Somaliland Assistance Bulletin October—December 2006

I. HUMANITARIAN SITUATION restocking of the pastoral households that lost their Above normal Deyr (Oct-Nov) rains were reported livestock can be among appropriate responses after in most parts of the country resulting in improved the rains. A Nutrition assessment in Burao town and livelihoods of the rural communities through other flood-affected areas was recommended to increased availability of water and pasture. evaluate the impact of the floods in order to guide Improved livestock conditions combined with Haj timely food security interventions. 1season led to improved livestock prices, which in turn is enhancing purchasing power. Milk Nutrition Cluster (UNICEF, WHO, WFP, availability was reportedly high in most parts of the FAO/FSAU, SRCS and Ministry of Health) country, which is supposed to have positive impact conducted a nutrition survey (using 30x30, WT/HT, on nutrition of children. Nevertheless, without and MUAC for 6-59 months old) in Hawd livelihood having enough good seasons in the recent past in (South of Hargeisa) with population of 33850 (WHO order to recover from the effects of the previous 2005) from 15th to 19th November. This nutrition droughts that reduced the assets of the community assessment revealed a Global Acute Malnutrition particularly livestock for pastoral groups, chronic (GAM) of 8.1% (some improvement compared to food insecurity prevails in many pastoral livelihoods 8.8% in 2002) while Severe Acute Malnutrition is (e.g. eastern regions like Sool, Sanaag, and 1.9% which is in alert situation and no Odoema case Togdheer). An intervention addressing the root was reported according to preliminary findings causes of food insecurity, improving the stability and presented by FSAU and UNICEF on 29/11/06. The resilience of the livelihoods and reducing risk of survey covered 945 children (6—59 months old) future vulnerabilities will be important for such from 475 households from 30 different villages. communities. Considerable correlation of malnutrition with ART On the other hand, torrential rains caused emergency (17.1%) and diarrhea diseases (15.8%) was reported. condition for many households in different parts of Immunization coverage was 97.6% and 34.5% for the country like Burao town and Odweine district of Polio and Measles respectively while the vitamin A Togdheer region, Garadag, El-Afweine and supplementation coverage was about 36.2% in the Dararweine areas of Sanaag region, Sheik district of surveyed areas. Sahil Region and Zeila and Tokoshi of Awdal region. Emergency assistance was delivered to such The FSAU led Post Deyr ‘06/’07 Food Security households in various areas (details of the response Assessment commenced in Somaliland on 13th are covered under the title “Coordination on flood December with 2 teams consisting of five response”). government line ministries, WFP, VETAID, GAA, Apart from causing human death (about 15 death and PENHA, to evaluate the performance of Deyr cases most of them in Sanaag region were reported), rains and the situations of the pastoral livelihoods in floods blocked roads impeding accessibility to the the country. According to FSAU field staff, the neighborhoods and markets, which, in turn, situation seems to be above normal for areas visited negatively affects food supplies. In addition, floods with improved pastoral livelihoods. The analysis of led to livestock death (e.g. 10,95 shoats were data is going on and the preliminary results are reportedly killed by rains in Sanaag region alone), expected in early January 2007. destruction of farm yields and other agricultural assets (e.g. destruction of 112 farms and 1500 meters FAO/FSAU-led Post Gu/Karan 06 crop harvest of irrigation canal, 12 water pumps, etc. were assessment was conducted in Somaliland from 21st destroyed in Sheik district alone), and damages of Nov. to 5th Dec 2006 with the participation of FEWS water sources (e.g. Birkeds, Boreholes). NET, MoA, and ADO. Covering only agro-pastoral Furthermore, destruction of infrastructure including livelihood zones of the country—mainly Hargeisa, the sanitation facilities was enormous in Burao town Awdal and Togdheer regions (e.g. Gabiley, Hargeisa, leading to high risk of disease outbreaks. Borama, Baki, Dila, Odweine, Burao and Sheik Rehabilitation of the damaged public infrastructure districts), the objective of the assessment was to (schools, MCHs, Hospitals, Sanitation Facilities, determine the overall performance of the Gu/Karan etc), restoring/rehabilitating productive farms and 2006 season in terms of cereal crop harvest estimate in Somaliland. According to the report, the area 1Millions of Muslims make religious journey to Meka in Saudi under cultivation for this year was estimated at Arabia in order the observe one of the 5 religious pillars of Slam.

