| GU AND KARAN CEREAL PRODUCTION |
The average cereal production of Somaliland amounts to about 17,000 MT per year (roughly 6% of the annual cereal production of Somalia).
The total Gu/Karan 2006 crop production was very good and the highest recorded figure in post-war years. The season produced 24,915 Mt of sorghum (88%) and 3,289 Mt of maize (12%).
Gabiley made a significant contribution to this total figure. An estimated 20,100 MT (71%). For in depth technical analysis on the successful harvest. Gu and Karan Cereal Production Report.
| HIGHLIGHTS FROM NUTRITION PROJECT |
Results from the first round of Sool Plateau surveillance are now available. These statistics will be compared with statistics from the second round of surveillance, due to take place in January (security permitting). Trend monitoring and in depth analysis will be provided by the FSAU in February. For information on results from the first round of surveillance, please contact charles@fsau.or.ke.
| SUMMARY OF INTER AGENCY RAPID ASSESSEMENT FINDINGS TO THE DROUGHT STRICKEN REGION OF THE HAWD OF TODGHEER PASTORAL ZONE |
During November, Somaliland authorities and relief agencies working in the Hawd of Toghdeer appealed for assistance for the Togdheer drought stricken pastoral area. This area had suffered poor Gu 2006 rains and failed Deyr 2006 rains. Subsequently, the SACB FSRDC and an HRG called on the FSAU to take the technical lead in an inter-agency assessment to determine how serious the situation was likely to become. As a result, the FSAU, SC-UK, FEWS-Net, Oxfam, COOPI, VETAID and relevant Somaliland Ministries participated in a rapid field assessment to the Hawd of Toghdeer pastoral zone from 24-28 December 2006.
The map below (Figure 5) shows the most affected area of Toghdeer region. It is estimated that up to 10,000 households in this area, mainly the pastoral poor group and lower levels of the middle pastoral wealth group, will experience food shortages. Two consecutive seasons of poor rainfall have led to a deterioration in livestock body condition, in turn undermining livestock production (milk and meat) and access to income options (declining livestock prices). The middle and better off groups had already migrated out of the drought area to areas where grazing is better and have managed to preserve their livestock, but the poorer pastoralists were unable to pay transport costs to move their animals. During Jilaal these families are likely to face a food deficit and the situation will require close monitoring. For further details of the three stages of suggested interventions and a copy of the inter-agency rapid assessment report (to be released at the HRG meeting on 20 Jan, 2006).
| Terms of Trade in Burao Market |
Maintaining good terms of trade between milk and/or livestock and cereals is critical for the survival of pastoral households, particularly in drought years and during the harsh, dry Jilaal season. As mentioned above, the drought over the past two seasons has adversely affected animal body condition in Togdheer, lowering livestock prices. Low prices have a direct impact on a household's income, particularly amongst poor groups who rely heavily on the sale of livestock and milk. Declining terms of trade for pastoralists are evident in Figure 6, which shows that it takes two or three goats to obtain a sack of rice now, whereas only one goat is required in a non-drought year.
| HIGHLIGHTS FROM NUTRITION PROJECT |
The ongoing sentinel nutritional surveillance indicates a worrying nutrition situation with an acute malnutrition rate of 18.9% (W/H <-2 z-score/oedema) Nutrition Update). See also the Highlights on Page 1.
In the insecure region of Benadir, (districts around Mogadishu) malnutrition is particularly evident among displaced persons and the poor. In one month, 30% of children attending health facilities in the area were identified as malnourished.
Recent nutrition surveys in IDP (Internally Displaced People) settings indicate a poor nutrition situation. Nutrition surveys amongst IDP'S conducted in Hargeisa, and Burao found global acute malnutrition rates ranging between 15.3% and 18.7%. An analysis of the various studies on IDP's in Somalia indicate that they are disadvantaged by a combination of factors including : poor shelter, poor sanitation, limited access to sources of income, weak coping strategies, limited access to remittances and social support.
