Somalia: Humanitarian Partners release 2022 Response Plan for Somalia, UN announces US$17 Million towards immediate drought response efforts (20.12.2021)

The 2022 HRP seeks close to US$1.5 billion to assist 5.5 million of the most vulnerable people in Somalia.

MOGADISHU, Somalia, December 20, 2021 – The United Nations and humanitarian partners in Somalia have released the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Somalia, which is facing three consecutive failed rainy seasons for the first time in 30 years.

The 2022 HRP seeks close to US$1.5 billion to assist 5.5 million of the most vulnerable people in Somalia. To meet the immediate needs of drought-affected communities, the UN is releasing US$17 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), bringing CERF funding for Somalia in 2021 to $52 million. This is in addition to just under $60 million provided by donors to the Somalia Humanitarian Fund.

“The lives of the people in Somalia are on the line, and we have no time to lose,” said the UN Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths. “To save lives in Somalia and avert another humanitarian catastrophe, we must release funding now so that people can protect themselves from further hunger and impoverishment. I am releasing $17 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund today to enable humanitarians to scale up critical operations. I count on other donors to follow this lead and urge them to generously support the Somalia Humanitarian Fund.”

People in Somalia have endured decades of conflict, recurrent climate shocks, and disease outbreaks, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A prolonged desert locust infestation has impacted also harvests and livelihoods. At least seven in 10 people in Somalia live below the poverty line.

An estimated 7.7 million Somalis will require humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022, marking a 30 per cent rise in needs in just one year.

The HRP will prioritize life-saving assistance for 5 million of the most vulnerable people, including 1 million children under 5, by decreasing the prevalence of hunger, acute malnutrition, public health threats and outbreaks, abuse, violence, and exposure to explosive ordinances by the end of the year. In addition, partners will attempt to sustain the lives of 5.5 million people requiring humanitarian assistance, including 3.9 million non-IDPs, 1.6 million IDPs and people with disability across 74 districts, by ensuring safe, equitable and dignified access to livelihoods and essential services. Finally, the humanitarian response in Somalia aims to uphold commitments to the centrality of protection.

Conflict and insecurity have forced 777,000 people to flee their homes so far this year. Overall, more than 2.9 million people are internally displaced in Somalia – one of the world’s highest figures. Most of these internally displaced people live a precarious existence and need help to survive. Women and girls make up half of the displaced population and face a heightened risk of sexual violence and harassment, abuse and intimate partner violence. “The current drought has devastated livelihoods and pushed families to the brink of disaster,” said Federal Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Khadija Diriye. “There is a high risk that without immediate humanitarian assistance, children, women and men will start dying of starvation in Somalia.” Somalia – on the front line of climate change – is the most severely drought-affected country in the Horn of Africa. An estimated 3.2 million people in 66 out of the country’s 74 districts are experiencing the cumulative impacts of three consecutive below average rainy seasons, including 169,000 who have abandoned their homes to seek water, food and pasture.

Recent projections indicate that up to 1.4 million Somalis could be displaced by drought in the coming six months. Widespread livestock deaths are already being reported, and food, water and fuel prices are rapidly increasing. Crop production in January is projected to be 50-70 per cent below the last ten-year average.

Humanitarian organizations, local communities and government authorities have ramped up responses to address acute water, food and fodder shortages and other lifesaving needs for people across Somalia. But they urgently need to ramp up these efforts and in order to scale up, they need additional resources and unfettered access to people in need.

Somalia: the compound impact of drought and conflict pushes people to the brink (14.12.2021)

Last month the Federal Government declared a state of emergency, as thousands leave their homes in search of food, water and pasture.

GENEVA, Switzerland, December 14, 2021 – More than 300,000 people have been affected by the worsening drought in Somalia’s Galgaduud region. Last month the Federal Government declared a state of emergency, as thousands leave their homes in search of food, water and pasture. In addition to the worsening drought, Guriel, a town of some 100,000 inhabitants in central Galgaduud, has seen an intensification of conflict. At the end of October, heavy fighting broke out between Somali National Army and Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a group, killing dozens and forcing some 100,000 people to flee to the neighboring villages.

“This drought is more severe than the ones I used to see. The clashes have forced people to run away and become displaced. The drought and lack of rainfall has also caused displacement. These things have all come at once,” said Hashim, a 50 year old resident of Guriel.

Intense shelling damaged several buildings in Guriel, including its main hospital. The Kulmiye Community hospital, the second largest in town, was destroyed in a fire.  Kulmiye hospital was a referral hospital that offered outpatient, inpatient, maternity and immunization services to people from surrounding villages within the range of over 100 km. “This morning, a number of people arrived at the hospital thinking it still exists. They had not heard the news,” said Dr. Ali Omar Tarabi – Chairman, Kulmiye Hospital Board. The pressure on the remaining health facilities has considerably increased.