This monthly bulletin is compiled by UNOCHA in collaboration with humanitarian actors operating in Somaliland. For further information, inputs or comments please contact Abdulkarim H. Ali at [email protected], or [email protected]. All references to Somaliland pertain to the self-declared but unrecognized Republic of Somaliland. 1

Somaliland Assistance Bulletin October—December 2006

35,040ha—85% and 15% for sorghum and maize items (utensils) for flood affected communities and respectively. Gabiley district of Hargeisa region is to assess and rehabilitate flood protection dykes, the major area (72%) for cultivation followed by damaged schools and roads with the Ministry of combined Borama and Baki districts of Awdal Public Works being the lead institution 2) region (18%). Due to normal and above normal Water/Sanitation/Health is another cluster group to Gu/Karan rains in most agro-pastoral areas of assist the affected communities in Water, Sanitation Somaliland (mainly Awdal and Hargeisa region), the and Health with UNICEF as the lead agency while 3) total cereal harvest in this year was estimated at food security/Nutrition cluster group assist the flood 25020.4MT, which is 147% of the Post War Average victims with emergency food in the affected areas (PWA: 1998 – 2005, 17,024MT) and the third with WFP as the lead agency. Each of the groups highest in almost a decade after 2003 and 2005. consists of government authorities, UN agencies, and I/LNGOs. Periodic coordination meetings (weekly or II. HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE sometimes monthly) are held at the Ministry of National Planning and Coordination. The emergency There is a strong presence of humanitarian actors in response carried out by different cluster groups can Somaliland. This allows relatively good coverage of be summarized in the following sub-headings. assistance to those in need. Emergency support to flood affected communities. Coordination on Flood Response Thousands of households became acutely affected Supported by UN OCHA, the Minister of National with their food supplies and makeshift shelters Planning and Coordination in collaboration with washed away by the floods. Humanitarian agencies other line ministers like Minister of public works, provided emergency assistance to about 3241 Minister of Water & Mineral resources, and NERAD households3 (approximately 19446 persons) mainly has been coordinating humanitarian response to the with the provision of emergency food (cereals, oil, flood-affected communities in the country. pulses, wheat flour, etc.) and non-food items such as emergency shelter (plastic sheets), blankets and chicken utensils contributed by WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, DRC and Somaliland Authorities.

(Food Distribution in Buroa town on 22nd October 2006). Rehabilitation of Flood Damages on (Coordination Meeting in Burao—City Plaza Hotel— Infrastructure for Burao town. right after the floods on 20th October 2006). Public infrastructure including schools, roads, Different cluster groups are working together to airport, and MCHs suffered heavy damages address the humanitarian situation of the flood- particularly Burao town. The infrastructure-working affected communities and rehabilitate the destroyed group with Ministry of public works as the lead and/or damaged basic infrastructure (health, institution estimated the damage on infrastructure for sanitation, education facilities, roads, flood Burao town alone to be $ 298,800. After fund protection structures, etc.) particularly for Burao and raising, about $197,825 (66%) has been contributed Zeila towns in Togdheer and Awdal regions respectively, Such cluster groups include 1) 2 Shelter/Infrastructure/NFI to provide emergency 3 These people are found in Burao town (about 1500 hhs), shelter (plastic sheets, blankets, etc) and Non-Food Odweine district in Togdheer region (about 324 hhs), Zeila and Tokoshi in Awdal region (about 750 hhs), Garadag, El-Afweine and Dararweine in Sanaag region (667 hhs), 2 NFI = Non-Food Items.

