Horn of Africa Crisis Situation Report No February 2012

Transcription

1 Horn of Africa Crisis Situation Report No February 2012 This will be the final Situation Report issued by OCHA on the Horn of Africa Crisis. It will be replaced by a humanitarian bulletin that will follow the same every-other-week reporting schedule. The next report will be issued on 9 March. I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES UN Security Council endorses expansion of AMISOM to 17,731 uniformed personnel. Dadaab refugee complex enters its 20 th year. Local authorities in Ethiopia confirm 29,211 Kenyans crossed into Ethiopia following recent conflict in Moyale, northern Kenya. More than 2,000 refugees from Sudan and South Sudan have arrived at Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya since the start of the year. Efforts ramped up to combat nationwide outbreak of measles in Djibouti. Regional Cash and Voucher Transfer Working Group launched on 16 February. II. Situation Overview The UN Security Council on 22 February called on the African Union (AU) to increase the size of its peacekeeping force in Somalia (AMISOM) by almost 50 per cent to deal with continued insecurity in the country. In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body requested AMISOM increase the number of its troops and police officers from 12,000 to a maximum of 17,731, and also decided to expand the UN s logistical support package to the force, and extend it through 31 October. The Council stressed that coordinated action in the region was critical for the peace, security and stability of Somalia and called on other AU Member States to consider contributing troops to AMISOM. In its latest Food Security Outlook for Somalia issued on 19 February, FEWS NET reports that improvements in food security outcomes are expected through March, largely due to a significantly above-average Deyr harvest, which followed very good rains, and substantial multi sectoral humanitarian assistance over recent Projected food security outcomes, February-June 2012 months. However, it cautioned that some deterioration was likely between April and June due to seasonal factors, insecurity, and assumptions about assistance flows. In the worst case scenario, late and below average Gu rains, a significant escalation of insecurity in most parts of the southern, Sool/Sanaag and central region, and disease outbreaks could offset recent improvements, though a return to famine would not be expected. Credit: FSNAU/FEWS NET The world s largest refugee camp the Dadaab settlements in eastern Kenya set up to host people who fled Somalia following the 1991 collapse of the government, is twenty years old, UNHCR reported on 21 February. The original three camps in Dadaab Ifo, Dagahaley and Hagadera were established by the UN refugee agency between October 1991 and June 1992 to host up to 90,000 people. However, they, and additional sites are currently home to more than 463,000 refugees, including some 10,000 third-generation refugees born in Dadaab to refugee parents who were themselves born there. More than 968,000 Somalis live as refugees in countries neighbouring Somalia primarily in Kenya (520,000), Yemen (203,000) and Ethiopia (186,000). A third of them fled Somalia in the course of Another 1.3 million people are internally displaced within Somalia. 1

2 Local authorities in Ethiopia confirmed that 29,211 Kenyans have crossed into Ethiopia following conflict between the Borana and Gabra communities in Moyale, northern Kenya, according to the verification exercise supported by IOM. The government and partners are responding to the needs of the displaced. Food for the entire population has been dispatched to the area by the Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector (DRMFSS) and additional NFIs are being distributed by IOM and Oxfam GB to fill gaps in the initial distributions. Oxfam and UNICEF are supporting water trucking and other sanitation and hygiene interventions for both the displaced and host communities, while GOAL is supporting nutrition. Kakuma refugee camp in north-western Kenya has recorded increased rates of new arrivals from Sudan and South Sudan during January and February From 1 to 21 February, 1,328 individuals (458 from Sudan, 870 from South Sudan) have been registered by UNHCR, bringing the total number of new arrivals registered from Sudan and South Sudan in 2012 to 1,823, or approximately 230 per week. The actual number of arrivals may be higher, as 686 new arrivals, many of them from Sudan and South Sudan, are currently at the reception centre pending registration with the Kenyan Department of Refugee Affairs (DRA), while others are unregistered and staying with relatives in the camp. The majority of newly-arrived asylum seekers fled from South Kordofan in Sudan and Jonglei State in South Sudan. Given the ongoing violence in both regions, as well as the shrinking of