Hiraan – Situation Analysis

October 2012

Context

Hiraan Region borders Galgaduud to the east, Middle and to the south, to the west, and Ethiopia to the north. The estimated population is 329,811, with a 79/21 percent rural/urban divide. There are three administrative districts: the population of Belet Weyne (including Matabaan) - 172,049; the population of Bulo Burte (including Maxaas) - 111,038; and the population of - 46,724 people (Source: UNDP). The region hosts an estimated 51,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) (UNHCR estimates in September 2012).

There are five main livelihood zones in Hiraan: the southern inland pastoral zone rearing camels, sheep and goats; the central region agro-pastoral zone, growing cowpeas and grazing sheep, goats, camels and cattle; the Hawd pastoral zone, where sheep and goats are reared; the Hiraan agro-pastoral zone, and the Hiraan riverine zone, where sorghum and maize are grown and cattle, sheep and goats are grazed. The River Shabelle flows into the region from the Ethiopian highlands and runs through all three districts.

Hiraan region is controlled by various armed groups as well as the Federal Government of the Republic of . The region has been disputed since 2007 and experienced armed clashes for its control. Violence and tension affected humanitarian access and limited adequate humanitarian response. Conflict-related deaths and injuries, population displacement, trade disruptions, the Al-Shabaab ban on some humanitarian agencies and relocations all negatively impacted food availability and job opportunities. On 31st December 2011, in collaboration with the National Security Force (NSF) and Ahlu Sunna Waljama (ASWJ), the Ethiopian National Forces took over control of Belet Weyne. The occupation of Belet Weyne opened a new window of opportunity for humanitarian access. After the appropriation, some UN agencies and INGOs returned to Belet Weyne and resumed operations.

The riverine zone of the districts of Belet Weyne, Bulo Burte and Jalalaqsi are prone to flooding with Belet Weyne district being the most vulnerable. On 28th Sept 2012, floods were triggered by eight hours of heavy rains in Belet Weyne district. According to local authority sources, up to 17,850HH were displaced across Belet Weyne district. While 85% of the town was affected and covered by flood water, an estimated 5,200 HH (3,500 from Belet Weyne town and 1,700HH from IDP camps) were identified by a flood task force as the population in need of immediate relief in Belet Weyne.

Humanitarian Needs

Food Security: An estimated 64,000 people (19 per cent) are in crisis and in need of humanitarian assistance of which 13,000 in urban and 51,000 in rural. In addition, there are also 16,000 in emergency phase (FSNAU - Post Gu 2012). Consecutive drought and recurrent conflict over the control of the region since 2007 negatively affected the food security in the region. The recent floods in Belet Weyne worsened the situation. The total affected population in crisis and emergency are 80,000 people (24 percent), who are in need of immediate food assistance and livelihoods support. The populations in need of livelihood assistance includes drought affected pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, farmers, IDPs, returnees, hosting communities, and the urban destitute. There is also an urgent need of seeds to replant crops destroyed by the floods and the rehabilitation of the flood-affected irrigation infrastructure for flood recovery programme. There is also a need for increased agricultural input, seeds and fertilizers

1 to facilitate planting for the agro-pastoral communities prior to the rainy season and veterinary services for the animals of pastoralists.

Nutrition: The nutrition situation among the pastoral, agro-pastoral and riverine populations in Hiraan is critical. GAM of 16.7 and SAM of 4.2 in Hiraan pastoral of Matabaan and GAM of 16.6 and SAM of 3.3 in Belet Weyne district (FSNAU Post GU 2012). The poor nutrition situation in Hiran is mainly attributed to poor household food security in addition to a lack of access to adequate health and humanitarian interventions particularly in Al-Shabaab-controlled districts of Bulo Burte and Jalalaqsi in the south.

Health: Hiraan does not have adequate medical facilities to deal with an outbreak of cholera, acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) or measles (highly contagious among a malnourished population), and requires immediate health interventions particularly in the districts of Bulo Burte and Jalalaqsi which are Al- Shabaab controlled. In addition the existing health facilities do not provide quality services. There is only one main hospital in the region that is supported by MSF Swiss in Belet Weyne, which will be closed on 31st December 2012. There are issues of poor coordination of health services in the region. Geographical coverage is also poor. For example, there are more than 10 MCH/OPD in Belet Weyne town, whereas there is only one MCH/OPD in the whole Jalalaqsi district. Although the regional health cluster is functional and working in Belet Weyne, activities are not reaching other districts.