Somaliland Assistance Bulletin October—December 2006

from the government ($71,825) while the remaining Coordination on IDPs $ 102,000 from UN (mainly UNDP $ 45,000 and 4 Although controversial due to lack of IDP profiling ILO $ 40,000) and a group of NGOs ($17,000). in Somaliland, about 40,000 displaced persons are This money is mainly intended for the rehabilitation found in with poor living conditions—often in urban of 6.3 Km flood protection dyke, construction of areas with inadequate water and sanitation and water diversion way in the north of Burao town, and lacking income opportunities and access to basic direct cash supply to Burao municipalities in order to social service. Major current interventions in IDP assist the reconstruction of the flood protection settlements include: - dykes and runoff absorption dams. Education/Training/Shelter for IDP settlements. The gap in funding for the infrastructure remains - Provision of school space to all IDP settlements about $ 100, 975 (34%) mainly for the repairs of (Hargeisa, Burao and Berbera) including school tens Burao airport (e.g. flood protection structures near in temporary settlements like Statehouse and Dami the runway, compacting/cleaning the runway, etc.) by MoE, UNICEF, UNHCR, and NRC. and rehabilitation of the demolished R.C.C Box - Supporting teacher training, provision of education culvert near Titanic Hotel. materials, conduction of alternative basic primary education to school children of the most vulnerable Rehabilitation of Sanitation Facilities in households in IDP settlements by UNICEF, NRC, Burao Town. Save the children Alliance, Care International and Some of the emergency water interventions included other local actors. chlorination of the water sources and removal of - Construction of permanent shelter (low cost housing) stagnant water from public areas. However; there and provision of emergency shelter by was considerable damage on both public and private UNHABITAT (Ayaha) and UNHCR (Statehouse) sanitation facilities, which needed further attention. respectively. According to assessment made by UNICEF and DRC in late November, the Water and Sanitation Water, Sanitation, Nutrition and Health for IDP needs after flooding in Burao town was estimated to settlements. be 147,970 USD out of which 48,790 USD (33%) - Provision of piped water through construction of have been covered by UNICEF and DRC. UNICEF water kiosks and provision of sanitation facilities5 for contributed bulk of this amount (43,390 USD). Statehouse, Stadium, Ayah and Aden Suleiman The response of UNICEF and DRC will focus on settlements by UNDP, UNICEF with local partners. rehabilitation of sanitation facilities for IDPs (about One good example of sanitation project is the one 60 households) and public areas (rehabilitation of implemented by UBAX Social Development (LNGO) with the public latrines for schools and Buroa main hospital). financial and technical support from UNICEF. This project completed 12 twin latrines in Dami B in October 2006. Each 92,680 US dollars are still needed for other 4 households will use one twin latrine, hence 48 households will benefit from this project in Dami B. For keeping the twin sanitation needs including the emergency sanitation latrines functional and usable for all the time, one household needs of Burao with high health risks for the will be responsible for each twin latrines. prisoners after floods exposed sewage to surface. As - Supplementary feeding of under-nourished children was reported, UNDP had plans to rehabilitate the for Burao and Berbera (Jamalaye) IDPs by MoE, Burao prison. Nevertheless; there is emergency need WFP and UNICEF. to rehabilitate the latrines of this prison and for this On 7th October 2006, WFP and UNICEF finally started emergency need, the funds need to be processed implementation of supplementary feeding programme for quicker. The destroyed latrines of Burao girls’ Burao and Berbera IDPs after some delays. With above- school are not covered so far. Many more IDP emergency threshold GAM rates (15.3% and 16.4% households in the three IDP settlements (Kosar, Ali respectively for Burao and Berbera), these IDPs were living Hussein and Aden Suleiman) of Buroa town will also in very poor conditions and required nutrition interventions. need further support to rehabilitate their destroyed - School Feeding Programme for school children of latrines or new ones. The rehabilitation of the IDP settlements and poor quarters of the towns like damaged MCHs includes the gap areas in funding. Dami, Sheik Nur, Mohamed Moge (Hargeisa) and Kosar and Yirowe (Burao), Sheik Osman (Borama) by WFP & MoE. 4 like PENHA, HAVOYOCO, Candlelight, ADO, NERAD, COSONGO, CCS, LAXMAR and private sector (Daalo Airlines 5 (e.g. distribution of slabs and assisting most vulnerable and Dahahshil) households in construction of latrines)

