– Situation Analysis October 2012

Context

Togdheer region borders Ethiopia to the South and other Somali regions including Woqooyi Galbeed to the West, to the North East and Sool to the East. Its capital Burco is the second largest city after Hargeisa in . It comprises four districts namely: Burco, Buuhoodle, Odweyne, and Sheikh. The Southern part of Togdheer region especially around Buuhoodle is a contested area that Puntland and Somaliland fought over in 2010. It is currently inaccessible to UN agencies.

The region’s population is estimated at 402,295 (UNDP 2005) with a 30/70 urban/rural ratio. The region comprises Togdheer agro pastoral, and West Golis, Hawd and Nugal Valley pastoral livelihood zones. Majority of the people practice pastoralism and earn their livelihoods through selling livestock and livestock products. Crop and fodder production are also important sources of livelihoods. The latest FSNAU post Gu (short rains) 2012 Assessments put 21,000 people in crisis in the region with 75% living in Sheik town. In addition, the report indicates that there are over 105,000 people in the region who are living in stressed conditions.

Burco town hosts the largest livestock market in Somaliland. With the exception of Buuhoodle district where sporadic clashes have occurred in the past, the region remains peaceful and accessible to humanitarian organizations. Burco is home to about 26,000 IDPs and accommodates the second largest concentration of IDP settlements in Somaliland after Hargeisa.

Humanitarian Needs

Food Security: The food security situation improved following the positive impact of the Gu 2012 rains. The normal Gu rains improved livestock body condition and contributed to milk availability and access. Currently, cereal production is estimated at 205, which is almost a third less of the 745 metric tonnes of Gu/Karen 2011 estimate. The Hawd pastoral livelihoods improved as a result of increased milk production, low to medium kidding rates in small ruminants, and improved terms of trade for livestock. However, herd sizes are projected to increase but remain below baseline levels, particularly the small ruminants.

Nutrition: FSNAU post Gu 2012 Food Security and Nutrition Assessment result in Togdheer shows that the total number of cases of global acute malnutrition (GAM) is 10,850 while documented cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are 2,150 in the region. The post-Gu 2012 FSNAU post Gu assessment indicate a deterioration of the nutrition situation in Hawd livelihood zone from a GAM rate of 10.7% and a SAM rate of 1.8% in December 2011 to a GAM rate of 16.7% and a SAM rate of 4.2% in July 2012. The deterioration is attributed to high (>20%) morbidity, especially the outbreak of measles in district reported since March 2012.The nutrition situation of IDPs in Burco improved slightly from very critical in November 2011 to critical in July 2012. Current FSNAU assessments indicate an 18.4% GAM rate and a 4.3% SAM rate among IDPs in Burco.

Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene (WASH): As in other North West agro-pastoral zones, people in Togdheer region experience difficulties in accessing safe water, sanitation and health facilities. FSNAU surveys from 2009-2012 report that only 20-40% of the population have access to improved sanitation, and less than 20 per cent have access to a protected water source. These are causes of high child morbidity rates, particularly among the IDPs in the region. For instance, morbidity of IDPs in Burco town is estimated to be

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40.3 %, and is categorized as very critical (FSNAU post Gu 2012 Assessments). In addition, some of the boreholes in the region which serve large populations during drought periods were found to be non- functional and many of the berkeds are aging and in need of urgent repairs.

Protection and Shelter: Togdheer hosts the second largest number of IDPs in Somaliland, with an estimated 26,000 in the region. The majority of IDP camps are located in Burco town. Most of the people in the camps are long term IDPs who require programmes that will facilitate their reintegration into the local community. IDPs from Southern and Central Somalia in particular face protection issues regarding personal security, due to poor extended clan support structures. The IDPs in the region need transitional as well as permanent shelters and other non-food items (NFIs).