protection space in South Sudan due to attacks in border areas and a rapidly worsening economic crisis, UNHCR expects the increased arrival rate from Sudan and South Sudan to continue. A Regional Cash and Voucher Transfer Working Group was launched in Nairobi on 16 February. Hosted by the Inter-Agency Working Group, the Cash and Voucher Transfer Working Group will be a platform of technical professionals and experts dedicated to cash and voucher transfer programming in the eastern and central Africa regions, covering 13 countries. Its overall objective will be to streamline the design, development and implementation of cash and voucher-based responses in the region. The forum will strive to improve programmes and their ability to benefit vulnerable groups. Its next meeting is tentatively scheduled for 12 March in Nairobi. III. Humanitarian Needs and Response by Country DJIBOUTI Food: WFP, the Government and partners continue to assist a total of 105,200 people throughout Djibouti. 19,000 refugees in Ali Addeh camp are benefitting from general food distributions and targeted supplementary feeding programmes to reduce and stabilize acute malnutrition levels, while general food distributions are ongoing for 36,200 people in 170 sites over the five rural districts of Djibouti (Arta, Ali Sabieh, Dickhil, Obock and Tadjourah) areas mostly under the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 3 (Crisis). Another 24,500 people, primarily in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed) areas, are benefitting from Food-for-Assets projects (e.g. feeder roads rehabilitation, soil and water conservation, horticulture production, tree planting). Some 12,000 vulnerable people (moderately malnourished children under age 5, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, HIV and TB clients) are receiving targeted nutritional support, while 13,500 primary school children in rural areas are being assisted through school feeding that comprises a daily morning snack and a hot lunch. Health: Djibouti is facing a nationwide outbreak of measles, with about 50 cases reported since mid-january in Dikhil, Djibouti City, Balbala, and Ali Addeh refugee camp. About 50 per cent of the cases are children aged 9 months to under age 5. However, cases with complications have been reported in infants less than 6 months and in adolescents and adults above 15 years. Two deaths among children under age 5 were reported, while a malnourished pregnant woman suffered from a miscarriage after contracting measles. Many of the hospitalized children suffered from complications such as pneumonia and malnutrition. In response, the health cluster will next week launch a major vaccination campaign, while continuing support of surveillance and treatment. The Ministry of Health task force identified the need to vaccinate approximately 300,000 children between 6 months and 15 years, necessitating doubling the stock of vaccines and Vitamin A currently available. For its part, UNHCR conducted a measles vaccination campaign from 14 to 18 February in Ali Addeh refugee camp, where 15 suspected measles cases and one related death have been reported. A total of 5,876 children aged 9 months to 15 years were vaccinated, as were 233 children from local communities surrounding the camp. Nutrition: As of 15 February, UNICEF reports that the number of newly registered malnourished children from 6 to 59 months decreased during the reporting period. Severe Acute Malnutrition and Moderate 2

3 Malnutrition cases decreased from 110 to 85 and from 72 to 203, respectively, compared to the prior twoweek reporting period ending on 1 February. ETHIOPIA The 9 February National Meteorological Agency (NMA) forecast for the belg/gu/ganna (mid-february to May) rains reports that the moderate to weak La Niña phenomenon expected to prevail throughout the season could negatively impact rains in belg-cropping areas of eastern Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) Regions, as well as in the southern and south-eastern rangelands. However, the rains are expected to perform better in 2012 than 2011, despite a late onset (up to three weeks) and inconsistent distribution and amount throughout the season. The rains are expected to improve after mid-april and withdraw at the normal time. The anticipated late onset is likely to delay planting of belg (short-cycle) crops and preparation of land for meher (long-cycle) crops, or lead to the skipping of belg season planting altogether. A reduced harvest would lead to limited market supply and higher food prices, impacting the food and nutritional security of the most vulnerable households and creating newly food-insecure ones, particularly in belg-dependent parts of SNNPR. The forecast further indicates that the jilaal (January to April) dry season in the southern and south-eastern lowlands is likely to be extended, with further water shortages emerging