Somaliland Assistance Bulletin October—December 2006

- Construction of MCHs and provision of medical conditions of the displaced/returnees in Hargeisa and supplies for displaced communities by UNICEF, to enable the involved humanitarian agencies and WHO, MOH & L and other local partners. Somaliland Authorities mobilise the necessary funds - UNDP RRIDP is planning to carry out integrated to move towards more durable solutions (incl. interventions for IDPs and other vulnerable groups durable resettlement with priority for State House based on assessment on livelihood-integrated and Stadium settlements). The joint programme for projects that was done earlier by UNDP RRIDP. displaced communities in Hargeisa is basically Some of immediate activities for IDPs and other guided by the following four strategic objectives; 1) vulnerable groups will include revolving fund project Improved living conditions in 3 temporary selected in which certain vulnerable households will have settlements in Hargeisa. It means promoting living conditions of the displaced communities to certain cash loan to boost their income generation activities. minimum humanitarian standards (as agreed upon in Major Gaps in the interventions for IDPs include: the framework for engagement) after identification -Lack of IDP profiling to know the exact number and of gaps and priorities of the displaced communities the priority needs of the displaced communities is of the 3 selected settlements6 2) Large-scale considered a major gap. Other gaps include lack of resettlement and reintegration of displaced in livelihood support interventions like micro-credit, Hargeisa. UN, INGOs, government and local actors vocational/skills training, lack of collective garbage will develop integrated strategy for resettlement for collection systems, and less hygiene and sanitation the integration of displaced/returnees in the 3 awareness activities. There is also a delay in selected settlements enhancing community operationalising the newly constructed basic services participation. facilities like MCHs and schools. For instance, as 3) Develop Mechanisms to promote spontaneous reported, the MHC in Dami IDP settlement was resettlement of individual households within constructed in late 2005 but it has not been Hargeisa enhancing self-help decision making of functioning up to late 2006. the households. The intention is to promote options Good interventions, which need to be extended to of durable solutions based on individual household more settlements, include school feeding programme decisions to resettle independently within Hargeisa and Alternative Basic Education Programme that are in order to assist integration of displaced/returnees implemented by WFP and NRC respectively. into town inhabitants. 4) Guided Resettlement to areas outside Hargeisa. The Joint Programming for Displaced The intention is explore options and preconditions of Communities. resettling people in other areas outside Hargeisa and as a result a Pilot Project Proposals regarding this As was agreed by the Working Group for displaced issue will be developed. communities on 18th September, a Task Force for Budgeted action plans regarding these four strategic Joint Programme for displaced communities in objectives will be developed. Hargeisa has been jointly launched officially in early The thematic sub-groups (clusters) indicated in the November during the initiation workshop (sponsored table below, each with a designated lead agency, by UNHABITAT) for joint programming at were formed for the joint programme to come up Maansoor Hotel. This joint programme has been with programme components in line with the agreed 7 jointly launched by the Somaliland Authorities, strategic objectives considering 3 phases that were represented by the Ministry of Repatriation, envisaged for the joint programme and each cluster Resettlement and Reconstruction (RRR), focusing on its area of expertise and background.

