nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
For the physical and health sector, refugee returnees, who often find themselves in IDP like settings, face challenges that are similar to those of IDPs, such as insufficient healthcare services and high costs associated with accessing the existing limited services. The situation of refugee returnees is further compounded by security related access constraints in southern/central regions.
The wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers is further exacerbated by COVID19 related challenges. At the same time, the capacity of local primary healthcare facilities is inadequate, while the high cost of healthcare makes it even more challenging for already vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers to access the limited services available.
Education: 32% of assessed settlements in which most children reportedly had access to education services reported that it takes less than 30 minutes to reach to education facilities while 52% and 5% reported it takes 30 60 minutes and more than 3 hours to reach to the nearest education facility respectively.
Displacement: Locust ( 52% ) , Conflict ( 16% ) , Drought ( 17% )  were most commonly reported primary reason for population leaving the settlement of origin.
The central and southern regions of Somalia are characterised by relatively high levels of needs, insecurity, and limited humanitarian access.
During the reporting period, UNICEF continued to provide a range of nutrition preventive and promotive services that 34,134 mothers and caretaker were reached with infant and young child feeding counselling across the country.
Emergency Nutrition Programme also continues to focus on ensuring most fragile areas of the country are covered with programmes critical to accelerate the reduction and prevention of excessive morbidities and mortalities related to malnutrition.
A total of 600  ( 32 per cent female )  Community Education Committee  ( CEC )  members and teachers were trained on preventive measures in order to run safe operations in schools during the COVID 19 pandemic in Somaliland. The CEC members and teachers were also trained on psychosocial care to support children who might have faced challenging experiences during the school closure and related COVID 19 pandemic crises.
To improve sanitation in institutions and mitigate the spread of COVID 19, 20,179 people in three health facilities and five schools in Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle respectively have access to better sanitation through latrines rehabilitations and handwashing stations. As part of UNICEF's WASH response, 54 healthcare workers were trained on IPC in Banadir region.
IOM is also screening pregnant and lactating women and providing Infant and Young Child Feeding  ( IYCF )  and hygiene promotion sessions to mothers, other family members and religious leaders who might influence feeding practices at the household level. Over 30,000 children under five were screened during this reporting period.
IOM continued its activities in Abudwaq town in Galmudug State, including the completion of a rehabilitated solarized borehole. The borehole will provide water at low cost to IDPs and host communities in the town.
Following an incident of sexual violence, there is a limited time window during which life  saving clinical interventions  ( medication to prevent HIV transmission, emergency contraception, etc. )  are effective. If the survivor consents to seeking services, it is important to try and connect her/him with health care providers as soon as possible
Puntland authorities have secured funding to rehabilitate five strategic boreholes with replacement of submersible pump, control panel, pipes, motors and storage tanks. Once repaired, all five boreholes will serve up to 15,000 people cumulatively thus reducing the pressure on available water access points.
In Lower Shabelle region of South West State, authorities and partners have reported that a 200 litre barrel of water currently costs around $4.5, a 20% increase compared to prices in December 2020.
5.9M People in need of humanitarian assistance
Furthermore, UNICEF supported the provision of COVID 19 vaccines in Somalia through COVAX. A total of 300,000 doses were delivered throughout the country with designated hospitals starting vaccinations on March 16th. As of March 31st, 41,329 doses were administered in South Central areas, Puntland, and Somaliland.
As of 11 September, Somalia has 3,389 confirmed COVID 19 cases in the country, 98 reported fatalities and 2,803 recovered cases.
The polio teams are monitoring the COVID 19 situation closely to ensure that implementation of mOPV2 case response, which has been postponed since March 2020, can resume in safe conditions.
The Deyr rains are expected to continue until the end of November, hence more farmland could be damaged negatively impacting riverine communities relying on farm products for livelihood.
COMMUNITY HYGIENE PROMOTION In response to the escalating AWD and cholera cases in SWS, IOM, in close coordination with SWS Ministry of Health  ( MoH )  and the WASH cluster, systematically implemented community mobilization and awareness campaign in locations with high AWD and reported cholera cases, aimed to enhance community health and hygiene.
A team of WASH professionals technically supported the MoH team in Bayhaw General Hospital and provided Infection and Prevention Control  ( IPC )  training, hygiene and sanitation promotion activities, particularly targeting AWD and cholera victims in the health facility, and conducted follow up sessions at the household level.
