CERF allocated US$ 2.8 million to provide basic life-saving health services to IDPs and to contain the outbreak of infectious diseases in Somalia.
24 July 2007: After severe floods in late 2006 left some 500 people homeless and displaced, together with one third of the population of Mogadishu displaced because of the recent armed conflict, population movements have disrupted the socio-economic conditions and livelihood opportunities in the capital. Many of the displaced and host communities have been living at subsistence level. Access to basic services and food has considerably deteriorated, while food prices significantly rose during the past three months.
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| Clean water is being delivered to families. Less than 30% of the population has access to safe drinking water. [Photo: UNICEF] |
In addition, there are concerns about the spread of water-borne diseases. The chronic lack of hygiene and sanitation, absence of safe drinking water and the poor health infrastructure provide the perfect mix for an outbreak and spread of infectious diseases amidst the massive population displacement.
CERF allocated almost US$ 1.1 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Somalia to support the Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) in assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups in South Central and in Mogadishu. The areas of life-saving intervention to be supported through these resources include emergency water and sanitation, emergency nutrition, emergency agriculture and livestock, and emergency health needs.
An allocation of US$ 1.7 million will enable the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve access to basic life-saving health services by revitalizing still working health facilities and supporting primary health care mobile clinics. This project will contribute in reducing preventable morbidity and mortality by providing critical services such as emergency medical kits, essential drugs, family hygiene kits, and also fuel and other necessary supplies to ensure functioning of the health facilities. In addition to this, WHO will use CERF funding to contain the outbreak of infectious diseases by providing the people at risk with safe drinking water and the health staff in the affected areas with critical life-saving skills and supplies.
[Last update: 30 July 2007]
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CERF funds US$ 5.6 million to life-saving activities in Somalia.
June 2007: The areas most affected by the prolonged drought in 2005-06 and the worst flood emergency in a decade are the regions of the Central and Southern Zone. In these areas, the compounded effects of natural disasters and latest conflict have contributed to a severe deterioration of an already precarious humanitarian situation characterized by a widespread outbreak of acute watery diarrhea and malnutrition rates above the emergency level.
![One IDP stands in an area where property was destroyed due to conflicts in Mogadishu [Photo: IRIN/Osman]](/Portals/11/Images_country/SOM_IRIN_IDP_crop.jpg "One IDP stands in an area where property was destroyed due to conflicts in Mogadishu [Photo: IRIN/Osman]") |
| One IDP stands in an area where property was destroyed due to conflicts in Mogadishu [Photo: IRIN/Osman] |
The escalation of fighting in and around Mogadishu has resulted in thousands of civilians killed or wounded and large-scale displacement; of some 400,000 people who have fled Mogadishu between 1 February and 4 May 2007, thus resulting in the largest displacement in the world this year. The majority of the displaced are women, children under 14 and the elderly, while men appear to be remaining in Mogadishu to protect family assets.
With the CERF grant, UNICEF will ensure the provision of basic non-food items amongst the affected population, e.g. blankets, jerry cans and the provision of basic household assets.
UNHCR will provide emergency temporary shelter and non-food items for 90,000 IDPs. A CERF grant was also granted to WFP for air support to life-saving humanitarian activities (see below).
17 May 2007: CERF ensures the continuation of air logistics services in Somalia. more...
23 February 2007: CERF allocates US$ 1 million to enhance the security for UN personnel in Somalia, in order to ensure the continuation of critical humanitarian assistance. more...
[Last Update: 11 June 2007]
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