Severe Drought In Somalia
HICDA:
HICDA staff and volunteers in Galkayo have reported severe drought in the Mudug area of Somalia, which is home to many poor nomadic people. Staff also reported that children and seniors are perishing from starvation and disease at alarming rates.
The next rainy season is expected in April, and it will probably take until May for livestock to produce milk and meat.
The following are segments of the final report of the inter-agency drought assessment of South Mudug in 04-06 December 2010.
Members of these inter-agency drought assessment are:
• UN agencies: OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF & WFP
• NGOs: IRC
• National NGOs: SDRO, GSA, SOSDA & HCCA
• Authorities: Galmudug State Representatives
Inter – agency report of the overall situation:
Dry weather continued in most parts of Mudug Region, especially the coastline areas during the second dekad of November. Field reports and satellite-based imagery confirm that rainfall performance has been significantly below-average during the typical peak of the Deyr season.
The poor or non-existing rains have raised major concerns among the humanitarian community, authorities and the affected pastoralists. Water trucking for human and animal consumption, which is very expensive, is already ongoing in the worst hit areas of Mudug Region. Reports received prior to the assessment also indicate abnormal movements of livestock in Hobyo district in search of fresh water and pasture, leading to overgrazing, further contributing to the rapid depletion of the remaining pockets of available pasture.
Pasture and water resources may not be sufficient to support livestock through the remaining part of the season or through the long Jilaal dry season. According to FSNAU post-Gu Nutrition report, already 44% of Mudug population is already in acute Food and livelihood crises, whereas 40,000 are in humanitarian Emergency.
Considering the alarming anecdotic reports received from the field and from specialized agencies several humanitarian organizations based in Galkayo agreed to conduct a multi-sectoral assessment mission looking at WASH, Health, Food, Nutrition and Protection issues.
In parallel, the Galmudug Authorities launched an appeal on the 25th of November 2010 through their Minister of Cooperation and Relation, asking the humanitarian community for assistance.
A three day inter-agency drought assessment mission left Galkayo on the 4th of December 2010 on a three day mission to assess South Mudug, in particular areas in Hobyo district and also parts of Galkayo District that had been identified by communities, partners and authorities as being the most affected.
Inter – agency report of the humanitarian overview:
Mudug Region has in the last years been severely hit and affected by seasonal droughts. It has experienced six consecutive seasonal failed rainy seasons resulting in poor pasture and limited water availability followed by erratic rainfall during Gu 2010 and complete failure of Dyer rains in most areas. Communities living in parts of Galkayo, Hobyo & Xarar-Dheere districts could not recover from the previous prolonged drought that had hit the entire central regions of Somalia.
As a result of these consecutive seasonal rainfall failures, some shallow wells dried out or contain only crude salt-water, which is not fit for human and animal consumption. Its intake can possible escalate cases of acute watery diarrhea which is already reported. Semi-pastoralists and pastoralists and their livestock rely mostly on shallow wells as a sole source of water. Pastoralists are forced to migrate with their animals to other places in search of better fodder and water availability.
Pastoralist populations have lost a significant portion of their livestock assets as stated by various pastoralists and dignitary elders who were interviewed in various locations. According to their testimonies, 40% of their livestock assets have perished while approximately 60% of the remaining animals are physically weak. Livestock body condition renders them susceptible to certain diseases.
Surviving livestock get transported to areas where pasture is found. They have no physical ability to move for long distances to fetch water and often in places where fodder is found there is no source of water. The search of pasture is leading to overcrowding, further contributing to rapid depletion of the remaining pockets of fresh vegetation. Pastoralist populations who rely entirely on their livestock as their source of livelihood face critical challenges, because livestock have lost their body weight, which reduces their market value drastically.
People whom we met across all sites have unanimously predicted that no animal will reach the next expected Gu season, because of the four months of dry period still ahead. Pastoralists are very desperate and do not know how their animals and themselves can survive until the next rainy season.
The priority needs identified by communities where as follows:
1. Water provision for livestock and humans.
2. Food provision and nutrition support.
3. Livelihood support interventions, rehabilitation of access roads.
4. Strengthening of health services, in particular in Budbud and Af-Barwaqo areas.
Inter – agency report on the drought affected populations and areas:
Drought is widespread in Hobyo district in particular along the coastline and some inland areas. One epicenter of the drought
lays between Wisil, Hobyo, Bajeela, Ceeldibir, Budbud, Af-Barwaaqo and Xingod areas.
The total drought affected population, estimated by elders and the communities during interviews mainly in Hobyo District is 6,540 households. This figure could of course not be verified. They are mainly pastoralists who have migrated already towards towns and main villages.
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