Furthermore, regular community hygiene promotion activities were conducted in Baidoa, where IOM is operating to enhance community and public hygiene education.
During the reporting period, 2,740 households comprised of 16,450 individuals were reached by community awareness raising activities on community health, hygiene and sanitation promotion messages, in compliance with COVID 19 preventive measures.
Training and awareness raising on GBV risk mitigation and referrals for survivors reached a total of 383 people  ( 222 women ) , showing a significant increase of 175 percent when compared to the last reporting period.
UNICEF in collaboration with the Government and other humanitarian actors continued to support the continuity of the health services in the country.
IDP leaders and local officials from Kadha district report that at least 730 IDP houses and 250 latrines have been damaged by f lash floods.
Community awareness and advocacy to educate and sensitize the public on GBV and women and girls' rights.
Moreover, this year's Gu rainy season has contaminated water sources leading to a recent cholera outbreak in southern and central regions, and simultaneously displacing over 400,000 people in 23 districts.
Essential health care services to IDPs, host communities, migrants and returnees through 30 static health facilities, 4 mobile clinics, 3 transit centers and 2 migration response centres.
112 Hygiene kit distributions were done to the target IDPs.
To address overall migration challenges in Somalia, IOM works closely with the Federal Government of Somalia, regional authorities, the UN, donor governments and civil society by implementing programmes through three pillars:  ( 1 )  Preparedness and humanitarian response;  ( 2 )  Long term recovery and durable solutions; and,  ( 3 )  Migration governance and development.
Food assistance needs in Somalia are already high with an estimated 3.5 million people in rural livelihood zones, urban areas, and IDP settlements in need of food assistance.
Reports f rom South West State on 2 November indicated that flash f loods displaced 150 people in Qoryooley, Lower Shabelle
Through at least mid 2021 it is expected that the desert locust plague will continue to put at risk pasture and crops across the country.
2020 CONTINGENCY STOCK AGREEMENT A total of six contingency stocks partner agreements were finalised as of June. These agreements will contribute to a faster response to people in need of Shelter and Non Food Items. The S NFI contingency stock in Mogadishu is managed by IOM and accessible to cluster partners for rapid distributions to respond to S NFI needs in Somalia.
COMPLAINTS AND FEEDBACK MECHANISM  ( CFM )  HOTLINE As part of COVID 19 mitigation measures, CCCM's CFM desks, through which the communities can submit feedback and complaints about service provision in the sites, were complemented by the establishment of hotline phone numbers in May. The hotlines are toll free, which has enabled the communities to contact the CCCM team to lodge complaints or feedback free of charge, without having to physically visit the desks
IOM continued the recruitment of ten diaspora experts for the second phase of the Dutch funded capacity for development  ( CD4D )  project. The project deploys Somali diaspora citizens for short term assignments to support with capacity building in various sectors, including Rule of Law, Private Sector Development and Water and Local Governance.
IOM trained 24 frontline immigration officers  ( 3 female and 21 male )  from Wajale and Bulligubadle land border posts on COVID 19 screening. The training was organized in partnership with the MoH and focused on sensitization, personal protection and handling of travellers. The purpose of the training was to enable the officers to work effectively following infection prevention and control guidelines of COVID 19 and also to support the MoH in the screening activities of travellers through the Ports of Entry.
Private health services and the pharmaceutical sector are largely unregulated in Somalia but could contribute to improving access and achieving UHC. GAP agencies are exploring opportunities to support the development and operationalization of a strategy for the private health sector, to assess its current role in service delivery and implementation of regulatory frameworks and contracting mechanisms.
As part of the project, WHO supported the training and deployment of 200 community social mobilizers to enhance health promotion activities. Risk communication and community engagement activities were tailored to reach the general population, IDPs and host communities with health promotive messages.
Al Shabaab deliberately targets humanitarian agencies, schools and hospitals; severely impacting children's lives, education, health and their communities. Globally, in 2019 there were 927 attacks on schools and hospitals,88 were in Somalia, making Somalia's schools and hospitals some of the most attacked in the world, alongside Syria, Palestine and Afghanistan.
