May 24, 2017

Highlights

• FEWS NET projects elevated risk of Famine in Somalia, despite mitigating impact of humanitarian assistance
• UN releases revised 2017 HRP for Somalia, requesting $1.5 billion to respond to humanitarian needs through December
• USG announces more than $64 million in new humanitarian assistance for Somalia and Somali refugees in the Horn of Africa

Key Developments

On May 24, the U.S. Government (USG) announced more than $64 million in new humanitarian assistance for drought- and conflict-affected Somalis. The new assistance includes $30.4 million from USAID/OFDA, more than $5.6 million from USAID/FFP, and $28.1 million from State/PRM to meet emergency food, nutrition, health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable communities in Somalia and Somali refugees in the region.

The UK, Federal Government of Somalia (FGoS), UN, and African Union hosted a London Conference on Somalia on May 11, which was attended by representatives from at least 30 countries, including a U.S. delegation led by Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Under Secretary of State Thomas A. Shannon. Participants discussed efforts to avert Famine in Somalia, among other issues related to the economic, political, and security situation in the country.

Although the Horn of Africa region remains predominantly dry, early-May rainfall replenished some water sources, particularly in parts of Ethiopia and Kenya. Localized areas of Kenya and Somalia have also experienced flash flooding, which has prevented late-season re-planting for Somalia’s primary agricultural season and displaced nearly 25,000 people across 13 counties of Kenya.

The Government of Ethiopia (GoE)-led assessment of February-to-June belg rainfall and associated humanitarian needs is scheduled to begin in late May to inform a mid-year revision of the 2017 Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD).

USAID/FFP recently contributed 29,650 metric tons (MT) of U.S.-procured, in-kind food assistance—valued at approximately $16 million—to support drought-affected populations in Ethiopia.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

On May 24, the U.S. Government (USG) announced more than $64 million in new humanitarian assistance for drought- and conflict-affected Somalis. The new assistance includes $30.4 million from USAID/OFDA, more than $5.6 million from USAID/FFP, and $28.1 million from State/PRM to meet emergency food, nutrition, health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable communities in Somalia and Somali refugees in the region.

The UK, Federal Government of Somalia (FGoS), UN, and African Union hosted a London Conference on Somalia on May 11, which was attended by representatives from at least 30 countries, including a U.S. delegation led by Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Under Secretary of State Thomas A. Shannon. Participants discussed efforts to avert Famine in Somalia, among other issues related to the economic, political, and security situation in the country.

Although the Horn of Africa region remains predominantly dry, early-May rainfall replenished some water sources, particularly in parts of Ethiopia and Kenya. Localized areas of Kenya and Somalia have also experienced flash flooding, which has prevented late-season re-planting for Somalia’s primary agricultural season and displaced nearly 25,000 people across 13 counties of Kenya.

The Government of Ethiopia (GoE)-led assessment of February-to-June belg rainfall and associated humanitarian needs is scheduled to begin in late May to inform a mid-year revision of the 2017 Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD).

USAID/FFP recently contributed 29,650 metric tons (MT) of U.S.-procured, in-kind food assistance—valued at approximately $16 million—to support drought-affected populations in Ethiopia.

REGIONAL

Much of the Horn of Africa received above-average precipitation during the first week of May, with the greatest rainfall totals recorded in parts of Kenya, the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) reports. Although the region continues to experience drought conditions, recent rainfall provided limited relief, particularly in parts of Kenya and Ethiopia. Ethiopia has received above-average belg rainfall, improving cropping conditions and pasture and water availability in parts of Somali Region. FEWS NET expects the late-season increase in moisture to replenish water sources and improve conditions in pastoral regions; however, response actors caution that the rains are too late to improve the upcoming harvest, and drought-affected households, particularly in northern areas of Somalia, will likely require multiple agricultural seasons to recover. Furthermore, heavy rainfall over the Ethiopian highlands and in Somalia has led to flooding along the Shabelle River in Somalia, damaging or destroying crops planted with the start of the April-to-June gu rainy season.

