Issued on 27 February
Situation overview
The number of people in ‘crisis’ reduced by 50 percent to 1 million in the last half of 2012 based on the latest data from the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET). However,
the humanitarian situation remains fragile and gains could reverse without continued humanitarian assistance. An additional 1.7 million people who emerged from crisis in the past year are in a ‘stressed food security’ situation, and at risk of falling back into ‘crisis’ without continued support to meet basic needs and enhance their livelihoods. Most parts of Somalia are classified as ‘stressed’ or in phase two of food insecurity, which means that at least one in five households can meet minimum food needs, but are unable to cover some essential non-food needs and have reduced ability to invest in livelihoods. About 215,000 children under five remain acutely malnourished, two-thirds of them in southern Somalia. While this is a reduction of 21,000 since August 2012, the ratio of one in seven children malnourished remains among the highest in the world.
Humanitarian partners continue to deliver assistance in Kismayo despite the volatile security situation. Food assistance resumed in the district after four years as a result of improved access. In addition, a second round of polio vaccination campaigns was also conducted in January, reaching over 17,000 children under five years