Explosives do not only act as the means of direct violence but can facilitate other dangers to children. During attacks such as IED explosions, children have been abducted for military recruitment, or captured and arrested. Somalia had one of the highest rates of child abduction. Between 2016 and 2019, 6,143 children were recruited by armed forces and armed groups. The main perpetrator was Al Shabaab, with 80% of verified cases  ( 4,910 ) , followed by the Somali National Army  ( 391 ) , the Somali police  ( 172 ) . In 2019 alone, 1,442 boys and 53 girls were abducted, predominantly for recruitment purposes, sexual violence and ransom by non state actors.
MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT  ( MHPSS )  IOM is the technical lead for the Psychosocial Support Pillar in the Somalia COVID 19 National Preparedness and Response Plan. IOM provided an orientation to IOM and Ministry of Health  ( MoH )  seconded staff on addressing social stigma and promoting well being during the COVID 19 pandemic as part of the integrated health training on infection, prevention and control.
Through a Training of Trainers  ( ToT )  to IOM staff about social cohesion and community mobilization, IOM trained 100 women and 20 religious leaders on effective social mobilization techniques as campaigners or community mobilizers.
Through this approach, IOM is able to reach more vulnerable children in the communities that are less likely to visit the health centres and provide them with nutrition support as early as possible.
To continue psychosocial support to migrants, IOM and its partner Somaliland Youth Development and Voluntary Organization  ( SOYDAVO )  started providing psycho  education sessions by phone. So far, 35 migrant returnees were assisted through these sessions.
Since the introduction of the hotline in May, the numbers of complaints registered have steadily increased. For example, in Baidoa the percentage of cases registered via hotline increased from 11% in May to 18% in June. In Doolow, almost all of the cases  ( 92% )  were registered via the hotline in June, while almost half of the cases  ( 43% )  were registered via the hotline in Kismayo in June. In all three locations, the total number of registered cases increased from 2,405 to 2,761 from May to June.
FLOOD RESPONSE IOM distributed standardized hygiene kits to 800 families  ( 4,800 individuals )  affected by floods and AWD, at the Kabasa IDP site in Doolow.
FEMALE TRANSITION CENTRES In June, the female transition centres in Baidoa and Kismayo were re opened and are now fully operational and providing rehabilitation services to women  ( 56 in Baidoa / 36 in Kismayo )  formerly associated with al Shabaab.
According to FSNAU report, 2.1 million people across Somalia are expected to face Crisis level or worse  ( IPC Phase 3 or higher )  outcomes between now and December without sustained humanitarian assistance.
Delivery of lifesaving essential health services across Somalia remains UNICEF's priority; with 77,920 children and women receiving essential healthcare services and 27,689 mothers and care givers provided with IYCF counseling services in the reporting period.
River levels are above normal, but the rainfall forecast and current situation along the two rivers, indicates a high risk of flooding along the lower reaches of Shabelle and the entire Juba River, while in the upper reaches of Shabelle River there is moderate risk of flooding foreseen.
For the MIDA FINNSOM II project, a mental health advisor was recruited for Garowe General Hospital and an Internal Medicine Doctor for the De Martino Hospital in Mogadishu. The project also continued providing assignments for local interns and recruited a radiology intern for Bay Regional Hospital in Baidoa. IOM is building the capacity of national experts and interns particularly through trainings by diaspora experts, who share their knowledge from their medical expertise with the interns through on the job mentoring.
As of 28 September, Somalia has 3,588 confirmed COVID 19 cases in the country, 99 reported fatalities and 2,946 recovered cases.
IOM data shows that migration along the Eastern route is still taking place despite the new border restrictions in the region, with a significant increase of new incoming and outgoing movements in the last month. Recognizing that mobility is a determinant of health and risk exposure, there is a need to urgently adopt innovative, systematic, multisectoral and inclusive responses to mitigate, prepare for and respond to COVID 19 amongst the migrant population.
According to FAO SWALIM, rainfall activities in Somaliland and Puntland have declined as heavy moderate rains are experienced in southcentral regions of Somalia and the Ethiopian Highlands where the two main rivers, Juba and Shabelle originate.
Over 180,000 children with Sever Acute Malnutrition  ( SAM )   ( 44 percent of whom are boys )  were admitted into the SAM treatment programme between January and mid  October.
This year, the United Nations estimated that 4.1 million Somalis were food insecure, 2.6 million were internally displaced, and over one third of the population did not have access to adequate water.
