ReliefWeb

Situation overview

Based on local authorities’ reports and a multi-cluster rapid assessment carried out 7-10 November, humanitarian partners estimate that 11,000 households spread over 33 villages are affected by the localized flooding in Jowhar district. Further compounding the situation is the early November outbreak of clan fighting that displaced an estimated 2,296 households from 10 villages according to the African Union mission in Somalia, which recorded families arriving at Jowhar airport. Field information indicates up to 3,000 households could be impacted by the violence. Humanitarian response has scaled up despite challenges, including lack of reliable data, and access to eight villages housing some 2,000 households due to flooding or insecurity (Buulo Xaaji, Buulo Geesaale, Buulo Sheekh Cusmaan, Gumeys, Xasan Aw Cali, Buulo Maxamed Dhiblaawe, Xaanooley and Towfiiq).

The FAO-led Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) estimate that 8,000 hectares of land have been affected by flooding in Jowhar and Balcad districts. FSNAU is currently assessing the situation in Shabelle regions. Updated information on the impact of flooding is expected by 6 December.

The floods have been attributed to rains in Ethiopian highlands. However, FAO’s Somalia Water and Land Information Systems (SWALIM) weather forecasts since 18 November indicate limited rains in the Ethiopian catchment, which would reduce the risks in the flood-prone areas of Lower/Middle Shabelle regions.

The Humanitarian Coordinator, Philippe Lazzarini, visited Jowhar on 3-4 December to see first-hand the situation caused by the flooding and discuss with local authorities and NGO partners responding to the floods. He also visited people displaced by clan violence near the Jowhar airfield and held talks with elders from both the warring communities.

Humanitarian response

Aid workers continue to provide emergency assistance to affected communities. Key response activities include:

• Shelter and household items have been provided for nearly 38,900 people.

• The WASH Cluster, and the ICRC, have provided 10,200 WASH supplies, including jerry cans, aqua tabs, soap and mosquito nets, chlorine, water buckets, water bladders, latrine slabs. Wells have also been cleaned and over 61,000 people have been assisted.

• The Food Security Cluster (FSC) targeted 252,000 people in November as part of the regular programming with activities aimed to improve access to food and livelihoods. An additional 30,000 people were targeted with improved food access activities in November

• The FSC recommends 1-2 months unconditional assistance to affected areas and then transition to light conditi-onal transfers for an additional 3 months to coincide with the injection of livelihood inputs to affected people.

• The ICRC has distributed tools and farm inputs to 6,000 households.

• Health Cluster partners have provided emergency medical services reaching 60,000 people and vaccination for children from static and mobile health clinics. On 1 December, INTERSOS established a mobile clinic at Mahaday town to help people affected by flood and clan violence. The Somali Medical Doctors Association has sent a medical team to cover villages on a rotational basis in flood affected areas.

• Nutrition Cluster partners have scaled up nutrition activities and have provided 8.25 metric tons of ready-to-use-food, 800 cartons of ready-to-use therapeutic food, 200 cartons of F75 and F100. In addition, ICRC provided Plumpy’Sup (ready-to-use food) for 4,000 children under 5 years and BP5 for 4,000 households for one month.

• ICRC has provided 2,500 NFIs and Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) 200 tents and 1,000 jerry cans to people uprooted by clan fighting on 10 November. ICRC has provided water-trucking and constructed 100 pit latrines through cash-for- work. The organization has also provided medical supplies to Jowhar Hospital to treat 50 serious or up to 500 moderate cases.

• The SRCS has established one temporary child out-patient-department and a mother-child-health care centre for one month providing Plumpy’Nut (therapeutic food) to children under 5 years of age with severe acute malnutrition. The Somali business community fed 2,000 flood and clan-affected families and provided them with one meal a day through four wet feeding centres established in Jowhar for one month.

• INTERSOS, has assessed Jowhar district to determine education needs and gaps and the Education Cluster is preparing response. The assessment found that two schools had been burnt down during the fighting and that of five sites for displaced people visited, none had access to education.

Response gaps

• Based on the reported response and the estimated 66,000 flood-affected in Jowhar people, gaps have been reported in health, shelter and household items, food security, WASH and education. Nutrition partners have reportedly met needs among targeted people.