During a period of civil tension, political insecurity, governmental and constitutional change, drought, flash flooding and a state of famine, ACTED maintained a stable and steady presence, offering assistance to the most vulnerable populations of South Central Somalia.
During 2011, Somalia suffered significant setbacks, which led to food shortages and the destruction of livelihoods, community assets, and farm lands, resulting in hundreds of thousands of Somalis fleeing the south for the capital, Mogadishu. As this humanitarian crisis unfolded, ACTED scaled up its presence in order to offer lifesaving assistance to populations in two of the most insecure areas in the country: Middle Juba and Bay regions. At the height of the famine, ACTED pledged food, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and livelihood support to some 15,700 affected households.
2012: ACTED continues to support Somali populations
ACTED teams are today mobilised to deliver food and hygiene support to some 8,100 vulnerable households in Middle Juba and Bay areas. Through this extended support, the affected families should be able to rebuild their livelihoods. This initiative is carried out with the support of ACTED’s partner, SADO (the Social life and Agricultural Development Organisation).
Living conditions are improving in Somalia, although progress is slow, especially in the South where rates of malnutrition and food insecurity remain high. In a recently published report, the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU)observed that 236,000 children in Somalia are acutely malnourished, with Southern Somalia hosting approximately 70% of these children.
What does the future hold?
ACTED has partnered with think tank, IMPACT Initiatives and the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT), to carry out mapping and conduct needs assessments for the internally displaced populations in two camps in Mogadishu. The information produced by these assessments, in the framework of the REACH programme, allows the humanitarian community to understand where services are most needed.
ACTED will work with REACH in 2013 in order to assist relevant actors with information management and coordination.ACTED will remain mobilised to respond to developing humanitarian emergencies in the region while focusing specifically on long term food security by providing agricultural assistance to farmers and cooperatives, and by providing a sustainable water supply to this population, moving slowly but surely from crisis to recovery.