Municipality of Hargeisa and Ministry of Public No. Thematic Cluster/Sector Lead Agency Works and International Agencies (UN and INGOs 1 Land/Infrastructure/Shelter and UNHABITAT consisting of UNHABITAT, UNDP, UNHCR, basic services. UNICEF, ILO, FAO, OCHA, WFP, and NRC) with the aim of exerting a joint effort to alleviate suffering 6 (i.e. Statehouse, Stadium and Dami). and improve living conditions of the displaced

communities in 3 settlements (Statehouse, Stadium 7 (Phase 1: activities possible with at present available and Dami) including durable resettlement solutions. budgets for immediate implementation; Co-chaired by MRRR and UNOCHA, the taskforce Phase 2: activities that can be implemented with is expected to maximize impact of the budgets that can likely be mobilised in the short term; humanitarian/recovery response to alleviate the Phase 3: activities that would require substantial mobilisation of funds.)

Somaliland Assistance Bulletin October—December 2006

2 Livelihoods (food UNDP groups have several times reported that the security/nutrition) development. conditions of prisons in Somaliland were 3 UNICEF unacceptable in all standards. UNDP ROLs, Water/Sanitation/Health/Education UNHCR, UNICEF and Save the Children Alliance 4 Protection issues UNHCR support Somaliland administration in Judiciary,

security, human/child rights, protection, and rule of Each sub-group to address a capacity building law. strategy for local counterparts (Government and Training of Trainers in Protection: UNOCHA in local institutions and committees, community groups collaboration with DRC, UNHCR, UNDP ROLs and and women organisations that work with the other local partners (e.g. Hargeisa Legal Clinic) displaced people) as crosscutting theme in all conducted a TOT on protection (for IDPs, women, strategic objectives. It’s worth mentioning that the children, etc) with participants from different parts of role of MRRR was so important in ensuring the South and Central Somalia, Puntland and participation of government in the process. As a Somaliland. The objective of this workshop was to result, many different line ministries are part of JP assist and supply a pool of trainers in the field of initiative protection to the agencies involved in the field of The framework for engagement has been agreed protection. These trainers will assist the trainings in upon while different sub-groups started developing the field of protection and can be called by any respective programme components (outputs and interested agency that has plans to conduct training activities) according to respective strategic in the field of protection. objectives. After reviewing current interventions and Protection Monitoring Network operational; gaps and priority programme components are Established in October 2006, the Somaliland identified, sub-groups will assist the facilitation team protection network consisting of government in the finalization of drafting a Common Work Plan authorities UN, INGOs and LNGOs with the which, after circulation for taskforce’s comments leadership of UNHCR completed the first phase of and consultations with the members of IDP working the protection monitoring network including group, will be the main joint programme strategy selection of partners (mostly local partners), document. This document, after approved by development of action plans, training and capacity Somaliland government and UNCT, will be used to building of the selected partners and developing raise the necessary funds for the implementation of methodologies and databases for reporting critical the programme components envisaged. Although protection issues. The PMN has started recently the Joint Programming activities have been scaled down second phase, which includes data collection and during the last weeks of December 2006 due Eid responses. With 11 members in Somaliland, The Adha and Christmas, major strategy outputs and PMN convene coordination meetings once in each 6 milestones are to be finalized during February 2007. weeks and produce reports with recommendations of the appropriate required responses for critical Protection/Rule of Law protection issues throughout Somaliland. Planned Improving conditions of prisoners: On 27th activities include four-month radio and TV December 2006, the government of Somaliland programmes together with periodic production of started demolishing the central prison of Hargeisa bulletins (brochures) on the protection needs and replacing it with a new, modern prison capable of human rights of the displaced, refugees, etc. hosting 600 prisoners. Equipped with vocational/skills training workshops, office facilities, There is a growing concern on increased SGBV (The different sections for different groups (e.g. children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence) in Somaliland women, men, etc), and in compliance with particularly against women and girls in the international standards, the new prison is expected to settlements for displaced communities as recent be complete within 6 months with one Million US reports indicated. Disability persons generally and Dollars from UK and UNDP. those from the poorest strata of the population like The old prison was constructed during 1940s during IDPs in particular suffer social discrimination and colonial era with the capacity of 250 persons exclusion with no or very limited access to basic although it was currently containing more than 600 services and other opportunities like education. This prisoners who are now transferred to other prisons in also triggers humanitarian concern as well. other towns (Burao, Borama, etc). Human rights

