Somalia & Somalia Refugees in Dadaab Camp – No. 01/2011

Drought Response

Geneva, 31 August 2011

ACT SOMALIA FORUM

Date report prepared: 23/08/2011
Prepared by:  forum coordinator RAPHAEL KAHIGA on behalf of ACT SOMALIA FORUM

ACT Appeal: http://www.actalliance.org/resources/appeals/SOM111Rev1.pdf/view

Narrative Section

ACT Emergency Response

Combined emergency response of all members - what has ACT done so far, and what is ACT currently doing

ASF members are engaged in the final stages of procurement and contracting processes. DKH’s implementing partner (DBG) is in the final stages of procurement of food and NFIs and engaging suppliers of materials for latrine construction. NCA signed ‘crisis phase’ partner agreements with three local NGO partners; ASEP, NAPAD, CERID, respectively for food provision by food vouchers system, in Dollow, Bula hawa and Luuq districts. NCA completed distribution of 110,150kgs of unimix in 25 villages. LWF is doing water trucking to host communities, tents for vulnerable refugees based on individual assessments, and information dissemination to refugees.

People’s most pressing needs

We are still in the crisis phase of the emergency and the needs for water, food, NFIs, health and shelter continue to be the most pressing for those inside Somalia and in Dadaab. Additionally, there is a need for clothes/shoes and education for children in Daadab. Due to high influx into the camp, nearly 1000 people daily, there is a major relocation exercise from the outskirts of the old camp to new camps.

Constraints on the total ACT emergency response (within and outside the appeal)

NCA is experiencing challenges associated with inflationary tendencies.  Prices of food items have gone up significantly in most districts in Gedo region. This may call for adjustments in the monthly food ration. DKH local partner has had no access problems in Banadir and Lower shabelle areas. LWF is experiencing lack of space for new shelter resulting to:  establishment of makeshift shelters around old camps, slow registration of refugees by Kenyan authorities, protection challenges and risk of disease outbreaks due to poor shelter.

Future developments

At present, 3 new areas in addition to Lower Shabelle and Bakool, have been classified by FSNAU^[1] as being in famine i.e. Middle Shabelle, Afgooye corridor and parts of Mogadishu that are hosting the new arrivals. Reports of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) in Mogadishu have also been received.  This has been attributed to the high levels of malnutrition among children as a result of the current famine and to poor sanitation conditions. There will be need to continuously respond to the immediate basic needs of the needy IDPs in various camps in the area.

In Gedo region, anticipated attacks and counter attacks between AS^[2] and TFG^[3] may reduce access to some areas of operation. However, this is not expected to significantly affect the NCA operation. Due to poor conditions in Dolo ado camp in Ethiopia, it is expected that there will be voluntary returns that may congregate around the transit shelter in Dollow town.

The influx of refugees to Dadaab is likely to decrease from 1,000 to 500 people per day but it is expected that more than 30,000 people will seek refuge in Dadaab this August, fleeing from Somalia. As new camps open, there will be a lot of movement as refugees are resettled from outside and from the old camps into the new ones.  However, a deficit of 100,000 refugees is expected (more people than the combined capacity of all camps).

In September we anticipate a further reduction in the influx of new arrivals, as more aid is delivered inside Somalia.  There are several internally displaced people in southern Somalia who could move again towards Kenya, if aid does not reach them on a regular and organised way.

October rains are likely to flood parts of Dadaab where refugees have now settled- outside the planned camps.   This may predispose refugees to disease outbreaks including: cholera, malaria.  There will be need for more land in areas that are not prone to flooding.