FSNAU is pleased to announce the release of the Post Deyr 2012/13 Nutrition Technical Series Report following a seasonal analysis conducted jointly with UNICEF, FEWSNET, WFP and other partner agencies. This publication contains an overview of the Deyr 2012/13 nutrition situation in the context of the prevailing food security and health situation at the time.
Integrated analysis of core nutrition indicators for the Deyr 2012/13 reflects improvements in the overall nutrition situation as compared to the Gu 2012 six months earlier. This is mostly as a result of improved household food access and disease outbreak control. Recent improvements in food security are attributed to continued humanitarian interventions, improved own production (crops, milk), increased incomes (farm labour, livestock sales at high prices) and improved purchasing power in light of reduced cost of living. Although morbidity levels remained high, no seasonal outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea/cholera or measles were reported during this period. Subsequently, in the northern and central regions, the nutrition situation is within Serious levels, with the exception of Sool Plateau pastoral livelihood zone in Alert phase, West Golis Guban in Critical and the Coastal Deeh of central regions in likely Critical. In the assessed areas in southern regions, the situation is Critical – Very Critical.
Based on the Deyr 2012/13 analysis, at national level, an estimated 215,000 (14.3% of the 1.5 million) Somali children are currently acutely malnourished and in need of specialized nutrition treatment services. Of the 215,000 children, 45,000 (3.0% of the 1.5 million Somali children) are severely malnourished requiring immediate lifesaving interventions. About seventy percent of the malnourished are from the southern regions, where there are concerns about their ability to access vital basic services needed for survival. Nevertheless, the figures reflect a reducing trend since August 2011, the peak of famine when an estimated 450,000 (30% of the 1.5 million Somali children) of the children were acutely malnourished with 190,000 (13%) in severe state; in January 2012, when 323,000 (or 22%) were acutely malnourished, with 93,000 (6%) in severe state; and in August 2012 when 236,000 (16%) were acutely malnourished with 54,000 (4%) in severe state.
The nutrition situation outlook, February to April 2013 is inferred from current estimates/median seasonal rates (2001-2011), alongside with historical disease patterns and food security trends for the February – April 2013 period. In general, the nutrition situation is likely to remain the same across the country up to April 2013 except for: Sool Plateau livelihood zone, which could deteriorate to Serious phase, consistent with worrying food security situation and seasonal levels; Bakool and Hiran regions, which are likely to improve to Critical phase consistent with seasonal levels. The nutrition situation in Shabelle regions, which could not be assessed in the Deyr 2012, is projected to be in Serious phase in February-April 2013. The current projection assumption will be reviewed in April 2013 based on updated information on climate performance, cereal price dynamics, humanitarian interventions and civil insecurity.