SOMALIA: OCHA Drought Response Update
Following is a drought response update by the OCHA.
The UN Special Humanitarian Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mr. Kjell Bondevik, made a first visit to Nairobi from 22-23 February to look into the impact of the drought in the region and its underlying causes. In addition to a meeting with the Resident- and Humanitarian Coordinators of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia and the Regional Directors of several UN agencies, Mr. Bondevik met with the IASC Somalia. The Deputy Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government and Chairman of the Drought Disaster Committee took part in the latter meeting. Discussions on Somalia focused on humanitarian needs and operational challenges, as well as advocacy requirements. Â In the margin of the above meetings, Resident- and Humanitarian Coordinators of the five affected countries and UN Regional Directors endorsed the proposal to launch a Regional Consolidated Appeal for the Drought in the Horn of Africa covering the period 1 March - 31 December 2006.
Now that humanitarian operations are intensifying in Bay and Bakool and efforts are being made to step them up in Gedo as the security situation permits, UNICEF and OCHA will be traveling to Jamame, Afmadow, Mareerey, Jilib, Buale and Sakow from 26 February to 3 March to examine the situation on the ground and identify quick impact interventions to be undertaken as a first priority, including coordination. The team will be consulting with agencies already active in the area, such as OXFAM, COOPI, and Concern Worldwide. The preferred strategy would be to ‘Do No Harm’ by focusing on existing UNICEF-supported health, nutrition and water and sanitation projects and expanding them to new locations. The visit is not a formal needs assessment.
Click here to view the full update on the Relieve Web.