ReliefWeb

Highlights

• Drought continues to exacerbate the demand for food aid in Somalia. 3.5 million people in the country face severe food insecurity, while 2.6 million people are experiencing water scarcity across the country.

• An armed conflict forced over 100,000 people to flee Guriceel (in Galmudug state) to 28 remote settlements. There were around 1,005 unaccompanied children and 2,009 people with disabilities among the displaced.

• During the reporting period, 28,137 people (8,440 girls, 8,724 boys, 10,973 women and men) received emergency water through water trucking and rehabilitation of water points.

• UNICEF has enhanced its assistance to ensure the continuity of key Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) services; during the reporting period, 42,390 children and women received essential healthcare services. In 2021, a total of 185,188 children were admitted for treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM), with 15,609 children admitted for treatment in October.

• Between January and October, UNICEF provided educational support to 171,607 children (82,048 girls), compared to a target of 160,000, and mental health and psychosocial support services to 57,262 children and caregivers (65% of girls and boys).

Funding Overview and Partnerships

As of October 2021, UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal shows a funding gap of 35 percent. During the reporting period, with generous funding received from donors, UNICEF and partners were able to provide lifesaving and life-sustaining interventions. As needs continue to grow, UNICEF Somalia requires additional timely and flexible funding to respond effectively and efficiently to the ongoing crisis and ensure provision of lifesaving humanitarian programs.

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

Drought continues to exacerbate food assistance needs in Somalia, aggravating the dire circumstances of the country's almost 3.5 million people who are food insecure. A total of 2.6 million people are affected by shortage of water while the drought forced 111,000 people to flee their homes in 2021.

Armed conflict continues to take a devastating toll on civilians. In 2021, 539,000 people have been displaced due to conflict. In October, over 100,000 people evacuated Guriceel (in Galmudug state), spreading to 28 remote communities. Around 1,005 unaccompanied children and 2,009 people with disabilities were among the displaced1. The conflict also resulted in school closures, affecting an estimated 10,000 school-aged children (40 percent of whom are girls). With the slow return of the people to Guriceel, assessment findings will be used to inform educational responses to assist learners in resuming their studies.

According to the Secretary General’s annual report on Children Affected by Armed Conflict (CAAC), Somalia is the world’s most dangerous conflict for children. In comparison to other countries included in the Secretary General's report, Somalia had the highest verified violations (23,374) over the last five years (2016–20). Following the release of this report, the Somali Group of Friends of CAAC issued a statement emphasizing the importance of child rights in international efforts to bring sustainable peace to Somalia.

As Somalia deals with a complex, volatile, evolving situation compounded by already scarce and overstretched resources, UNICEF continues to expand its response across all sectors in order to reach and meet the urgent humanitarian needs of those affected. The country's deteriorating humanitarian situation also necessitates integrating long-term solutions into the ongoing humanitarian response in line with the principles of the Triple Nexus.