Somalia Nutrition Cluster – Contingency Planning and Response Preparedness Plan Ddeveloped by Partners in Gedo Region
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SOMALIA NUTRITION CLUSTER – CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS PLAN DDEVELOPED BY PARTNERS IN GEDO REGION 1. Executive Summary Gedo is the second largest region in Somalia and currently part of Jubaland State with an estimated population of 248241 1 people. It borders Orgaden in Ethiopia, North Eastern Province in Kenya and Somalia regions of Bakool, Bay, Jubbada (Middle Juba) and Juba Hoose (Lower Juba) further down East. The region consists of 7 districts namely: Belet Hawo, Baardhere, El-waq, Doolow, Garbahaarrey, Luuq and Burdhubo districts. There are two major rivers that run through the region, the Dawa and Juba Rivers. The Dawa River runs along the border of Ethiopia into Somalia’s Gedo region while Jubba River starts from Doloow, just north of Luuq district, and through Buurdhuubo and Baardheere. The region comprises of three main rural livelihoods namely: pastoral, agro pastoral and riverine (Juba riverine pump irrigation). The majority of the population are however the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists. Northern Gedo forms the largest pastoral group in the region rearing mainly cattle, a few sheep, goats and camel while the South Gedo pastoral mainly keep camel besides few sheep and goats. The main crop grown in the agro-pastoral zone is sorghum. The economy of Gedo hugely depends on rearing livestock and farming in addition to inter-regional and international cross-border trade with Kenya and Ethiopia. According to the reports of the bi- annual FSNAU seasonal food security and nutrition analysis, North Gedo (Doloow, Luuq and Belet Xaawo districts) has been more severely affected by the food security crisis and has persistently faced emergencies since 2004. This has been attributed to climatic factors, in which poor rain performance / drought has contributed to reduced crop production and death of less drought resistant livestock, especially cattle and sheep. Consequently the nutrition situation in the region has also remained poor with most assessments conducted in the region since 1995 recording GAM rates of above the emergency threshold of 15% 2. The security and access situation in North Gedo particularly Luuq and Dollow has relatively improved for INGOs and UN bodies. The areas are controlled by the Somalia National Army forces backed by Ethiopian Forces. On the contrary South Gedo is more insecure due to continued clashes between the AMISON forces and Al-Shaabab as well as greater access for Al-shabaab in the rural areas of Garbahaarreey, Buur dhuubo and Baarhdere districts. Local NGOs have more access in these part and little or no access for INGOs and UN bodies. The objective of the contingency plan is to ensure that Gedo humanitarian partners under the umbrella of the Nutrition cluster are well prepared to respond to an emergency and its potential humanitarian impact in a timely and effective manner. This will be achieved by putting in place strategies that will enable the nutrition partners to respond effectively to any emergency situation. The process of developing the document involved the inputs of nutrition cluster partners and included analysis of hazards and risks analysis, looking at the different scenarios as well as as estimating supplies and other resources involved. Harsh climate and conflict were the major hazards identified in Gedo region. The target beneficiaries are 19804 children under the age of 5 with lifesaving interventions. The plan has also outlined several strategies and activities that require to be done in order to effectively respond and these includes setting up and capacity building of an emergency response tea comprising of 21 staff with representation from all the 7 districts, updating of the 4W matrix, mapping of resources as well as setting up a surveillance system as well as thresholds for triggering response. A contingency planning group consisting of four members will take the lead in updating the contingency plan every 6 months to ensure that it reflects the context. All nutrition response activities will be managed and coordinated by the nutrition cluster and will also involve relevant government institutions as well as the UNOCHA which coordinates inter-agency meetings and assessments. 