Main Developments

About 30 Ugandan officers arrived in Baidoa on 1 March in advance of the expected arrival of AU troops. It is not known when the first battalion of Ugandan troops will arrive.

Recent WHO figures for vector and water-borne diseases in south/central Somalia show a decrease in recorded malaria cases since mid-February. For the week ending 23 February there have been a total of 623 recorded cases of malaria in south/central, down from the previous week’s figure of 1,201. The upsurge was linked to post-flooding conditions; however, now that the environment is drying out, the incidence of malaria is decreasing. Meanwhile, WHO reports that since the beginning of 2007, out of 2,858 recorded cases there have been an estimated 103 deaths due to Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) in Hiran, Middle and Lower Shabelle and Lower Juba. In Lower Shabelle, the number of cases is increasing due to the influx of IDPs (which places additional strain on available health care and water/sanitation resources), while insecurity continues to present obstacles to access and response. [see Response]

Displacement

A field report issued 26 February has estimated that approximately 3,000 households have left Mogadishu during the month of February due to insecurity, moving to Bay, and Lower and Middle Shabelle regions. A further 800 to 1,000 IDP households (mainly comprised of women and children) have moved about 25km from Mogadishu in the direction of Afgoye. Many of these families are being hosted by the local community. Concerns are rising regarding the health and sanitation situation for the IDPs, as available social services are limited – particularly water supply systems – and the new arrivals are placing additional strain on already inadequate resources. The price of water, for instance, is said to have more than doubled since the IDPs began arriving.

In Baidoa, trucks loaded with women and children from Mogadishu are reportedly arriving on a daily basis. Most are said to head for Bardera, Belet-Hawa, Luuq and Garbaharey in Gedo region. It is estimated that Baidoa itself now has approximately 800–1000 IDP families. Other recent arrivals who have not gone on to Gedo are said to be with relatives in existing communities in Baidoa.

Access and Response

Twenty-five WFP trucks that were loading at El Wak (Kenya) with 791mt of food crossed the Somali border today and are en route to Gedo for distribution.

Response is ongoing to the caseloads of AWD in south/central Somalia. In Hiran, IMC, ICRC/SRCS, MSF, Save the Children–UK, WHO, UNICEF and Hiran Water Supply are responding. Adequate supplies have been mobilized, and the number of AWD cases is decreasing due to water and sanitation interventions. In Middle Shabelle, MSF–S, InterSOS, UNICEF, WHO and ICRC/SRCS are engaged in the response. Again, adequate supplies have been mobilized, and WHO Mogadishu has recently conducted training in Jowhar and Balad. Adequate supplies are also reported to be present in Kismayo (Lower Juba), with WHO, ICRC/SRCS, Muslim Aid–UK and Kismayo hospital and community representatives coordinating the response. In Lower Shabelle, where the number of cases is increasing, WHO, UNICEF, ACF and COSV are responding. It is important that water and sanitation interventions continue in all areas until April/may, and that the wat/san response be upscaled in the Jubas and other areas heavily affected by the recent flooding.

In South Galkayo (Puntland), distribution by Islamic Relief of NFIs (provided by UNICEF and UNHCR) was concluded on 27 February to 2,000 IDP households registered during the third week in February. Following the completion of the verification exercise in the coming days, more NFIs are planned for distribution. While the finalization of the verification exercise will provide a clearer idea of IDP numbers, insecurity in Mogadishu may prompt more arrivals to the area.

CERF funds of US$1million have been approved for the project Enhanced Security for UN Personnel in Somalia, to be implemented by UNDP, UNDSS, and WFP between March-December 2007. The project will focus on improvement of inter-agency communication systems and of UN common premises and accommodation (including rehabilitating UN compounds to make them EMOSS-compliant). Such improvements will allow for greater international staff presence (including INGO staff) in south/central, as well as more effective program implementation and improved access to populations in need.

In addition, US$2.8 million has been earmarked for WFP/UNHAS pre-paid cargo flights. This money represents CERF funds that were not used for air drops during the recent flooding and have now been transferred to the cargo operations. The funding will cover flights through March.

Reports detailing response activities by cluster (Who does What Where) are available on the OCHA website at http://ochaonline2.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=5066

For further information, contact:

Molly McCloskey (mob: +254 727 659 100)

[email protected]