On May 10, the Government of the UK and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) co-hosted a meeting for international donors, relief actors, and refugee-hosting states to discuss durable support for refugees and host communities in East Africa, where an estimated 3.7 million refugees and asylum seekers currently reside. During the meeting, donor governments encouraged host-country governments to continue open-door policies and reaffirmed commitments to provide humanitarian support to these communities.

UNHCR issued a supplementary appeal for the Somalia Situation on May 12, requesting $91 million in addition to the initial request of $397 million to support the return and reintegration of Somali refugees returning from Kenya and Yemen, as well as new IDPs in Somalia and drought-related outflows of Somalis into neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa.

SOMALIA

Gu rainfall began in most parts of Somalia on April 24 and has temporarily replenished water sources in parts of central, northern, and southern Somalia. However, late-April flash floods in parts of Bari, Bay, Mudug, and Nugal regions have prevented farming households from re-planting for the gu harvest, which is Somalia’s primary agricultural season, and damaged or destroyed some crops planted prior to the gu rains. Furthermore, satellite imagery indicates below-average vegetation conditions countrywide—particularly in central and southern areas—due to the delayed onset of gu rains, according to FEWS NET. The upcoming gu harvest will likely be 40–60 percent below average due to delayed and poorly distributed rainfall across the main rain-fed agricultural production areas; populations in these areas will likely require multiple agricultural seasons to recover. Additionally, households in northern and central areas have lost up to 60 percent of their livestock since late 2016, according to FEWS NET and the Somalia Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU).

On May 10, the UN released a revised 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Somalia, requesting $1.5 billion to support 5.5 million of the estimated 6.7 million people in need of emergency assistance, including 3.2 million people facing life-threatening food insecurity. The revised HRP appeal—issued in response to deteriorating humanitarian conditions and increased risk of Famine through the end of 2017—represents a nearly 74 percent increase from the $864 million requested in the initial HRP, issued in November 2016. Revised estimates indicate that approximately 4.5 million people are in need of emergency WASH services, an estimated 2.3 million children and pregnant and lactating women are vulnerable to acute malnutrition, and 5.5 million people require emergency health services countrywide. International donors had provided approximately $522 million—or 35 percent of the requested $1.5 billion—toward the HRP as of May 24.

Since January, food security actors have significantly scaled-up the number of people reached with emergency food assistance in Somalia, from nearly 500,000 people in January to approximately 2.7 million people in April, the UN reports. In addition, relief actors facilitated access to safe drinking water for more than 2.2 million people and provided treatment for nearly 67,700 children experiencing severe acute malnutrition (SAM) between January and April, the UN reports.

Despite the mitigating impact of humanitarian assistance, FEWS NET and FSNAU have increased projections of people facing Crisis—IPC 3—and Emergency—IPC 4—levels of acute food insecurity in Somalia from approximately 2.9 million people to more than 3.2 million people, following recent assessments in Bakool and Bay regions, IDP camps in the cities of Baidoa and Mogadishu, and Northern Inland Pastoral livelihood zone—comprising parts of Bari, Nugal, Sanaag, and Sool regions.

The elevated risk of Famine-level acute food insecurity in Somalia persists due to the population’s reliance on emergency food assistance, the high likelihood of a poor harvest resulting from projected below-average gu rainfall, and Somalia’s ongoing cholera outbreak, FEWS NET and FSNAU report. In addition, drought conditions have internally displaced at least 683,000 people since November 2016 and prompted an estimated 7,000 people to flee to neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya, the UN reports.