Hundreds of thousands of people are staying in makeshift settlements on the outskirts of Guriel town. Some of them were displaced by the recent fighting, while others came to the area seeking pasture, as drought became more severe. All the displaced people live in extremely difficult conditions, lacking access to the essential services, like food, water and healthcare. “To respond to these needs, we provided water trucking to displaced people in 17 villages”, said Mohamed Sheikh Ahmed, Head of ICRC office in Galmudug.  “Together with the Somali Red Crescent Society, we deployed a mobile health team that is providing essential health care services to six villages”.

Life is slowly returning to Guriel, but many small businesses remain closed and it will take time and effort to repair the damage, especially while the region is grappling with the consequences of the drought.

ICRC in Somalia – Key Facts

• A mobile health clinic consisting of 2 nurses, 2 health promoters, a vaccinator and a pharmacy assistant run by the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) is providing health care services to four villages and two displacement camps in Galgaduud region.
• Over 39,000 people received access to water through rehabilitation of 9 boreholes
• The ICRC has been delivering 90 liters of water per day to some 6,600 for four weeks, as part of its emergency response.
• 20 water tanks have been delivered to 17 affected villages in Guriel.
• Over 70,000 people affected by the drought received cash grants in 17 villages in Galmudug region.

Opinion: Farmaajo trying to rig it all in his favour

The Federal Government of Somalia and Villa Somalia own term ended on February 8^th 2021. The President and his allies has postponed the elections several of times. The allies of the President has thwarted talks and ripped agreements apart. The President even tried to use the majority of the Lower House to get him unelected for years with a fake mandate. However, that stopped… but his still in office scheming like no tomorrow.

Former President and interim President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed aka Farmaajo who has used months upon months. Soon a year long process to get an election going. Always ensuring his people and delegates their wishes. In such a fashion that critics and others from various of states are getting dropped from elections. Just so he can have total control of the Parliament, both houses and get elected into Presidency for his second term.

Farmaajo have no real game-plan, other than securing re-election. He either got to have by the hook or the by crook. This man is willing to use the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) to his own favours. Just like he has used the ‘Gorgor’ to threaten and get his will earlier in this year too.

The interim President isn’t sharing any goodwill and is just proving how sinister he is. As his using insecurity and national disasters to his own personal gain. He is using droughts, the pandemic and everything included as ways of getting ahead. It is like he doesn’t care about anything else, but being in the high office.

Farmaajo is a man who speaks poetically about being a patriot, but has no issues trading away resources and industries for personal gains. This being getting recruits, training and splendid mercenaries, which can be used for private operations. While the people who pays for these services gets favourable business-deals and trading licenses in the Republic. That’s why he cannot let go and let other people rule either.

This is why Farmaajo cannot risk having universal suffrage, because that would be a risky gamble for him. Why you might say? Well, it wouldn’t be delegates or picked people to elect representatives in the states. No, it would be secret ballots and counting, which Farmaajo wouldn’t trust with his life. It is easier to bribe a few delegates and incite fear into a little crowd. Compared to doing the same to the whole population and getting them in drones to vote for you.

The interim President has to use this system and gets his people behind the wheel. That is clear message and he does it in the open. While blocking and stopping the ones who happens to be his critics. This is so obvious… and clear, deliberate rigging that it’s not tricky to see. As he has all the incentives and the motivation to do this. Since, if he gets his people in the Lower House and Senate. He can easily get re-elected and call it another “Monday”.

Certainly, the interim President thinks the people and the onlookers are stupid. Because, if he was smartly rigging. He would have allowed and made clear for opposition to stand as candidates. Especially, the ones that was elected in the previous term. Nevertheless, the interim President isn’t that bright and has to screw it all up. When people can see it and they don’t even have to think about it.

Therefore, this isn’t only something the Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) are seeing, but everyone else as well. It is handled so badly and with such disgrace. That only pro-Farmaajo and Villa Somalia supporters accepts the electoral process. It is filled with problematic actions and Prime Minister Roble cannot runaway from that. His fiddling in the middle of it and he knows that perfectly well. Farmaajo is tricking him too and he is challenged to fulfil the mandate he has.

The Interim President is playing a dangerous game. However, restarting the whole process and re-issuing new elections. Only gives the unelected President more time in office. Which is ironically what the opposition doesn’t want, but is the only way out this. At this point of time, the lessons of past has to be addressed, if not we are repeating the sins of the past. That is just the tragedy here and Farmaajo wants to eat the spoils. This is very clear and he thinks he can trick everyone. As his confidence is above the normal and his hubris is touching the sky. Peace.

Somalia: Punland Security Force – Press Statement (25.11.2021)

Somalia: AMISOM – Court Martial finds AMISOM soldiers guilty of killing civilians in Goloweyn (13.11.2021)

Somalia: Abdulkadir Sharraay – Press Release – Somalia’s Electoral Process has lost all Credibility! (06.11.2021)

Somalia: Puntland Political Forum (PPF) – Press Release (31.10.2021)

Somalia: South West State of Somalia – Humanitarian Situation Update (28.10.2021)

Somalia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Press Statement (21.10.2021)

Somalia NGO Consortium: Humanitarian agencies warn that Somalia is at the brink of hunger crisis (15.10.2021)