2. Hazard & Risk Analysis The two major hazards in Gedo region which pose a potential risk are harsh climate which ranges from drought to floods as well as conflict which is either clan related or the ongoing fighting between Al-shaabab and the Somalia National Army with support from AMISOM. The harsh climate has often led to loss of livelihoods due to destruction of crops or reduced crop production, death of livestock from hunger and/or diseases as well as displacement of people as a result of conflict to much safer places. The burden of IDPs in the region is huge owing to the already existing capacity and resource constrains in the region. According to January 2012 UNHCR report on IDPs the region was home to approximately 76510 IDPs with an estimated 16380 in Luuq, 30000 in Doolow and approximately 1800 in Belet Xaawo. An assessment report by the Shelter cluster in May 2013 indicated that Doolow IDPS were home to 20, 628 IDPs. The number of IDPs in Luuq has reportedly gone up with more people being displaced from Bardheere district and Bay and Bakool region as a result of the offensive by AMISOM targeting the Al-Shaabab. As a result there is a high probability of an increase in the number of food insecure household, increased morbidity rates especially diarrhea, ARTI, malaria and kalazaar 3 among others. Consequently malnutrition rates and child mortality rates are likely to go up in absence of adequate lifesaving health and nutrition services. 3. Scenarios & Planning Assumptions Scenarios Floods Drought Conflict Planning assumption Worst case There will be There will be The conflict The community is floods in the severe drought between the Al- aware of the entire Gedo – reduction in Shaabab expected el nino and region the amount of persists and based and are taking affecting that rainfall in the becomes more precautionary will affect all next season intense and Al- measures the livelihood leading to a shaabab gains zones prolonged dry control in more The presence of AL- spell that areas leading to shaabab in an areas affects multiple an increase in affects access for livelihoods or displacements of both LNGOs and districts people and INGOs to provide reduced access humanitarian for humanitarian interventions actors Likely There will be There will be The fighting The organizations ( Scenario floods in moderate between Al IPs) in the region some parts of drought Shaabab and have the capacity to the region affecting only Somalia National respond to the which will one livelihood Army allied to situation affect mainly zone or district AMISON will the riverine eventually stop livelihood and more towns zones will be liberated from Al-Shaabab control and communities will be able to return to their homes and access for humanitarian actors will improve 4. Objectives & Strategies The aim of Gedo contingency plan is to ensure that Gedo humanitarian partners under the umbrella of the Nutrition cluster are well prepared to respond to an emergency and its potential humanitarian impact in a timely and effective manner. These objective will be achieved by: • Setting up surveillance system • Mapping of Implementing partners, existing services and resources • Mobilization of additional resources required through the national nutrition cluster • Setting up and Capacity building of an emergency response team • Building the capacity of the implementing partners in order to improve the quality of nutrition live saving interventions 5. Overall Management & Coordination Arrangements • Nutrition cluster partners will actively participate inter-agency contingency preparedness and response planning meeting coordinated by UNOCHA • Nutrition partners under the leadership of the nutrition cluster and contingency group will take lead in planning and responding to nutrition needs in case of a disaster • The Contingency planning group will periodically guide the review of the contingency plan for Gedo after every six months • At all the levels of planning and responding relevant government officials including local authorities will be involved Arrangement for appeals and funding. The partners through the nutrition cluster will map up the resources available (what is actually available and commitments from implementing partners) and the nutrition cluster will support in sourcing for the balance. Information management arrangements Partners will be trained on the reporting during emergency and provided with standard reporting tools for emergency response. Data and a brief situation report (half a page) for affected area/ region will be collected and sent to Nutrition Cluster IM periodically (the reporting period to be agreed upon). The IM will be responsible for compiling and sharing the information with the nutrition cluster partners and other relevant bodies Cross-cutting issues. Protection issues – In an emergency situation there is a power dynamic between the staff providing services and beneficiaries of the interventions. This can easily lead to abuse and exploitation of the beneficiaries by the NGO staff. In order to ensure that the beneficiaries are protected the measures below will be put in place to prevent such incidences: • Training of emergency response team on expected code of conduct • Include protection issues in the initial rapid assessment prior to the response • Provide beneficiaries