in chronically water-insecure areas. As a result, livestock body condition would be negatively affected, leading to decline in livestock prices and terms of trade for pastoralists. The risk of water-related disease outbreaks will also be heightened with the increased exposure to contaminated water. WASH: Water trucking requests countrywide have increased by 80 trucks since the last report, to 165 trucks required in six regions to support nearly 830,000 people in Somali (71 trucks), Oromia (63 trucks), Afar (15 trucks), Tigray (8 trucks) Amhara (5 trucks) and SNNP (3 trucks) Regions. The biggest increases were registered in Somali (51 trucks) and Oromia (23 trucks). Water trucks have also been deployed for the first time since May 2011 in response to newly-emerging water shortages in SNNPR. Currently, 40 trucks are serving some 130,650 people, leaving a gap of 125 trucks. ETHIOPIA: Coverage of Water Trucking Requirements S U D A N Gambela Benshangul Gumuz SNNPR E R I T R E A Tigray Amhara Addis Ababa Oromia Afar R E D S E A D J I B O U T I Dire Dawa Hareri Somali G U L F O F A D E N S O M A L I A Health: During the past two weeks, more than 223 new cases of measles have been reported from the same zones of SNNPR that previously reported cases (Keffa and Gamo Gofa). Meanwhile, the mass measles vaccination campaign launched on 10 February targeting children aged 6 months to 15 years in Keffa zone and selected areas in adjacent zones is nearing completion. In western Ethiopia, 22 new cases of measles were reported in Assosa zone of U G A Nkms D A K E N Y A Percentage of Requirements Covered No Requirements I N D I A N O C E A N /Information Map Sources:Administrative boundary: CSA (2007 census purpose), Water trucking information: UNICEF The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Map created on 20 Dec Beneshangul Gumuz Region. Experts from the federal and regional Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) unit of the Ministry of Health are closely monitoring the situation. Food: Relief food dispatch for the first round of 2012, targeting 3.2 million people, has begun, with about 12 per cent of food allocated under the round dispatched as of 22 February, primarily to areas covered by DRMFSS. Meanwhile, WFP dispatches for 1.4 million people in the Somali Region under the ninth round (2011) stood at 87 per cent as of the same date. Relief food dispatch for the eighth round (2011), which targeted 3.1 million beneficiaries, was completed in mid-february. Relief food is allocated by round in Ethiopia, with each round consisting of a one-month ration of cereals, vegetable oil and pulses per person, as well as corn-soya blend (CSB) for moderately malnourished children under age 5 and pregnant and breastfeeding women in areas covered by targeted supplementary feeding. Nutrition: According to a report issued by the Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit on 12 February, a total of 328,535 SAM cases were admitted to a monthly average 7,571 TFP sites nationwide in 2011 (84.6 per cent reporting). The regions most affected by the drought Oromia, SNNP and Somali accounted for 39, 31, and 8 percent of total admissions respectively. The performance of TFP services at the national level exceeded both national and Sphere standard cut-off points: the reported cure rate for the year was 84 per cent, with a total of 300,330 discharges, while the mortality rate was very low, at 0.5 per cent. The defaulter 3

4 rate was 4.7 per cent. With the support of nutrition cluster partners, the Federal Ministry of Health increased TFP service coverage by 27 per cent nationwide, from 7,946 sites at the start of 2011 to 10,141 by the end of December. Refugees: As of 18 February, 145,348 Somali refugees were hosted in the Dollo Ado refugee camps and transit centre (53 per cent female). UNHCR reported a decrease in the number of new arrivals during the first week of February, with an average 60 people arriving from Somalia daily. Decongestion of the transit centre has been completed, with nearly 13,500 refugees transferred to Buramino (the fifth camp, opened on 30 November 2011). However, Buramino in turn is nearing its full capacity of 20,000 (although initially planned to host 40,000 refugees, the rocky nature of the ground made expansion of the camp difficult). The Government refugee agency, ARRA, and UNHCR are currently exploring options to open a sixth camp in the Dollo Ado area. Partners are also looking at how to include the already-vulnerable host community in refugee assistance programmes. In western Ethiopia, 29,675 refugees (45 per cent female) from Sudan s Blue Nile State had been registered by UNHCR in Beneshangul Gumuz Region as of 18 February: 9,337 in Sherkole camp; 12,333 in Tongo camp; and 7,994 in Adimazin transit centre. As in previous weeks, the slight increase in the number of registered refugees is principally the result of people