HIGHLIGHTS
• Moderate to heavy rains in March marked an early start to the April-June Gu rainy season, with Gaalkacyo, Eyl, Laas Caanood in Mudug, Nugaal and Bari, Jowhar and Baardheere districts in Southern Central Somalia recording significant downpour. While bringing relief to dry conditions, the intense rains have led to flooding, damaged an estimated 6,397 hectares of crops and displaced about 50,000 people
• Rape in Somaliland has been on the rise. 299 rape cases were reported in 2012 and 2013 alone. According to the Needs Assessment department in Somaliland’s Health Ministry, 104 rape cases have been reported in 2013 so far
• The first confirmed case of the Wild Polio virus in more than six years was reported in Somalia after a two-year old girl from Mogadishu contracted it. In response, the Government of Somalia conducted a four day emergency vaccination campaign in Banadir and Afgooye
• Plans to relocate internally displaced people from Mogadishu to sites on the outskirts of the capital progressed in May. Preparatory work including site planning and profiling started in April and the actual relocation of the first group of about 78,000 people is expected in July/August
• UNSC unanimously approved the new UN Political Mission in Somalia on May 2nd. The new mission will be based in
• Mogadishu with further deployments throughout the country as requested by the Somalia National Government. It will be operational from June 3rd 2013 for an initial period of 12 months headed by Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of Mission (UNSOM), Nicholas Kay
• The London Conference on Somalia took place at Lancaster House on May 7th, co-hosted by the UK and the Somalia National Government, and attended by fifty-four friends and partners of Somalia. More than $300 million was pledged to Somalia
