UNICEF SITUATION REPORT-

EXTERNAL

1-30 June 2009

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS/HIGHLIGHTS • Over 211,000 displaced since fighting escalated in Mogadishu on 7 May between government troops and insurgents (UNHCR, 10 July). Fighting remained intense throughout the month of June, spreading to central and southern regions, namely , Galgadud and Hiran.

• The Transitional Federal Government declared a “State of Emergency” and requested international support on 20 June as fighting intensified in the capital and government officials were deliberately targeted in BeletWeyn.

• Drought in northwest Somalia is reportedly affecting over 1.4 million people. The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) has warned of a serious humanitarian catastrophe if steps are not taken to avert the water shortages.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Fighting in Mogadishu With over 3.2 million people or 43% of the population in a humanitarian crisis (Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit -FSNAU, Feb09), the escalation in violence is gravely deteriorating the situation in Central South Zone (CSZ), where the majority of the population in need is located and where access is most limited. Civilian casualties continue with 397 people killed according to the Human Rights Organisation, Elman, and over 1,738 more wounded since 7 May. Reports of human rights abuses are high as are targeted attacks on government officials and media. Medical facilities in Mogadishu are struggling to provide much needed assistance to the population affected by the ongoing fighting.

Population Displacements Displaced people have reached over 211,000 since fighting escalated on 7 May – 56,000 were displaced in Mogadishu from 19 June to 3 July alone (UNHCR, 11 July). Of the displaced, some of whom have been displaced more than once, 57,000 have settled in the Afgooye IDP settlements and 62,000 within Mogadishu or to IDP settlements along the outskirts of Mogadishu. Total IDPs (internally displaced persons) in Somalia is estimated at over 1.3 million. Fighting also spread into other regions, affecting Jowhar and Mahadai in Middle Shabelle and Wabho in Galgadud regions and causing further displacements.

Protection Issues From April to June, 309 reports of child rights violations were documented by UNICEF-supported monitoring NGOs across Somalia. More specifically, between April and May 2009, 33 children were killed in crossfire between conflicting parties and 56 others wounded and 55 cases of grave sexual assaults against children aged 3-18 years were documented across Somalia. Monitoring partners also reported that children continue to be recruited into armed groups.

Natural Disasters (Drought) As the Gu season (main rainy season from April to June - 70% of rains) comes to an end, northern and central Somalia received insufficient rainfall. Drought affected areas such as central regions of and Galgadud have thus sustained the humanitarian emergency. In the pastoralist regions of the north and northeast, rains were insufficient to improve pasture and browsing conditions prompting populations to move into Ethiopia or areas that received rainfall. In southern Somalia, however the rains were favorable indicating a new normal crop production for 2009 and an improvement in income opportunities of poor households and improving food access. Bay, Shabelles, Juba and parts of and regions received some rain. (FSNAU, 12 June).

1/3

In a statement issued on 22 June, the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) warned of a serious humanitarian catastrophe if no steps are taken to avert the water shortages. FEWSNET reported that the drought has affected about 700,000 pastoralists and a significant number of urban households whose income and food sources are linked to the livestock trade.

The self-declared Somaliland Government issued a plea on 28 June to the international community for urgent emergency livelihood assistance. About 40% of the population or 1,400,000 people are affected by severe food shortages and hunger due to a prolonged drought affecting all region, according to the Somaliland authorities.

Malnutrition Situation FSNAU and partners conducted nutrition surveys from May to June’09 in CSZ. Findings indicate a Critical situation in central regions (Global Acute Malnutrition- GAM 18.3% in Mudug), Shabelle agropastoralists (GAM 15.2%) and district (GAM 16.5%), and sustained Serious situation in the Shabelle riverine and IDPs.

HUMANITARIAN ACCESS UNICEF’s compound in Jowhar, located in the Middle Shabelle region and the main hub for UNICEF operations in CSZ, remains occupied since 17 May. Office equipment and supplies including lifesaving supplies intended for 40,000 children at risk of malnutrition and for the continuation of a nationwide vaccination campaign have been looted and/or destroyed. This is affecting UNICEF’s ability to respond and support a large network of more than 100 non-governmental and community-based organizations which rely on UNICEF supplies and technical assistance to provide a range of services – from health and nutrition intervention to education and protection.

UNICEF’s HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE HEALTH & NUTRITION Child Health Days (CHD): To date, UNICEF and partners have reached over one million children under-five and 819,862 women of child bearing age in Somalia through Child Health Days - a mass-campaign strategy for vaccination, vitamin A, deworming, diarrhea prevention, nutritional screening and health promotion. Second Round in Northwest Zone (NWZ) will start at the beginning of August.

Plumpy’doz: Over 126,000 children throughout Somalia have been enrolled in emergency nutrition interventions through the distribution of Lipid Based Nutrient Supplement (LNS)/Plumpy’doz. The majority of these children (108,500) are in central south zone. The intervention initiated in late 2008 in different parts of the country, is planned to benefit enrolled children for a total of four rounds of distribution within eight months.

