Jun 30, 2009

Somaliland: Appeal For Emergency Livelihood Assistance


Active ImageThe government of Somaliland has appealed to the international community for urgent emergency livelihood assistance to avert severe food shortages and hunger.
 
 
 
Below is an article published by Somaliland Press:
 
Since 2007, the “Dayr” and “Gu” rains in Somaliland were below normal rainfall and this year’s “Gu” was poor.
 
As a result of poor pasture and scarcity of water and food, weakened human animal health were experienced. Reports coming from pastoralists are predicting a serious, but looming famine.
 
The cumulative effects of drought have resulted in a decline in reproduction rates and re-stocking for all species. Moreover, due to poor livestock body conditions, the number of saleable animals in local markets has been declining. It is predicted that the export figures for the current year [2009] could drop further. The drought also affects a significant number of urban households whose income and food source are strongly linked to livestock marketing and trade.
 
The livelihoods of pastoralists are further aggravated by severe food shortages caused by global food inflation and by continuing locust invasions to vegetations where short rains were reported during the “Gu” season of this year [2009].
 
All the six regions of Somaliland are effected by the drought, and 40% of the estimated populations of 3.5 Million of Somaliland are effected. That equals to 1.4 million people.
 
Given the worsening livelihood situation, as well as the deteriorating human and animal health as a result of food shortages, water and lack of fodder for animals, predictions for serious humanitarian catastrophe seem to be imminent that require to be averted.
 
The government of Somaliland, therefore, appeals to the international community for urgent emergency livelihood assistance to avert severe food shortages and hunger. Moreover, assistance and support to urgent water trucking, rehabilitation of boreholes as well as rehabilitation and distilling of dams and the supplies of necessary medications for effected human and livestock populations will be paramount to avoid break-outs of disease epidemics. Nutritional support to the weak and sick  will be also necessary.
 
The situation is unusual and, therefore, requires quick, rapid and unusual responses from international community to deliver humanitarian assistance and supplies.