Issue # 26 2-9 July 2010 Key Overall Developments Conflict and Displacement Mogadishu During the reporting week, heavy fighting continued in the northern part of Mogadishu killing at least 60 people and wounding more than 120 others, the majority were women and children. Reports from one of the main hospitals in Mogadishu indicate that between 1-2 July, 42 people were admitted suffering from blast injuries, including 23 women and children under 14 years. Since the beginning of the year, 450 women and children have been admitted to the hospital with weapon related injuries, an indication of the high price civilians are paying in the ongoing conflict. Other hospitals and health centres in Mogadishu are also reporting increased consultations, treatment and admission of casualties. The daily violence and human rights abuses in Somalia continue to displace thousands of civilians with an estimated 200,000 people having been forced to leave their homes this year alone. Populations in conflict-affected neighbourhoods in Mogadishu are moving to relatively calmer parts of the city seeking refuge in host communities or joining already existing IDP settlements. Since 1 July, UNHCR reports that 9,600 people were displaced from Mogadishu including 5,100 who moved out of the city while 4,600 moved to relatively calmer districts within the city. Incident involving humanitarian workers On 5 July, three NGO staff and a driver were taken by armed men to a district police station in Mogadishu and later released after five hours. The reason for their detention is unknown. WFP conducts a monitoring mission During the reporting week, two teams of WFP field monitors travelled to Cadaado and Dhuusamarreeb districts of Galgaduud region to undertake food distribution monitoring for the first time since February this year. Insecurity had previously prevented such a mission. The team in Cadaado is also carrying out re-verification of the village database. As part of the monitoring, WFP teams are also distributing the newly introduced beneficiary feedback cards thus encouraging beneficiaries to report any concerns regarding WFP food assistance. Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) updates The current cholera trends at the Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu indicate a steady decline in the number of cases reported. During the reporting week, 67 cases, including 58 children under 5 and three related deaths were reported compared to 81 cases, including 73 children, reported last week. Following the setting up of a treatment centre and on-the-job training for health workers in Shaw village in Jalalaqsi district, Hiraan, the number of AWD cases has declined from 45 cases last week to 28 this week. WHO has received reports of increased AWD cases and deaths in Lower Juba region, and has sent a team to carryout investigations. The Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) approves final projects Following the upgrading of the HRF to a Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF), the last HRF-projects have been approved. During the first half of 2010, the Humanitarian Coordinator approved 52 projects for HRF-funding (as many as in all of 2009) for a combined amount of US$8.5 million. The HRF supported emergency and life-saving humanitarian projects across the country, with 94 percent of the funding going to projects in South Central Somalia. The highest-funded clusters are emergency Livelihoods (30%), WASH (29%) and Health (26%). The new CHF will support the highest-priority humanitarian projects in the Consolidated Appeal, as well as rapid response activities in case of new emergencies. A standard allocation document has already been launched defining priority clusters as Nutrition, Health, Water Sanitation & Hygiene, and Agriculture and Livelihoods and priority regions with the most urgent humanitarian needs. These regions include Mudug and Galgaduud, the Afgooye corridor in Lower Shabelle and Banadir, Bay and riverine people in Lower Juba. Response WFP and partners in Central Somalia distributed 1,210 metric tons of assorted food to 143,000 beneficiaries through general food distribution in Guriel, Dhuusamarreeb and Cadaado districts in Galgaduud region and Gaalkacyo district of Mudug region. Food distributions in Xarardheere district, Mudug region, remain suspended since April due access and security concerns. Contact: For further information in English, contact: Rita Maingi on +254 734 800 120 – [email protected] In Somali, contact Abdi Yussuf Noor on +254 732 391 040 – [email protected] UNOCHA Somalia, Ngecha Rd. (off Lower Kabete Rd). P.O Box 28832, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: +254 20 4002400, Website: http://ochaonline.un.org/Somalia .