16 August, unidentified gunmen shot and killed an aid worker of a local NGO in Km 13 IDP settlement along the Afgooye corridor. The motive behind his killing is unknown. A total of nine humanitarian aid workers have been killed in Somalia since January.

The 2010 Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) consultation workshops for South/Central Somalia and Nairobi took place on 18 and 20 August respectively in Nairobi. The South/Central workshop was held in Nairobi due to security constraints in-country and more than 150 humanitarian partners participated. The Nairobi workshop pulled together the zonal priorities and built consensus on overarching strategic priorities which will guide humanitarian response in 2010.

Response

In South/Central Somalia, as part of Malaria prevention, UNICEF is currently distributing 21,000 mosquito nets through partners in Sakow district, Middle Juba and 38,000 in Wanla Weyne in Middle Shabelle. These will benefit some 29,500 households, each receiving two nets.

During the week, around 5,000 children aged 6 – 36 months received Plumpy 'doz, a ready-to-use food, in Wanla Weyne. The highly nutritious substance helps in the prevention of acute malnutrition.

In Puntland, WFP and local partners completed a Blanket supplementary feeding programme in Gaalkacyo, Galdogob and Jariiban districts benefiting 16,814 children under five years. Under targeted supplementary feeding programme, some 4,105 beneficiaries in Gaalkacyo received 312 metric tons while 179 tuberculosis patients in Garowe and Gaalkacyo received some 18 metric tons of assorted food commodities. In Mudug region, some 19,518 people received 247 metric tons of food under food for training, while 10,278 benefited from food for work.

On 16 August, Mercy Corps began water trucking in four locations of the drought affected Bari region. At least 4,500 people are benefiting from this intervention with average 5 litres allocated per person per day. In Bossaso, Puntland, UNHCR and local partners launched an awareness campaign for hundreds of would-be migrants waiting for a chance to cross the Gulf of Aden to Yemen in search of a better life. Brochures containing information on the dangers of the journey were distributed during the week.

In Somaliland, some 91,392 people are receiving health and nutrition support including; supplementary family ration, and distribution of hygiene kits through nutrition partners. Emergency water trucking in 74 villages in Sanaag, Togdheer, and Hargeysa regions is ongoing. Water Sanitation and Hygiene partners are rehabilitating/constructing 13 boreholes (5 of them newly planned), 36 sand dams, 119 berkeds, and 200 shallow wells (hand-dug) which will benefit more than 220,000 people. Additionally, 104, 490 people are receiving various types of sanitation support including provision of latrines and organizing communities to dispose of solid waste.

WFP and partners distributed 280 metric tons of food to 19,400 people under institutional and supplementary feeding programmes in Wogooyi Galbeed and Awdal regions in Somaliland.

Contact: For further information in English, contact: Rita Maingi on +254 734 800 120 – maingir@un.org. In Somali or English, contact Muna Mohamed on + 254 733 643 737 – mohamed26@un.org

Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Date: 21 Aug 2009

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