CERF allocates $11.7 million to assist vulnerable populations in Somalia
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An drought affected area in Somalia [Photo: IRIN]
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15 October 2009: In probably the most complex emergency in the world today, Somalia faces its worst humanitarian crisis in eighteen years, with half the population or an estimated 3.64 million people in need of emergency livelihood and life saving assistance. Alarmingly, the escalating fighting and conflict is occurring in the same areas that are recording the greatest problems with food access and malnutrition. This will not only place additional burdens on the people already in crisis, but will also make it difficult for humanitarian relief to reach the populations most in need of assistance. Since May 2009, fighting in Mogadishu has increased the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to over 500,000 people, which places the total number of new IDPs in Somalia at more than 1.5 million people. A recent allocation of $11.7 million from CERF will enable interventions in areas that require immediate focus and currently lack sufficient humanitarian funding.
A CERF grant of $2.5 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will protect livelihoods by implementing an animal health project to protect livestock from disease. The World Food Programme (WFP) has been allocated nearly $4.5 million which will provide emergency food relief to 100,000 pregnant and lactating mothers and malnourished children. CERF funding of over $2.5 million will enable the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide water to some 355,000 people and to construct 1,260 latrines for 23,400 people in villages and IDP camps. In addition, nearly $800,000 will enable the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners to respond to an outbreak of measles, focusing on children under 5 from IDP and conflict-affected communities. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) has received over $1 million in CERF funds to provide 15,000 IDPs with fire retardant shelter.
Finally, the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) will use $400,000 to improve security support capabilities by ensuring that humanitarian staff can be evacuated and relocated by air security for medical reasons.
[last updated: 4 November 2009]