As of May 14, the FGoS and UN World Health Organization (WHO) had recorded nearly 46,700 suspected cholera cases and approximately 900 related deaths across Somalia’s 18 regions since January. The FGoS, in coordination with humanitarian partners, continues to lead the cholera response, deploying rapid response teams to high-risk areas and strengthening national and sub-national cholera response coordination mechanisms. With support from humanitarian actors, FGoS Ministry of Health officials are evaluating the quality of treatment services at Somalia’s 65 operational cholera treatment facilities. As of April 27, approximately 90 percent of the 21 surveyed facilities had access to case management protocols and infection prevention and control materials, including aprons, gloves, and hospital gowns. Approximately 80 percent had access to hand soap and water points, while approximately 70 percent had sufficient bed capacity. USAID/OFDA continues to support implementing partners to provide critical health and WASH assistance in response to the cholera outbreak.

With $3.6 million in FY 2017 support, a USAID/OFDA partner is conducting cash-for-work activities with drought-affected households through short-term employment opportunities to promote livelihood recovery and rehabilitate markets in Bari and Sanaag. In addition, through technical support to health care facilities and community social workers in Banadir, Galgadud, and Nugal, the partner is working to reduce mortality and morbidity in drought- and conflict-affected areas and improve psychosocial services for survivors of gender-based violence. The partner is also conducting hygiene promotion activities and rehabilitating water sources to improve access to safe water for communities in Bari, Galgadud, and Mudug.

ETHIOPIA

The GoE plans to lead an assessment of belg rainy season performance and associated humanitarian needs in 177 woredas, or districts, of northern, eastern, and southern Ethiopia from May 22 to June 15, according to the UN. The GoE National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC), the UN, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and donors will participate in the mid-year assessment to inform a revision to the 2017 HRD.

In southern and southeastern pastoral areas, particularly in Somali Region, FEWS NET reports that March-to-May gu rains have been below average to date. Populations in these areas may experience Crisis-levels of acute food insecurity through at least September, with areas of southeastern Somali experiencing Emergency-levels due to significant livestock losses.

Emergency assistance provided by the NDRMC, the UN World Food Program (WFP), and the Catholic Relief Services-led Joint Emergency Operation (CRS/JEOP) is preventing deterioration in acute food insecurity, particularly in southeastern Somali, eastern Amhara, southern Tigray, and parts of Oromiya and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP) regions. However, FEWS NET estimates that the number of poor households facing Crisis-level acute food insecurity could increase if the belg harvest is below average, and escalated needs will likely persist through at least September.

As the number of people in Ethiopia requiring relief food assistance has increased from 5.6 million people to 7.8 million people, USAID/FFP is providing resources to prevent shortfalls and support an additional 536,000 CRS/JEOP beneficiaries in northern Amhara and eastern and southern Oromiya. USAID/FFP is providing 29,650 MT of U.S.-procured, in-kind food commodities, including cereals, pulses, and supplementary nutritious foods—valued at an estimated $16 million—through the CRS/JEOP and several emergency nutrition agreements. CRS/JEOP plans to reach 1.4 million people with eight rounds of relief food distributions in 2017.

In early May, the GoE reallocated $29 million in development assistance to fund emergency health and nutrition efforts, including management of the acute watery diarrhea (AWD) outbreak in Somali; SAM treatment; and measles vaccinations in Afar, Oromiya, and Somali, the UN reports. Additionally, through nearly $3.3 million in recent funding from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is continuing emergency nutrition interventions to reach a targeted 3.3 million children younger than five years of age who are projected to experience SAM in 2017. UNICEF is procuring ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) commodities and other supplies to treat acute malnutrition and supporting the GoE to expand life-saving health services.

With FY 2017 funds, USAID/FFP is also supporting UNICEF to analyze bottlenecks in the nutrition commodity supply chain, integrate nutrition activities with health services, and train regional health care workers. UNICEF is also currently distributing RUTF through ongoing FY 2016 USAID/FFP assistance. USAID/FFP is also supporting joint USAID/OFDA emergency nutrition partner Mercy Corps by transferring 377 MT of in-kind SuperCereal Plus—a supplementary nutritious food—through the CRS/JEOP for the treatment of children and women experiencing moderate acute malnutrition in Somali. This brings USAID/FFP’s support to Mercy Corps to 669 MT of nutritional supplemental food, valued at approximately $756,400, in FY 2017.

