Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – SOMALIA

Flood Situation Report #13 – 7 December, 2006

 

Main Developments

 

During the week, IDPs were evicted from public buildings in Baidoa and moved to two sites in Baidoa town. Pastoralists who have lost livestock during the flooding over the last month are reportedly joining these IDPs, who over the last days have been affected by heavy rains in Baidoa and are in need of shelter and food. UNICEF has already begun moving NFIs to the two sites.

 

UNICEF has agreed to act as lead agency for flood response in Lower Juba. UNICEF is already the lead agency in Jowhar (Middle Shabelle), while CARE in taking the lead in Lower Shabelle; the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) in Hiran; and World Vision in Buale (Middle Juba).

 

UNOSAT has released estimates of hectares underwater in Middle/Lower Juba and Middle/Lower Shabelle. The most heavily inundated districts are in the districts of Jamame (1582ha underwater), Jilib (1669ha underwater) and Buale (1470ha underwater) of Middle and Lower Juba.

 

Developments Along the Shabelle River

Beletweyne (Hiran) – OCHA field reports indicate that many parts of the town and nearby villages are still inundated, with hygiene/sanitation conditions in the IDP settlements reportedly deteriorating due to too few water distribution points, inadequate numbers of latrines, and poor sanitation awareness. Reports from health facilities report an increase in cases of watery diarrhea and bloody diarrhea, especially among children under five. With the immediate emergency needs adequately met, there is now a need to shift the reponse to more programmatic interventions targeting diarrhea and related health risks. Save the Children-UK, in collaboration with ECHO, is conducting an assessment on collapsed latrines and shallow wells in Beletweyne in order to develop an intervention plan. UNICEF provided 4,000 ITNs (1,000 for DRC and 3,000 for SC-UK) for distribution in Beletweyne and Bulo Burti districts in recent days. MSF constructed 100 latrines in El-Jale and 115km areas.

 

Jalalaqsi (Hiran) – River levels are dropping but water is continuing to flow back into the river from the flood plain. On 4 December, UNICEF completed the distribution of Family Relief Kits, BP5 biscuits, blankets, NFIs, ITNs, and chlorine drums to 680 families in 11 villages surrounding Jalalaqsi town.

Balad (Middle Shabelle) – River levels remain high. UNICEF has completed its recent distribution of blankets, NFIs and ITNs in Balad district through Farjano foundation. OCHA field staff report that many communities in Balad district remain in critical need of food assistance and emergency NFIs.

Jowhar (Middle Shabelle) – SRCS reports that more than 15 previously unaffected villages on the east side of Jowhar are becoming isolated by spreading floodwater from Balad and Jowhar, affecting an estimated 20,000 people. Roads linking the villages to Jowhar, Balad and Mahadey are becoming cut off. SRCS is reporting that the villages are suffering from food shortages and are lacking shelter and clean water; there are reports of increasing presence of crocodiles. The newly affected communities are drinking water from the contaminated river and floodwater. SRCS will undertake chlorination activities in these villages but the families need mosquito nets and shelter materials. It is reported that stocks in the Jowhar area are almost completely depleted. UNICEF is awaiting stocks and will deliver blankets and plastic sheeting in the coming days.Water/sanitation interventions are urgently needed in Congo/Garage. With normal water sources inundated, displaced families are resorting to standing floodwaters, increasing the risk of diarrhea and malaria.

 

Developments Along the Juba River

Jilib (Middle Juba) – Approximately 300 families are reported stranded on elevated ground in Jilib district (near Badwi, Bilaq Marow and Busey villages) for more than a week, inaccessible by boat and in urgent need of assistance. Three villages in the Haranaqa valley east of Jilib are reportedly newly inundated, with property and livestock lost. WFP has since October distributed 1,789mt of food in east and west Jilib, targeting 82,000 beneficiaries. Along with food, NFIs are a priority in Jilib.

Buale (Middle Juba) – WFP has begun distribution of 104mt food to 9,400 beneficiaries.

Jamame (Lower Juba) – Numbers affected in Jamame are said to be rising and river levels remain high, with new flooding reported. Kabirow and Soo Dhowane villages (east bank) and Jiibeey (west bank) of Jamame district have been partially flooded since 5 December. Food distribution by WFP is ongoing in Jamame, with 1,057mt targeting 51,300 beneficiaries. Along with food, NFIs are a priority in Jamame.

Kismayo (Lower Juba) – WFP is currently distributing 417mt to 23,200 beneficiaries.

 

Access difficulties are continuing in the Gedo region, with nutrition interventions being delayed due to road conditions.

 

Information

New UNOSAT inundation maps by district and combined inundation maps are available on-line. All partners operational in flood-affected regions are encouraged to access on-line SWALIM and UNOSAT maps and to print these maps as needed for distribution in the field.

http://www.faoswalim.org/viewpage.php?PageID=bf88c2a7f49ef5e5d35f474df4464d25

http://unosat.web.cern.ch/unosat/asp/prod_free.asp?id=28

 

For further information, contact:

Molly McCloskey or Rita Maingi at +254 (20) 375 4150-5

Agencies and partners are encouraged to send updates and information from field reports to: Matthew Olins [email protected] and Molly McCloskey [email protected]

 

Source: OCHA Somalia, Dec 07, 2006