who earlier sought refuge in host communities now opting to move to the camps. The rate of new arrivals from Sudan has drastically decreased over the past few weeks, with 41 Sudanese having crossed into Ethiopia in the past week, and 159 the week before. Meanwhile, the development of a third camp in the region, Bambasi, is almost complete, and expected to be opened in March. KENYA Agriculture and Livestock: In the pastoral areas, the short rains of October-December 2011 improved pastures and livestock conditions while in the marginal agriculture areas, there was a dry spell in January 2012 that affected the maize yield, according to the sector. Also in January, the cold spell experienced in parts of the region affected fast-maturing crops such as beans, cowpeas and green grams. The drought and cold spell are expected to reduce yields by almost 40 per cent in affected areas. Nutrition: The sector reports that acute malnutrition cases have reduced from 385,000 in 2011 to 331,118 this year, and that this is linked to reduction in malnutrition rates in Turkana and Marsabit Counties, where heightened emergency response in 2011 had a positive impact. Of the current caseload, 58,399 are severe acute malnutrition cases and 272,719 moderate acute malnutrition cases. Of these, 182,115 are boys; 149,003 are girls; and 30,478 are pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. In Mandera, about 287 moderately and severely malnourished children under age 5 are unable to access nutrition services due to insecurity along the Kenya-Somalia border. From 2 to 15 February, 2,700 cartons of Ready to Use Therapeutic Feeding (RUTF), 3 cartons of F100, 5 cartons of F75 and 845 packets of folate tablets were dispatched to West Pokot. The RUTF will reach 1,500 malnourished children over a two month period. Nutrition surveys/surveillance is currently being undertaken in Tana River, Wajir South and Garbatulla. Results are expected by end-february, according to UNICEF. Food: With the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, WFP in Kenya is increasing its logistics capacity to dispatch food from the port of Mombasa to meet demands in Kenya and South Sudan. Unconditional cash transfers were initiated towards the end of 2011 in response to acute food insecurity in Nyeri, Narok, Meru, Mbeere, Lamu and Koibatek. However, in January, the 182,214 beneficiaries reached were below expected 647,200 targeted due to critical shortfalls in the cash pipeline. Preliminary indications from the Short Rains Assessment suggest that the food security situation in these districts has improved considerably since September WFP prioritized available funds for cash-for-assets, which is running in the more food insecure areas and where productive assets are established at the community level. Unconditional cash transfers will not be implemented after February WFP is introducing Plumpy Sup, a ready-to-use supplementary food, for targeted supplementary feeding in arid and semi-arid areas to treat moderately malnourished children under age 5. Community sensitization began in December 2011 and is nearly complete in all targeted locations. WASH: UNICEF has provided 5,000 jerrycans, 2,500 buckets and 2,000 bars of soap through an existing agreement with the District Public Health Officer in Moyale in response to recent population displacements. Meanwhile, WASH supplies comprising 570 jerrycans, litre buckets, 907 pieces of soap, 52,247 Aquatabs, 145,780 sachets of Pur and 280 ceramic filters were distributed to 29,056 people in Mandera. 4

5 It should be recalled that the WASH sector is reporting on ongoing activities against the 2012 target of ensuring that 3.1 million affected people have access to sufficient quality water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. WASH emergency supplies are distributed as follows: one household, comprising five people, is provided with one jerrycan, one bucket, one bar of soap and 60 aquatabs or 60 Pur sachets depending on water quality. Protection: Ten community leaders and 25 teachers from Turkana South and Turkana Central districts participated in a three-day child protection workshop organized by World Vision in collaboration with UNICEF. A new child protection network established in northern Turkana comprises actors working in Kakuma refugee camp, the host community and Lokichoggio, and focuses in particular on child labour in and around the camps. The network is developing an action plan to address child labour following a qualitative assessment carried out in the latter half of 2011 by the National Protection Working Group on IDPs. In addition, the Department of Children s Services has carried out a quantitative survey of 1,000 children (75 per cent host community/25 per cent refugee) that found that host community children have engaged in labour for refugees. A Gender-Based Violence (GBV) coordination training facilitated by the