Somaliland Assistance Bulletin October—December 2006

Technically and financially supported by UNHCR a child or the International Convention against torture SGBV (Sexual & Gender-Based Violence) and etc. Disability Support Project was started in December The legal outreach service initiative implemented by with CCBRS8 as the implementing partner. The Hargeisa legal Clinic of The University of Hargeisa objective of the project is to alleviate suffering of the as part of SGBV and Disability support project will victims of SGBV and other human rights violations provide direct legal representation for the SGBV of the IDPs in the selected settlements (Statehouse, victims from most vulnerable groups during court Stadium and Dami—all in Hargeisa) through referrals. According to Legal Clinic Officers, 38 development of community-based SGBV prevention cases will be handled soon in Somaliland courts and response mechanisms and psychosocial support through this legal assistance through advocates and networks for the victims including access to legal lawyers hired by UNHCR. service (through legal clinic) and medical care First activities of Hargeisa legal clinic (human rights through referral networks. unit) include community awareness trainings in Although with limited duration9, this project is December with 20 persons from committee members expected to benefit about 3690 vulnerable persons. of the displaced communities, CCBRS and Refugee The major activities include capacity building of Welfare Centre. displaced communities (training committees, women With the support of UNHCR, population Tracking association, and normal members of the community), Network consisting of 4 organizations (in community mobilization and advocacy, provision of Somaliland) was also established in the last quarter outreach psychosocial counseling and support, of 2006 to monitor and highlight the crisis10-induced emergency medical assistance, monitoring, population movements like persons displaced from documentation and reporting of SGBV victims, South and Central Somalia due to the recent wars in home-based physiotherapy treatment, distribution of order to enable humanitarian actors to provide timely orthopedic appliance and other mobile devices. response to any influx of such displaced people and/or refugees. CCBRS started the implementation of the above project with 3 days training on psychosocial support Child Protection Network under process: According for 20 members of IDP committees (child protection to UNICEF Child protection update in October 2006, committee + administrative committee) from Sheik discussions are underway with Somaliland Lawyers Nur and Dami IDP settlements in December. The Association as part of lobbying for the passage of the trainees are expected to identify disabled people in Juvenile Justice Bill and the effort to help create their respective communities and facilitate regional child protection network. addressing the psychosocial support needs of those New Psychiatric support center opened in in need. More training will be conducted for Hargeisa: New center for psychosocial support committees from all different IDP settlements in for mentally disabled people was opened in Somaliland (Burao, Berbera, Hargeisa, etc) on the th Hargeisa on 6 November. Mentally sick people same issue in order to empower communities and will be treated in this center. Such services will be help them improve the conditions of the disabled extended to Berbera according to Manager of this people. center. During the opening ceremony, the manager It is worth mentioning that, a Comprehensive and of center reported Khat is a major cause for mental Integral International Convention on the Protection problems in Somaliland. He added that the treated and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons people who recover mentally will be rehabilitated with Disabilities was approved by the UN on 13 through provision of livelihood support (business, December 2006. This convention will have the same skills trainings, etc.). About 120 mentally sick legal status as the other main treaties such as the UN persons are expected to benefit from this center with convention on the rights of women, the International the support of WHO, business people, and ministry UN Convention on the protection of the rights of the of health support. The major constraint reported is

lack of psychatriatic doctors in the country. 8 CCBRS (Comprehensive Community-Based Rehabilitation in Somaliland) is a local NGO working in WFP social support activities: WFP provides food the field of protection in partnership with UNHCR and to most vulnerable groups like orphans, In-patients UNICEF. of general and mental Hospitals, TB-Patients, People st 9 The project duration is 4.5 months (1 December 2006 to 15th of March 2007) 10 Due to natural disasters or conflicts

