WHO Somali Health Cluster Bulletin- June, 2009

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The Somali Health Cluster Bulletin aims to provide an overview of the health activities conducted by the health cluster partners active in Somalia.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

• The largest in-patient health facility in South/Central Somalia (278 beds), in Xudur town and several health posts in Bakool region have been closed as of 17 June 2009 due to “unacceptable” security risks and hostility against humanitarian workers in the region.
• The violence and fighting in Mogadishu is ongoing. As of 25 June, UNHCR¹ estimates that 169,000 people have been displaced since 7 May. Of those, 51,000 have moved within Mogadishu or to IDP settlements along the outskirts of the city; and 48,000 fled to the Afgooye corridor.
• In the last week of June, UNHCR and partners have started to record population figures in the Afgooye corridor. The data collection is ongoing, and analysis is expected by end of July.
• The new wave of hostility and aggression against humanitarian aid work in Somalia, and particular Southern Central parts of the country, is jeopardizing urgently needed services and health care for the population. UNICEF has been raising strong concerns about the loss of supplies and equipment and inaccessibility of facilities needed in order to deliver life-saving services, after the looting and occupation of Jowhar compound (Middle Shabelle) by militiamen since 17 May. On 22 June, the WFP compound in Merka (Lower Shabelle) was taken over by militiamen.
• The security situation in Belet Weyne (Hiraan) and surrounding areas has been tense and unpredictable in the past months. In the latest incident, on 18 June, a suicide car bomb killed at least 34 people and injured 30. On 23 June, a curfew was imposed and security measures increased in Belet Weyne town.
• At this point, a total of 7 humanitarian workers have been abducted since January 2009, and 16 are still held in captivity in Somalia since January 2008.
• On 23 June, FEWS NET issued an alert statement highlighting a rapidly deteriorating drought condition in northern Somalia. The drought in central Somalia has extended north into key pastoral areas of the north (Sool plateau, Nugal Valley and the Hawd livelihood zones). The poor 2009 Gu rains, in combination with several successive seasons of below normal rainfall have resulted in poor pasture leading to decreased livestock productivity and value. According to the statement, the drought in these areas is jeopardising the livelihoods of more than 700,000 pastoralists and a significant number of urban households whose income and food sources are linked to livestock marketing and trade.
• Information concerning the situation and developments in Mogadishu is provided in regular updates by the Mogadishu Emergency Operations Room (MEOR) and UNHCR updates.

Download File: http://www.who.int/entity/hac/crises/som/sitreps/somalia_health_cluster_bulletin_june2009.pdf