International Rescue Committee with financial and technical support from UNICEF was held in Entebbe, Uganda from 30 January to 5 February. It was attended by national and international NGOs from the Horn of Africa, as well as by Kenya s National Gender and Equality Commission. The training led to the creation of a national GBV contingency plan for Kenya under the auspices of the GBV Emergency Coordination Task Force. Education: Inter-communal clashes in Isiolo left four primary schools closed as at 10 February with the learning of about 600 students disrupted. In Moyale, intense conflict left ten schools closed as at 10 February. The situation has since improved, with classes having resumed in the affected schools, the six most affected of which received 20 education kits, 15 Early Childhood Development (ECD) kits, and 10 recreation kits, expected to benefit 345 students. A total of 350 school supply kits containing basic educational materials (stationery, notebooks, chalk, rulers) to benefit about 24,500 primary school students were delivered to boarding schools in Turkana in early February. This was part of a larger effort by UNICEF, which has thus far reached 125,090 drought-affected children in arid districts of northern Kenya through delivery of education supplies. III. Multi-Sector Assistance to Refugees Food: To address food insecurity in communities hosting refugees and mitigate conflict between the two in Kakuma and Dadaab, WFP implements food-for-assets activities within a radius of about 45 kilometres of the camps. Negotiations are ongoing with implementing government ministries about the next phase of this programme. The main activities included in this initiative are rainwater harvesting and storage maintained by the community, as well as crop production and sale that result in long-term benefits. CARE International increased its staffing levels at the distribution corridors, while provision of essential goods and services (such as food assistance) have continued through special arrangements with refugee leaders. Nutrition: To strengthen mother-and-child health and nutrition programmes in the refugee camps, WFP replaced Nutri-butter with super cereal plus (CSB++) for all children aged 6 to 23 months in Kakuma and all under age 5 in Dadaab. This was done to support child growth and improve access to micronutrients. Education: During the reporting period, information on about 1,200 teachers (Kenyan nationals and Somali incentive teachers) was collected in the Dadaab refugee camps as part of the Education Management Information System (EMIS). It should be recalled that as per the joint education strategy for Dadaab, UNICEF and UNHCR, together with education partners in Dadaab, have been developing EMIS to enable the capture of an overview of overall education access and quality status with evidence-based data and information collected from all schools in the camps. The regular data collection and analysis, combined with systematic information management, should help the education sector to improve planning and design more collective, effective and coordinated interventions to the educational needs of the most marginalized refugee children in the camps. Host Community Support: In light of the strain on relations with host communities around the Dadaab refugee complex and on the natural resources they share, Japan and France is financing FAO to helping host communities through livelihood support and diversification. Project activities, targeting some 10,000 families (50,000 beneficiaries), include support to animal health, irrigation, and crop production. Marketing 5

6 activities and trade linkages between host communities and camp residents are also be promoted. FAO s climate smart approach includes sustainable charcoal production and support to the application of carbon credits. Through this innovative project, FAO hopes to reduce tensions between host communities and refugees, increase the food security and incomes of host communities around the camp, and build their resilience to future shocks. SOMALIA Humanitarian Needs and Response in Southern Somalia IDPs: Fear of an escalation of violence triggered a large movement of internally displaced people (IDPs) along the Afgooye corridor over the past week. The corridor, under the control of Al Shabaab, was home to over 400,000 IDPs. An escalation of the conflict began on 14 February in the outskirts of Mogadishu, causing more people to flee, many of them into the capital, Mogadishu. A sizeable number of IDPs in the Afgooye corridor are from Mogadishu and will stay with relatives upon return, while those from the south and with no relatives in the city will compound existing housing challenges. The exact numbers that moved into the capital are unknown at this point. Reports also indicate movement of IDPs towards Afgooye Town to escape fighting. In an effort to reclaim 93 IDP-occupied