UNICEF and partners continue providing essential nutrition support to children despite the heightened insecurity. This month successfully concluded in CSZ the second round of Plumpy’doz distribution (out of a total of four rounds) in Hiran region (reaching districts Buloburte, Jalalaqsi, Halgan, and Bo’o), Mogadishu IDPs, Afgoye IDPs, Balad, Jowhar town, Adale and Wanleweyne in Middle Shabelle and regions. Third round distribution in CSZ has been concluded in some parts of Hiran region and Adale district. Significant quantity of plumpydoz that was stored at UNICEF Jowhar warehouse is no longer accessible/available and will result in cutting the supplementation period to 6 months/3rounds in some locations in CSZ.

In Puntland-Northeast Zone (NEZ), the forth (last) round of distribution in Bosasso IDP camps is currently ongoing for a total of 9600 children currently enrolled. The third round of distribution in Somaliland-NWZ has started in Sahil and Sanaag region reaching over 8,200.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) UNICEF continued supporting the provision of safe drinking water along the Afgoye/Mogadishu corridor to about 57,400 people through trucking until the 10th of June where all water trucking ended and was mostly replaced by piped water systems. During the reporting period, UNICEF supported the extension of water to Baidoa Hospital in Bay Region, CSZ in partnership with the Baidoa Water Board. On the other hand, UNICEF continues to provide operations and maintenance support especially chlorination to water systems serving more than 900,000 people in CSZ.

2/3

In last two months (May-June 09) the demands for emergency water supply has been increasing on daily basis following the failure of Gu rains in NEZ. HADAM and Ministry of Public Work & Transport (MoPW&T) are calling upon humanitarian agencies to do more to reach the most affected areas. UNICEF continues to support over 79,000 people (residents, nomads and their livestock) in drought affected areas in Mudug region with access to safe drinking water through rehabilitated boreholes and water trucking, particularly in South Galkayo. As part of Acute watery diarrhea (AWD) prevention activities and efforts to improve drinking water, regular chlorination of water sources in 23 NEZ IDP camps is ongoing and chlorine concentration tests are carried out regularly to benefit about 36,000 IDPs.

EDUCATION UNICEF in partnership with UNOPS (the United Nations office for Project Services) is supporting the Wajid (CSZ) Primary School Community Education Committee to demolish the old school buildings and to construct a new school comprised of eight classrooms, a teacher’s office, separate latrines for girls and boys (two each), and a fence wall around the school. The construction is taking place during the school holiday period, and when finished the new school will benefit over 400 school children, 55% of them girls.

Despite insecurity in CSZ, since 6 June, UNICEF has been facilitating a 22-day training for 274 head teachers (12 females) from Buale, Sakow, Jamame and Jilib in Middle and Lower Juba regions in order to improve the head teachers' knowledge and skills on school management. Topics include school administration, making schools all-inclusive and responsive, team building, education psychology, life-skills, education in emergencies, psychosocial training, and Education Management Information Systems.

In Ufurow District, Bay Region (CSZ), 2,270 school age children (884 girls) from 17 primary schools, and 1,960 youth learners (450 female adolescents) from eight non formal education (NFE) centres, benefited from UNICEF provided education learning materials and 2,380 copies of NFE textbooks of all modules for grades 1 to 4.

COMMUNICATION, HIV/AIDS, EMPOWERMENT & CHILD PROTECTION (CHEP) Despite insecurity, UNICEF through its local partners continues to support child protection initiatives across Central and Southern Somalia. In June, a total of 450 people from six IDP camps in Merka, Baidoa, Dhusamareb and Kismayo were reached on Mine Risk Education (MRE) and 352 children from schools in Dhusamareb were also reached with MRE. Fifty-one children affected by the armed conflict received emergency referral services to hospitals in Mogadishu following bullet injuries and shelling in the Mogadishu and Afgooye areas. A further seven IDP camps in Mogadishu, Afgooye, Dhusamareb and Kismayo were reached with advocacy activities on child protection, including topics such as child labour, female genital mutilation (FGM) and broader issues of child protection.

The Women to Women (W2W) initiative on HIV&AIDS prevention for women and adolescent girls commenced in five regions (BeletWeyn Dhusamareb ,Baidoa, Huddur Benadir districts). Eighteen peer education classes started in June expecting to reach 3 000 women and girls. Home to home visits have also commenced in eight districts (Baidoa, Huddur, Dhusamareb, BeletWeyn, Hamar jajab, Hamarweyne, Hodan and Waberi). Despite the challenges faced by UNICEF partner, NGO COGWO (their compound being looted and two facilitators having to flee from their homes), the W2W activities continue to reach the most vulnerable women and children in CSZ.

The Middle Shabelle and Bay Child Protection Networks organized and conducted commemoration activities for the Day of the African Child on 16 June in Jowhar and Baidoa. Eight radio discussions on child protection issues were organized and broadcasted by middle Shabelle Child Protection Network (CPN) and educational materials were distributed to 40 children in BIASA primary school in BIASA camp in Jowhar on 9 June.

NFI and Shelter Support The distribution of 6,282 NFI (non-food items) kits benefiting about 47,000 displaced people in the Mogadishu/Afgooye area was completed through UNICEF partners.

3/3