It is estimated that 50,000 people, mainly pastoralists from Somaliland, have crossed into the of Ethiopia (Region V) due to the delay and poor performance of the 2003 Deyr rains. However these areas are not much better off as parts of hawd, Warder, Jigjiga and Degahabour zones have also been affected by drought. Recent nutritional surveys indicate that the situation continues to deteriorate in these zones.
| Table 1: Livestock Export Table |
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| There was no significant increase in the total number of livestock exported during December. In parts of the north and central areas, livestock body condition has become so poor that when rain fell in the first dekad, pastoralists kept back their animals for fattening up. An increased demand for animals is expected before the Haj and fattened animals will fetch more money. The Somaliland authorities continue to visit Saudia Arabia to discuss the lifting of the Somali livestock importation ban. Rumours continue to circulate that Yemeni authorities are also considering whether or not to lift the ban. |
| Food Relief Distributions |
In the month of December CARE distributed a total of 1,410 MT to a total of 7,614 beneficiaries. This was in the form of food for work.
AWDAL & NORTH WEST REGION
Good rains fell in the agro pastoral areas and both livestock and crop conditions were good during December. In the highland pastoral zone rains were also good and the area continued to host animals from Hawd pastoral zone and Ethiopia's zone V. Both the coastal and sub-coastal belts received rains during December. Heavy rains and low temperatures caused hundreds of deaths (according to elders) particularly of shoats. Many of these animals had been in a weakened state after long migrations. The area is currently hosting animals from Hawd of Hargeisa, Ethiopia and the Highlands. Like last year, many animals from Shinnile district in Ethiopia are expected to arrive in this area following a poor Karan season in Ethiopia's region V. Good amounts of rainfall fell in the Hawd Pastoral zone except in districts south east of Hargeisa.
SOOL REGION
The severe drought in Sool Region continues and the latest nutritional situation (see page 1) reflects a deteriorating situation. On 4 and 5 December, the western fringe of Sool Plateau received showers which moved westwards to the Upper Nugal Valley. These rains triggered significant migratory movements. Prior to the December showers, a large proportion of Sool of Sanag pastoralists (45-55%) had made the longest-ever out migration to Sool of Bari and coastal grazing areas using trucks. The remaining Sool of Sanag pastoralists opted to move to the areas where it had recently rained mainly in the Sool plateau of Sool region. Pastoralists from Lower Nugal also moved to these areas. Given the low rainfall intensity and limited spatial coverage the huge in migration has exceeded the rangeland carrying capacity and pasture regeneration has been stunted. These rains have had little or no impact on the humanitarian crisis and the food security situation is not expected to show any substantial improvement in the near future. Infact rather than improving the situation, it appears that the incidence of disease and animal mortality is rising dramatically given the huge concentration of livestock, combined with the fact that large numbers of weakened livestock have assembled together in one place. In the lower Nugal of Taleh district the situation continues to remain serious with reports of destitute households collecting in main urban centres such Taleh and Halin. Upper Nugal valley has benefited from sporadic rains, however, the majority of camel herders have already migrated to the Hawd in search of better pasture. In the Hawd, South of Las Caanood, received localised rains which replenished berkads. Buhoodle town however did not benefit from these rains and the price of water has soared from 7,00-1000 SL/sh per drum to 35000 SL/sh per drum.
November and early in December benefiting major grazing areas in the coastal and sub-coastal plains of the region. Livestock migration to the seasonal coastal plains has taken place. A good supply of milk has been reported in the markets of coastal towns. The increasing trend of livestock export has changed after the Somaliland Authority made a deal several month ago to Exclusive Rights to an Arab livestock exporter to the Saudi Arabai. The decision aimed to open trade with Saudi Arabia which is the largest importers of Livestock from Somaliland and to improve livestock value in those markets. However, discussions with several livestock traders seems to indicate that the price of animals has not yet improved and some argue that Somaliland traders did not benefited from the decision and took up the excess slack. In Awdal and Togdheer Districts there was an influx of up rising and demanding the return of free trade with their business Partners in Yemen and else where. Livestock exportation has created concern over how the government is depleting the current situation. People have been migrating Livestock to the coastal fishing areas with natural Ports to smuggle them to Djibouti and Yemen for the Hajj Season.
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