Context
Awdal borders Ethiopia in the North West and South West, and Djibouti and the Gulf of Aden in the North. It consists of four districts: Baki, Boroma, Lughaye, and Zeylac. Despite physical access challenges posed by poor road conditions along its mountainous coastal terrains, Awdal is historically a peaceful region which remains accessible to humanitarian organizations.
The population of Awdal region is estimated at 305,455 (UNDP 2005), with approximately 63% living in rural areas and 37% living in urban centres. The region is one of the agro-pastoral livelihood zones in Somaliland, where farming and agricultural production are the predominant livelihood sources. The region is also known for frequent earth tremors. The most recent earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale hit the capital of the region, Borame and adjacent areas, in August 2011, but did not cause casualties. Awdal is one of the farming regions in Somaliland where crop production is a major source of income for the people (FSNAU Post Deyr 2011/12 Report). Water availability for agriculture in the region is generally better compared to other regions in Somaliland. However, due to the poor Hays rains in the past three years, pastoral conditions have considerably worsened in the region.
