Somalia: Humanitarian Update Nov 2003

[miles-militis]

SOOL PLATEAU DROUGHT UPDATE

Recent reports from the Sool Plateau suggest that the situation is worsening with no further rain in the region. Pastoralists have started to abandon their livestock and move to areas with permanent water sources within the plateau, and to a lesser extent to urban centres such as Las Anod and Garowe. An FSAU nutrition assessment in Dahar suggested that although overall nutritional status has not declined significantly, the children of pastoralists moving into the settlement are noticeably more malnourished.

 

The failure of the deyr rains has affected most of northern and central Somalia and into the Somali Region of Ethiopia. As a result, grazing is poor and water is very scarce over the whole area, and normal migratory patterns have been disrupted. However, while the situation requires careful monitoring over the whole area, the communities on the Sool Plateau are particularly vulnerable as a consequence of the duration of the drought, now in its seventh season. Further assessment work is likely to be required in Togdheer, and the Haud and Nugaal districts of Puntland.

 

Inter- Agency humanitarian response strategy;

 

The Humanitarian Response Group is working to develop a response plan for the area, based on food and cash assistance; water trucking (for human and livestock consumption); rehabilitation of water resources; mobile health clinics and expanded supplementary feeding centres; livestock off-take and veterinary services for the surviving livestock form the first level of phase1 (emergency phase) intervention strategies in November to January 2004. The intermediate interventions (February to April 04) will be planned as the first level interventions are implemented and are likely to include cash and/or food for work programmes targeting environmental protection, public infrastructure, and strategic water development. Expanded and more regular support to health infrastructure in affected areas as well as measures to ensure the continuity of basic education in drought-affected areas will also be developed. UN-OCHA will provide coordination services in the field, at the regional capital level (Hargeisa and Gorowe) and in Nairobi., and an operational base within the Sool Plateau is being developed.

 

Humanitarian Access:

 

Irrespective of territorial claims, the current drought clearly transcends political boundaries, and access to affected communities need be based on practical considerations of logistics, cost and institutional structures. Letters to the Somaliland and Puntland Authorities from the UN Humanitarian Coordinator officially requesting unrestricted humanitarian access has resulted in a formal agreement from the Puntland Authorities. No written rely has been received from the Somaliland Authorities, and reports indicate that they may insist on humanitarian supplies that are targeting communities living in Somaliland to go through Berbera port. This would be contrary to international humanitarian law, and OCHA will continue to press for unhindered access to people in need.

 

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