Response & Gaps

Food Security: During the period under review, the following programmes were implemented in Togdheer region: Institutional feeding (IF), emergency school feeding (ESF), transitional supplementary feeding programmes (TSFP), and general food distribution (GFD). In September 2012, the Food Security Cluster (FSC) partners assisted only 78 people out of a monthly target of 37,000 through livelihood investment activities. On the other hand, a total of 41,067 out of the monthly target of 47,000 people received assistance which is geared towards improving access to food and safety nets. Poor pastoralists and agro-pastoralists whose livestock assets were depleted during the past drought (2011), and who find it difficult to access traditional support networks (like food on loan, food and cash gifts), will still require improved access to food and livelihoods investments. Improved access to food is particularly important for the IDP camps where the malnutrition situation is categorized as critical.

Nutrition: The cluster partners reached a cumulative total of 35, 072 beneficiaries out of a mid-year (Jan- Sept 2012) target of 81,060 through the preventive food-based interventions for children 6-59 months, pregnant and lactating women. The outpatient therapeutic programmes (OTP), the blanket supplementary feeding programme (BSFP), and the targeted supplementary feeding programme (TSFP) supported by UNICEF and WFP are ongoing in the Togdheer region. Mobile OTP teams also operate in the region. UNICEF supports 7 fixed OTP sites while MOH, Medair, and SRCS support 74 outreach sites. The deteriorating nutrition situation in Hawd livelihood zone calls for an immediate scale up of nutrition interventions. Poor pastoralists and agro-pastoralists will also require nutrition support.

Health: In the Month of September, out of a mid-year target of 64,982, Health partners reached 2,693 beneficiaries through the primary and/or basic secondary health care services programme. In the same vein, 123,086 >5 children and women of child-bearing age were vaccinated, out of an end of year target of 223,282.

Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene (WASH): During the month of September, the cluster provided assistance to 24,247 beneficiaries through the sustained access to water programme, 32% coverage of the end of year target of 74, 699 beneficiaries. Similarly, in the same period under review, the cluster reached a paltry 1,962 number of beneficiaries through the temporary supply of safe water programme. This target accounts for 3% of the total end of year target of 74, 669 beneficiaries. However, due to the high child morbidity rates in Togdheer, improved access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities is required in the region

Protection and Shelter: The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in partnership with UNHCR is currently constructing 75 permanent shelters for IDPs in Burco town. The NRC also plans to construct 700 semi- permanent shelters in Koosar, Aden Suleiman and Ali Hussien settlements starting November 2012. In addition, NRC distributed 266 shelter kits to flood affected families in east of Burao town. In September,

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2012, 3,943 people (23% of end-year target) at heightened risk of protection violations accessed preventive and/or responsive protection services. Due to the presence of high number of IDPs from Southern and Central Somalia and from the drought affected areas in Somaliland, Togdheer will continue to need shelter interventions.

Likely Developments:

The Gu 2012 rains in Togdheer was normal according to the Post Gu 2012 FSNAU Assessments. However, the impact of the rains on food security, nutrition and livelihoods will not be felt for some time. The Dayr rains of 2012 started very well in the region, with heavy rains that resulted in floods which were reported in the eastern part of the region. Although this is positive sign of good Deyr seasons, the situation needs to be closely monitored.

Operational Partners:

Protection: UNFPA, UNHCR, DDG, UNMAS, UNICEF, CESVI, NRC (through partners) Food Security: WFP, SRCS, MEDAIR, HAVOYOCO, SCODO Education: UNICEF, AET, Save the Children, IR/SL, Caritas, ADRA, CARE, UNHCR Nutrition: UNICEF, WFP, SRCS, MEDAIR, SCODO, MOH Shelter: NRC, DRC, UNHCR WASH: ADRA, OXFAM GB, HAVOYOCO, UNICEF, Caritas, NRC, DRC, Medair, Havoyoco

Sources

1. UNDP population Figure -2005 2. Presentation: Northwest Region Gu 12 presentations (FSNAU) 3. Cluster 3W data for the region (OCHA) 4. Nutrition Analysis Post Gu 2012, Technical Series Report No VI. 47, September 26, 2012. 5. Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, Post Gu 2012, Technical Series Report No VI. 48 October 18, 20126. Single Reporting Format- September 2012

For feedback please contact:

Francis Lenoh, Email: [email protected] Cell phone: +2522 4776499 Abdirahman Mohamed Email: [email protected] Cell phone: +2522 4429866

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