buildings, the government has to date forcefully evicted 1,700 people from nine of its buildings, placing further stress on the estimated 184,000 displaced in Mogadishu. UNHCR reports that an estimated 22,000 people moved into Mogadishu over a recent week-long period, with fewer numbers reported from 22 February. Field reports indicate a lack of space and food for IDPs, while shelter, water and latrines are immediate needs to assist the new influx and to reduce the risk of cholera/acute watery diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections. The Nutrition cluster reports sufficient stocks in warehouses in Mogadishu to cater for the influx of IDPs for two to three months; the Shelter cluster reports it can immediately provide shelter and emergency assistance packages for 120,000 IDPs; the WASH cluster reports adequate supplies prepositioned in Mogadishu. However, the Health cluster and the Education cluster both warn they have insufficient stocks available to respond to IDP influx from Afgooye. Food: The cluster has a stock of 300 tons of high energy biscuits, while an additional 800 tons will be made available within three weeks. It has prepositioned 28,000 tons of mixed commodities (cereal, pulses, oil, CSB) in Mogadishu. The cluster also has up to $5 million available for cash transfers to new host/idp populations. Of the partners that reported, just over one million beneficiaries were reached with food assistance from 1 to 18 February; however, these figures could be revised as new data is received. Shelter: Transitional shelter kits (emergency shelter kits, emergency tents, hybrid shelter and full corrugated galvanized iron shelter) reached 22,410 IDPs in the last two weeks. The coverage rate rose from 3 per cent to 14 per cent. Cluster members distributed 5,520 emergency assistance packages benefitting 33,120 IDPs, the majority of whom are located in the larger settlements in the centre of Mogadishu. Agriculture and Livelihoods: In January, the cluster reached 188,710 people with food vouchers, 541,724 with cash and cash-for-work, 31,716 with agricultural seeds, and 110,040 through livestock treatments and water vouchers, while 2,862 benefited from income-generating projects. These activities continue through the month of February in preparation for the forthcoming Gu (long) rains from mid-march to mid-june, which normally supply the bulk of the agricultural outputs for Somalia. The cluster is however concerned that the ongoing military interventions could result in a delay in planting for the Gu season, and that the gains made over recent months could be diminished in areas of high conflict. Health: For 8 to 12 February, the cluster reported that 70 health facilities recorded 383 cases of acute watery diarrhoea in southern and central Somalia, including 302 (79 per cent) in children under age 5. Also in southern and central Somalia, 78 per cent of the180 suspected measles cases reported were in children under age 5, while malaria cases reached 565, of whom 225 (40 per cent) were children under age 5. Logistics: On 17 February, cluster partners decided to extend the free shipping service until 1 July. After this date, shipping services may be provided at cost-recovery, on a bilateral basis between individual organizations. Increases in transport cost can be attributed to the shift by major transporters from humanitarian to commercial cargo. For further information on the humanitarian response in Somalia, please refer to OCHA-Somalia Humanitarian Bulletin, Issue 1, dated 22 February, available online at ochaonline.un.org/somalia/ 6

7 IV. Funding NB: In addition to the resources presented above, Ethiopia's total funding (HRD) includes some $76.9 million in food aid contributed in 2011 for 2012 and counted as carry-over against gross funding requirements in the 2012 Humanitarian Requirements Document published by the Government. An updated Horn of Africa funding table and detailed reports by country are available at: All humanitarian partners, including donors and recipient agencies, are encouraged to inform FTS of cash and in-kind contributions by sending an to V. Humanitarian Giving To make a donation through the United Nations, please consider one of the following options: 1. Support the appeals in the countries of the Horn of Africa 2. Give to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) 3. Give to the Pooled Funds in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia 4. Give to OCHA s response to the Horn of Africa Crisis For details on how to make a donation, please consult the OCHA Guide to Humanitarian Giving on the OCHA website:. VI. Contacts Ben Parker Matthew Conway Head of Office Public Information Officer OCHA Eastern Africa OCHA Eastern Africa Tel: Tel: parkerb@un.org conwaym@un.org To be added to or deleted from the OCHA Eastern Africa mailing list, please gitonga@un.org. For more information, please visit or 7