CED DROUGHT APPEAL
SOMALIA
ASSITANCE TO DROUGHT AFFECTED VICTIMS
Appeal No. CEDSOM01-2006
Mogadishu, January 25, 2006

Dear Colleagues,

Greetings from Center For Education and Development (CED), Somalia!
We would like to share with you the following information regarding the deadly drought that hits Southern Regions of Somalia.

Somalia is located in the Horn of Africa with a land area of about 63.8 million hectares. The topography consists of mainly plateaus, which slope to the Indian Ocean in the east and to the Gulf of Aden in the north. Estimating the current population of Somalia with any degree of assurance is difficult, however UNDOS estimate in 1997 says the population is 6.38 million. Normal definitions of the population suggest 24% urban, 17% rural settled and 59% nomadic. Somalia had two rivers, Shabelle and Jubba, both with highly irregular water flows; provide most of Somalia's usable surface water. Somalia is heavily dependent on livestock and agricultural sector for its socio-economic development compared to the other sectors of the economy.

The Somali people have undergone a prolonged traumatic period of civil conflict and other disasters such as famine, flooding and periodic breakout of pests. Over the past decade, close to a million Somalis fled from the war into the neighbouring countries as refuges and much more than that figure lives as internally displaced people (IDPs) in urban and rural areas of Somalia. For the last fifteen years, civil war, droughts, pests, famine, floods, Tsunami and other disasters have created a lot of uncertainties in the livelihoods of the Somali people.

According to the Food Security Analysis Unit for Somalia (FSAU), implemented by FAO and funded by European Commission an estimated 1.7 million people in North, Central and Southern Regions of Somalia are currently facing conditions of Acute Food and Livelihood Crises or Humanitarian Emergency at least until June 2006. This includes some 340,000 children under the age of five, who are at great risk. The crises is particularly serious in Southern Regions of Somalia, were an estimated 1.4 million people are in urgent need of Humanitarian assistance. The figure does not include up to 400,000 internally displaced previously identified by the aid community in need of assistance and protection.

The cereal harvest has been far below normal for two consecutive seasons. Agricultural production over the past years has been very poor. Southern Somalia - traditionally the breadbasket for the whole country - is experiencing the worst food security conditions in over a decade. The cereal production is less than 25% of the post war average. Sorghum prices increased 50% in the last month-the highest levels in years. An estimated 20-30% of cattle in the worst affected southern regions of Somalia have died due to the lack of water and pasture.

There are reports that the nutritional situation is deteriorating steadily. Malnutrition rates in critical areas are already estimated at 25 %( with rates above 15% considered emergency conditions). There is a moderate risk of famine conditions in the coming months for the areas of southern Somalia. ''The drought compounds what was already a dire humanitarian situation, and is affecting communities in areas beset by years of high malnutrition and morbidity rates, chronic food insecurity, clan fighting and suffering from consecutive bad harvests. ''Comments the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mr. Maxwell Gaylard.

''While Somalia is normally one of the poorest and most food insecure countries in the world, current conditions are dire and way beyond the typically resilient Somalia people's capacity to cope with stress'', says Nicholas Haan, FAO Chief Technical Advisor of FSU.

The drought has destroyed the livelihoods of up to 1.7 million Somalis who are currently in need of some form of humanitarian assistance. As a result, The Federal Government of Somalia established a Ministerial disaster Committee in mid January 2006-to handle drought and liaise closely with the humanitarian community on the drought. Besides, the Aid Agencies are appealing for humanitarian operations in Somalia.

Centre for Education and Development (CED) is a non-profit, non-governmental local organization operating in Somalia (Horn of Africa). CED works with poor local communities through sustainable community development and humanitarian programs to overcome ignorance, diseases, hunger, poverty, injustice, and inequality.

In the sector of emergency aid/humanitarian assistance, CED immediately responses emergency cases and provides reliable support in emergency situations to reduce the problems that have affected the Somali people due to the man-made and natural disasters for the last 15 years.

At present CED is implementing the following programs in South and Central Somalia.

1. Integrated Tsunami Rehabilitation project (fishery, wells, education) funded by Novib Oxfam Netherlands
2. Emergency Aid Project (Relief food) funded by CARE International USA
3. Distribution of Text Books to Somali Higher Education Institutions - the book distribution project is funded by Books For Africa, USA
4. Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation Project funded by RAINBO, UK.

In view of the crises, CED sees there is a need of immediate interventions so as to prevent a large-scale disaster. A full range of response options must be considered including food aid, cash assistance, water relief, health assistance, seed distribution, rehabilitation of the silted canals, digging water wells etc.

As a humanitarian organization CED sees obligatory to share the situation underground with International Humanitarian Organisations. Therefore, we would like to know if you could provide humanitarian assistance to the drought affected victims through CED to prevent a large scale disaster and support, the most affected families who faces dire humanitarian emergency and whose lives are in danger without external assistance on humanitarian grounds.

We need your assistance and should be grateful to have your feedback on supporting the drought-affected victims in South Somalia.

Thank you for taking an interest in our humanitarian work with people affected by drought.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact CED Office by the following emails: ced@globalsom.com or abdullahi40@yahoo.com

With best greetings

Abdullahi Ali Hassan
CED Executive Director