Somaliland Assistance Bulletin October—December 2006

living with Aids (PLWA), and Handicapped people. Another two-day planning session between the In November 2006, a total of 51 metric tons of food Somaliland Administration represented by six senior aid commodities was distributed to 24 social support ministers led by the Minister of Planning and institutions with 2114 beneficiaries (Male- 1, 409 & Coordination, Hon Ali Ibrahim Mohamed and the Female- 705) throughout Somaliland (Hargeisa, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Borama, Burao, Gabiley, etc). represented by Country Director, Mr Bruno Lambrequins was concluded on 29th November 2006 UN-Government Coordination in Hargeisa. The deliberations led to joint The Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee and identification of development priorities for the the United Nations Country Team Meeting in partnership between Somaliland and UNDP for Hargeisa, Somaliland, 21 -23 November 2006. 2007: democratic governance, rule of law and security and poverty reduction and sustainable The United Nations Country Team, led by Dr. Eric livelihoods; with HIV and AIDS, gender and human Laroche, UN Resident and Humanitarian rights as cross-cutting themes. Again the UNDP Coordinator and comprising 15 Heads of Agencies country director announced that UNDP would or their Representatives, met with the Inter- reinforce its presence in Somaliland in the months to Ministerial Coordination Committee [consisting of come, with increased delegated authority to the 13 Ministries], chaired by Hon. Ali Mohamed Somaliland office. Ibrahim, Minister of Planning and Coordination, to discuss on a broad range of issues which are Education pertinent for the development of Somaliland. The Education Development Partnership Developed: two-day intensive discussions focused mainly on During this reporting period, UNICEF and issues related to the presence and effectiveness of the Somaliland Ministry of Education launched an UN’s programmes and operations in Somaliland. education development partnership initiative with After through discussion on different UK department for International Development. The activities/intervention of different UN agencies, The partnership aims to promote capacity development in Somaliland’s Minister of Planning and Coordination the education sector within Somaliland Ministry of presented five-year development plan which is Education and other educational institutions. currently under formulation, with an emphasis on priority areas. He also presented a discussion paper Re-opening Hargeisa Technical School. Hargeisa on effective ‘aid coordination’ mechanisms and Technical School was re-opened in December 2006 improved effectiveness of development assistance. after being closed for 18 years since of its Some specific issues and concerns discussed equipments were looted during the 1988 war against between UNCT and government as proposed by the former government. Because of huge investment government included upgrading the decision-making required for such technical schools, this school was status of the UN offices in Hargeisa. Bruno, the opened very lately compared to other ordinary head of UNDP agreed to upgrade and bring higher- schools. Save the Children Denmark, Save the level staff to UNDP office in Hargeisa and improved children UK and CARE International supported the equity of UN programmes across the country as there re-opening of this technical school with EU funding. was general consensus that development/recovery According to the Minister of Education who spoke interventions are less in eastern regions (Sool, on the occasion of the re-opening of the school, SOS Sanaag and Togdheer) and that this disparity to be is planning to assist the MoE in the reconstruction addressed in the future programmes. the Burao Technical School. The minister added that UNRC Mr. Eric Laroche called for increased his ministry has the ambitions to create technical attention to humanitarian access to all populations in schools in all regions of Somaliland. need of assistance. He also presented the broader UN Consignment of textbooks for secondary school reforms towards more integrated assistance and students: UNESCO facilitated the arrival of a programmes for Somaliland while. At the end of 2 consignment of 10,576 books for secondary schools full days’ discussions, a joint Inter-Ministerial in November; the first time to have textbooks based Coordination Committee and the United Nations on Somaliland Curriculum for Secondary School Country Team made a Press Release, which urges Students and Teachers. UNESCO in collaboration continuation of such fruitful discussions on regular with the Ministry of Education is also conducting a basis, every six months.