Between March and April, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) identified approximately 465,800 IDPs in more than 250 displacement sites across the acutely drought-affected region of Somali—an increase of approximately 59,600 IDPs since February. An estimated 64 percent of surveyed IDPs identified drought as the primary cause of displacement, IOM reports.

With $4.8 million in ongoing FY 2016 assistance, USAID/OFDA supports the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Rapid Response Mechanism to provide relief items and emergency WASH assistance to vulnerable populations in Ethiopia, including IDPs in Oromiya. With USAID/OFDA assistance, IRC is distributing nearly 3,200 relief item kits to IDPs in Oromiya’s Arsi and West Hararghe zones.

To facilitate livelihood recovery in Oromiya, USAID/OFDA partner CARE aims to provide emergency livestock feed to approximately 1,200 pastoral households, sufficient to support 2,400 cattle for up to three months. CARE is also working to increase access to safe drinking water and improve hygiene and sanitation practices for an estimated 60,600 people with nearly $1 million in FY 2017 funding.

KENYA

Heavy rainfall in parts of northern, southeastern, and western Kenya has caused flash floods and significant displacement in recent weeks, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS). Cumulatively, the floods have resulted in approximately 20 deaths and displaced more than 24,800 people across 13 counties. In response to the recent floods, the Government of Kenya (GoK) and county-level authorities have provided more than 2,800 bags of maize, as well as mosquito nets and water treatment supplies to reduce the risk of a cholera outbreak, to flood-affected families. In addition, KRCS is disseminating early warning messages in communities at high risk of flooding, supporting search-and-rescue efforts and rapid needs assessments in flood-affected areas, and distributing emergency shelter and WASH supplies to affected households. USAID/OFDA recently provided KRCS with $500,000 in FY 2017 assistance to deliver critical WASH assistance to more than 58,000 drought-affected people in Kilifi, Kwale, Marsabit, and Turkana counties.

In addition to localized flash flooding, the UN reports that late-onset March-to-May long rains have negatively affected agricultural livelihoods in central, northwestern, and southeastern Kenya. Furthermore, the ongoing fall armyworm infestation—an invasive pest native to Latin America that causes damage to maize and other staple crops—has affected more than 353,600 acres of vegetation in 23 of Kenya’s 47 counties, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Although the infestation does not constitute a humanitarian crisis alone, crop losses associated with fall armyworm could compound existing, drought-induced humanitarian needs in Kenya. The GoK has outlined a response plan to eradicate the infestation, prioritizing the procurement of pesticides and mass outreach campaigns to educate farmers on pest detection and control methods.

As of late May, donors had committed approximately $60 million—or 36 percent—toward the $166 million requested in the UN Flash Appeal for Kenya, including $19 million toward the nutrition sector. Following the release of the long rains assessment in July, UN and GoK plan to revise the flash appeal.

OTHER HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

On May 20, the Government of Turkey announced its intention to deliver 150,000 MT of humanitarian aid supplies to Somalia during Ramadan as part of a broader plan to support food assistance needs in the Horn of Africa and Yemen.

The Government of New Zealand announced $5 million in new relief assistance on May 15, including $2 million for WFP in Somalia and South Sudan and $3 million for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen. The new support will provide emergency food, water, and health care services to households facing acute food insecurity and other humanitarian needs.

On May 11, the Government of Norway announced a contribution of approximately $32 million for Famine prevention in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen. The new funding will be channeled through UN agencies, ICRC, and Norwegian humanitarian organizations to provide life-saving relief, including food, safe drinking water, shelter, protection, and basic health services for drought- and conflict-affected populations.

On May 1, Government of Germany (GoG) Foreign Affairs Minister Sigmar Gabriel announced Germany’s pledge to double its humanitarian assistance to Somalia during a visit to the capital city of Mogadishu. To date, the GoG has donated approximately $76 million in humanitarian assistance to Somalia.