HUMANITARIAN BULLETIN SOMALIA, 1 FEBRUARY – 5 MARCH 2019 [EN/SO]

Dry conditions worsen across Somalia

Highlights
– Dry conditions worsen across Somalia.
– Protecting livestock to save livelihoods.
– Access constraints continue.
– Redoubling efforts to End Polio Outbreaks.
– Sustained response through pooled funds.

Worsening dry conditions have resulted in deteriorating pasture and water availability particularly in northern and central regions of Somalia, compounding an already fragile humanitarian situation.

Humanitarian partners across the country reported critical water shortages and a rapid decline in the remaining water reservoirs during the month of February, particularly in the most affected northern and the central regions. In the worst affected areas, aid agencies are already reporting stress induced migration among pastoralist communities in search of water and pasture, with some moving to urban centers to seek casual labour or to join relatives.

The dry conditions follow a poor 2018 Deyr rainy season (Oct-Dec), ongoing conflict in some parts of the country as well as continued displacement and forced evictions in urban centers. Recovery for the most vulnerable populations is projected to be very slow. Overall, 4.9 million Somalis are estimated to be food insecure. Compared to the post-Gu assessment results in August 2018, the number of people in IPC 3 and above remained at 1.5 million with a geographic shift to the north; however, the number of people in IPC 2 increased by over 10 per cent from 3,077,000 to 3,392,000. The situation is expected to deteriorate further, if aid is not sustained or scaled up in the worst-affected areas and if the next Gu rainy season performs poorly. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) launched the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan seeking $1.08 billion to provide life-saving assistance and livelihood support to 3.4 million of the 4.2 million Somalis in need of assistance.