Somaliland Assistance Bulletin October—December 2006

Survey for higher institutions (needs assessment) in those areas. It was reported that there is a emergency Somaliland. need for water intervention. The team also reported School Feeding Programme: WFP supports schools that another borehole in Yube village in the same in low-income areas with feeding programme, which region was not functional due to technical problems is highly appreciated due to improved attendance and with the water pump. retention of the students. 54 schools throughout the country benefit from such project with NRC and Health SCD as cooperating partners. In the last month of the Bloody and watery Diarrhea was reported in many year, WFP delivered 108.3 metric tons of food to parts of the country after the Deyr rains. The 15,305 students (31% girls) in the selected schools. situation has further deteriorated very quickly when 21 death cases for u5 children were reported in Coordination December. Togdheer region was the most affected Humanitarian Accountability Partnership Meeting with 30 villages reporting such disease cases at DRC compound on 8th October. although other regions like Sahil region (Abdal and A group of 14 INGOs (CAFOD, CARE Mandera areas) reported cases of diarrhea. International, Christian Aid, DRC, and others) are Ministry of Health with the support of UN agencies having global partnership called “Humanitarian (UNICEF and WHO) and NGOs (Save The Accountability Partnership” with the aim to improve Children-UK, HAVOYOCO, Red Crescent, SWISS the quality of assistance delivered by the worldwide GROUP) responded by sending 5 teams in order to humanitarian aid system. HAP is in the process of treat affected children/people, chlorinate drinking developing standards of accountability for the water and mobilize communities. The teams covered humanitarian sector based on a system of voluntary about 70 potential villages (most of them in certification. Togdheer region) Convening a meeting on 8th October 2006 at DRC Contamination of water is believed to be the basic compound in Hargeisa, HAP introduced the cause of this diarrhea outbreak. For instance, garbage participants from UN and INGOs with the concepts collection site in Mandera village was reported to be of HAP. Humanitarian accountability partnership is near the open water source used by the local people. focusing on the accountability of humanitarian actors Rainwater drained the rubbish into the open water to fulfill certain standards with minimum source leading to diarrhea outbreak. At the same benchmarks. Any humanitarian response system time, the medical personnel assigned to nearby MCH below this benchmark will be considered below the were not present at the time of the outbreak (they acceptable standards. It was mentioned that most were reportedly arrested later on by the government Humanitarian actors are only accountable for donors as punishment). and governments but are not accountable to In October 2006, UNICEF in collaboration with beneficiaries since in most cases beneficiary do not WHO conducted a 3-day training in Hargeisa for 45 have power on the humanitarian agencies when the journalists11 on how provide better coverage for reverse is true. Although several definitions were issues related with Polio Eradication just before the given to accountability, one definition was as next two polio mass vaccination campaigns across “accountability is the means by which power is Horn of Africa: 3rd November and 3rd December. In used”. The visiting HAP team was also evaluating the same month, UNICEF also trained fifty how much DRC Somalia/Somaliland has performed traditional birth attendants from nine IDP settlements against accountability standards as a member of the in Somaliland in home delivery and setting up of HAP. basic maternal health services in the IDP settlements. III. HUMANITARIAN ACCESS Water & Sanitation Somaliland has been peaceful & stable despite Water and Sanitation Cluster sent a team (including dynamic political situations in the south and central water experts) consisting of Ministry of Water & Somalia during the reporting period. However, Mineral Resources (with financial support of Humanitarian Access to congested areas in Sool and UNICEF), JEFA, CCS, PENHA, NERAD, Sanaag Sanaag is yet limited. Regional Administration, members of the Sanaag community, Sanaag Regional Health Burao, and 11 Journalists were from Somaliland, Puntland and South Ministry of Water to Badhan areas of Sanaag region and Central Somalia. Prominent journalists from Somali in order to assess severe water shortages reported in Service of the BBC also participated.