The Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) confirms that the humanitarian situation in Somalia is deteriorating at an accelerated pace due to soaring food prices, deepening drought and a delayed and poor start to the season rains (April to June). The number of people in need of assistance in Somalia has increased to 2.6 million people (35% of the total population), an increase of more than 40% since January 2008. This increase is mainly due to addition of 600,000 urban poor (20% of the total urban population), who now do not have enough food to sustain their households or who are selling assets to buy food, leaving them vulnerable to further deterioration. Cereal prices, both commercial imports (rice) and locally produced (maize and sorghum) have increased by 110% to 375% in the last year and are now at a historic record levels. According to the just released results of an FSAU Somalia-wide rapid emergency urban assessment, the urban poor are adopting a combination of coping strategies to deal with the crisis including reducing the overall expenditures on food, switching to cheaper cereals, and shipping meals. The assessment results also indicate that many of the urban poor are increasing their access to income by trying to earn extra income and self-employment such as selling charcoal, as well as increasing remittances, loans and gifts.
FSAU also states that the drought is deepening in parts of south and central Somalia (Bakool, Hiraan, Mudug and Galgaduud), pushing more pastoralists into livelihood or humanitarian crisis. Drought conditions have accelerated in these areas over the last three months as a result of a usual harsh dry season, the worst in recent in recent memory, and now the main season rains in April have not started. FSAU warns that the number of people in need of assistance could reach up to 3.5 million or half the population of the country by the end of the year. Contingency planning and preparations for the worst case scenario will be critical if response is to be timely and at appropriate level.
World Food Programme (WFP) has signed an agreement with the Danish Refugee Council to continue the ‘wet feeding’ programme in Mogadishu for another six months. The programme is implemented by the local NGO SAACID in ten districts of Mogadishu and provides cooked meals to more than 50,000 people a day.
Humanitarian response to the drought-affected is ongoing but still far from meeting needs in the affected areas. During the week, WFP dispatched 6,254 metric tons of food aid to an estimated 381,400 beneficiaries in Puntland, Somaliland and South Central Somalia. CARE International distributed 1,559 Metric tons of food aid to 88,446 people in Galgaduud and South Mudug.
At the same time, security situation in these same areas, particularly Bay, Hiraan and Middle Shabelle regions has deteriorated over the past few days due to an upsurge of attacks outside Mogadishu. At least 18 civilians were killed and dozens other wounded on 30 April in Baidoa town after Ethiopian troops opened fire on them following a roadside bomb targeting an Ethiopian convoy. Situation in other parts of Bay Region remains volatile and unpredictable as anti-government groups continue to expand their military presence in the region. On 28 April they captured the town of Ufurow, Bay region. Ufurow becomes the fourth town this moth to be seized by ICU supports after Qansaxdheere, Waajid; Dinsor towns fell into their hands recently. Elsewhere in Mogadishu 13 civilians were also killed and 27 others were wounded after insurgents and government forces clashed. The wounded were admitted to Mogadishu’s Madina Hospital where they are undergoing treatment.
Following the US military air strikes in Dhusaamareeb town, Galgaduud region, yesterday (1 May), there have not yet been confirmed reports of civilian casualties or displacement due to the air strike.