WASH: The needs for WASH activities continue to increase. Besides the prolonged droughts and insecurity that affected the basic service infrastructure, the recent floods in Belet Weyne that destroyed 70 percent of the latrines and shallow wells in the town, as in the preliminary flood rapid assessment report, have worsened the situation. Even Belet Weyne town, the capital city of the region, lacks clean water. Drinking water from unprotected shallow wells and river water is the main cause of AWD and other water-borne diseases in the region. There is a big gap in WASH activities and a need to rehabilitate latrines in schools and poor communities to enable the flood IDPs to return to their houses and avoid disease outbreaks.

Protection: The estimated IDP population in Hiraan by UNHCR is 51,000. The loss of the social security network and the absence of a functioning law and order system raise protection concerns, as survivors are unlikely to find assistance through their traditional system.

Response and Gaps

Food Security: The Food Assistance Cluster aimed to reach 35,000 people in any one month1. In September 2012, 22,464 people (64 per cent of the target) benefited from interventions geared towards improving access to food and safety nets including cash based vouchers, cash-for-work and cash relief interventions. The food security situation has been worsened by the recent floods in which the population lost their livelihood and food stock. There is need to step up for intervention at least for the next two months of November and December.

Health: Regionally, additional medical facilities are required to respond to AWD and measles. The Health Cluster reported that 47,260 people are the end year target. Up to September 2012, only 20,911 beneficiaries (44 per cent) have received primary and/or basic secondary healthcare services. The health care needs remain huge.

Nutrition: Despite high malnutrition and mortality rates, Nutrition support reached 17,471 (97%) of the 18, 000 children end year target by September 2012. However, as mentioned above, the nutrition needs are far above the annual estimate for 2012. Nutrition interventions need to be increased.

1 Food Assistance cluster end year target includes IDPs.

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WASH: Up to the end of September 2012, WASH Cluster partners ensured access to sustained water interventions for 34,360 people (28 per cent) of the end year target 120,181 people). Temporary water was made available to 90,471 people or 75 per cent of the end year target of 120,181 people. The focus should remain on access to sustainable water such as the protection of shallow wells to improve community resilience. Specific interventions continued in flood affected areas in September 2012. Recording is in process. The latrines are the major gaps/needs in WASH, particularly post -flooding in Belet Weyne to enable the affected population to return to their houses.

Protection: It is projected that an estimated 17,055 of the population will be reached by the end of the year. To date, 29,830 (175%) beneficiaries were reached. The protection of civilians continues to be a major challenge in Somalia following the protracted violence resulting in human rights violations by all parties in the conflict. The fighting between TFG/AMISOM forces and insurgents continues to cause further displacements, loss of life and property. Insecurity continues to hinder humanitarian intervention and impedes access to some locations within this region.

Shelter: No temporary or sustainable shelter interventions took place. Besides Emergency assistance packages (EAPs/NFIs) distributed in response to the September 28 floods in Belet Weyne, EAPs/NFIs were distributed to 25,950 people by 2012, covering 51% of the 50,749 target for the end year. Shelter continues to be a major need in the region.

Education: Emergency education and life-saving interventions through the education sector reached 58,992 beneficiaries up to the date reporting. The end of year education target is 30,524 children. However, children are forced not to attend schools due to insecurity and contribute to labour to sustain family livelihood.

Likely Developments:

The recent floods in Hiraan have deteriorated the humanitarian situation and increased the number of the population in crisis. It is necessary to review the population in need and to increase humanitarian operations to avoid crisis.

Operational Partners There are a number of local partners working in Hiraan:

Food security: CERELPA, GEELO, Riverine Relief Program, HARDO, SAMRADO, WOCCA, SOADO,HATI and Kanava, Youth center, MGV, SC, ADRA, DRC, COOPI, Technoplan, Muslim aid etc

WASH cluster: WARDI, HW&CDO, MGV, Riverine Relief Program, SYPD, COOPI, DRC, YME, TGV, SAMRADO

Health cluster: ZAMZAM, CESVI, SRCS, WARDI, GEELO, MSF-CH, DOOYALE, DOVE, Muslim aid Nutrition:SOADO, MGV, SAMRADO, HARDO, RRP, DOYALE, Muslim Aid, Save the Children,

For feedback and comments, please contact

1. Aziku Santus [email protected] +25290791808 2. Abdi Noor Ahmed [email protected] +25290795985 3. Abdullahi Warsame [email protected] +25290795139

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