Context
Galgaduud is situated along the Indian Ocean to the east, with Mudug to the north, Hiraan to the southwest, Middle Shabelle to the southeast and Ethiopia to the west. Its population is estimated at 330,057 people, with 82 per cent living in rural areas and 18 per cent in urban areas. There are five administrative districts of Dhusamareeb, Abudwaq, Cadaado, Ceelbuur and Ceel Dheer in Galgaduud region. Dhusamareeb is the capital city. The districts of Dhusamareb (including Guri Ceel) and Abudwaq (including Balanbal) are under the control of Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a (ASWJ) and are accessible to humanitarian actors. Cadaado district is under Himan and Heeb administrative control, and Eelbuur and Eeldere districts are under the control of Al-Shabaab and are inaccessible to UN national and international staff. However, NGOs that have been operating in these districts for a long time are permitted to continue working. The region hosts an estimated 149,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) (according to UNHCR estimates in September 2012).
There are five main livelihood zones in Galgaduud: Addun pastoral mixed sheep, goats and camels; the central regions are agro-pastoral, growing cowpeas and rearing sheep, goats, camels and cattle; the Hawd pastoral zone, where sheep and goats are reared; southern inland pastoral where camel, sheep and goats are reared; and coastal Deeh where sheep are reared.