Somalia Crisis - Oxfam Canada 2013

March 2013 - Somalia remains a country in extreme crisis: an estimated 2.1 million people (or 25 percent of the population) require immediate humanitarian assistance and a further 1.7 million people remain on the brink of crisis with all reserves gone and vulnerable to the slightest shock. Widespread food insecurity acute malnutrition and displacement caused by both conflict and climatic events (drought flooding) all remain serious concerns. Malnutrition rates in many areas of the country remain above the 15 percent emergency threshold. More than 70 percent of the population is without reliable access to safe water. In addition more than one million Somalis remain displaced from their homes. With CIDA support Oxfam is providing treatment for acute malnutrition safe drinking water adequate sanitation facilities and knowledge of proper hygiene practices to an estimated 142 000 people affected by drought and conflict in the Kismayu district of Lower Juba region in southern Somalia.

Expected Results: Rehabilitation and support of 9 supplementary feeding facilities and 1 therapeutic feeding 'stabilization' centre to prevent and treat acute malnutrition; establishment or rehabilitation of 34 water points; rehabilitation of sanitation facilities at Kismayu hospital and establishment of 200 community latrines (in internal displacement camps) and 80 demonstration latrines (to encourage and assist households in building a further 900 latrines); and distribution of essential sanitation and hygiene items (water purification tablets jerry cans etc.) to 2 100 households. In addition 71 community health workers 23 nurses and 9 water committees will receive training and sanitation and hygiene promotion activities will target an estimated 20 000 households. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people particularly women and children.