Nexus survey reveals the dire ﬁnancial situation faced by the majority of Somali households, and suggests that households may be forced to make tradeoffs due to limited resources, particularly with regard to the purchase of basic foodstuffs and water, instead of protection against coronavirus through the purchase of hand soap, face masks, or other personal protective equipment.
Food and livelihood insecurity is perceived by most people as a greater immediate threat than COVID 19, with movement restrictions and reduction of opportunities for income generation having a serious impact on household ﬁnances
During the reporting period, people accessing psychosocial support services increased by 42 percent compared to the previous period. This may be attributed to the gradual opening of schools and acceptance of limited public gatherings by the authorities in Somaliland, Puntland and the South West Zone.
CAMP COORDINATION & CAMP MANAGEMENT  ( CCCM )  IOM continued to disseminate information to ensure IDPs are aware of the risks, signs and symptoms and mode of transmissions of COVID 19 and know the appropriate mitigation measures to reduce the risks. Awareness raising sessions were conducted at the information centres, marketplaces or during community meetings, with a highlight on how to practice physical distancing. During the reporting period, 868 individuals were reached with COVID 19 information.
IOM continued to raise awareness on COVID 19, particularly targeting internally displaced and migrant communities. Thanks to the EU IOM Joint Initiative and SXB Global, IOM donated 700 COVID 19 diagnostic test kits and 7,650 face shields to De Martino Hospital as part of the national response to the COVID 19 pandemic in Somalia.
In Somalia, one in seven children dies before their fifth birthday and, in many cases, these deaths are preventable by use of vaccines.
As of 12 October, Somalia has 3,864 confirmed COVID 19 cases in the country, 99 reported fatalities and 3,089 recovered cases.
IOM continued to raise awareness on COVID 19, particularly targeting internally displaced and migrant communities. IOM is airing radio messages on COVID 19 and hygiene practices in Somaliland and Puntland regions. The majority of Somalis access information through the radio and 98% of the population receive a clear FM signal, which makes the radio the dominant medium in the country.
Emergency shelter is among the urgent needs.
This is the third cVDPV2 case to be reported in Somalia in 2020. The case is genetically linked to the existing cVDPV2 outbreak in the country.
Limited shelter provision for women and girls seeking protection from violence
Limited cash and voucher assistance. Lack of strong legal framework to protect women and girls from violence.
In coordination and partnership with relevant actors at the national, regional and global levels, IOM continues to contribute to the overall objective of the National Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID 19, UN COVID 19 Country Preparedness and Response Plan  ( CPRP ) , as well as the IOM and WHO Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plans to halt further transmission of COVID 19, and mitigate the impact of the outbreak, including the socio economic impact. To ensure that Internally Displaced Persons  ( IDP ) , migrants, communities in hard to reach locations, returnees and vulnerable populations are assisted, IOM builds its response on existing partnerships with relevant actors at global, regional, national and sub national levels. IOM continues to address cross cutting humanitarian and development needs through expansion of its programmes designed to engage directly with communities.
[ PROTECTION LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  85% and 76% of households of IDP settlements and Non IDP settlement reported no child friendly spaces in their community.
This ongoing isolation of poliovirus from both the environment and cases suggests continuing transmission of cVDPV2 among the population.
[ PRE EXISTING VULNERABILITIES ]  89% households reporting having been displaced for longer than one year
The community nutrition education improved health and nutrition seeking behaviour of the communities, through the effective community health workers engagement on daily screening and referral as well as the traditional birth attendance who have visited the homes time to time in order to ensure the pregnant mothers deliver safely at SOYDA facilities.
The overall program management was assured by strong capacities in planning, implementation and monitoring through a very qualified and well  organized team and leaderships in Southwest State and Benadir region. It worked through integration of health programs in which SOYDA was also in partnership with SHF, DFID, WFP and UNICEF Somalia.
IOM provided post arrival support to 54 migrants who returned from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  ( KSA )  through the provision of accommodation, food and onward travel assistance to their locations of origin.
Throughout 2020 measles continued to be reported in Kismayo, from 02 March to the end of December Kismayo General hospital admitted 1,033  ( under 5: 845 )  children with measles.
Provided 119 solar lanterns to improve safety for women and girls in IDP communities and provide opportunity for school children to study after work. Lanterns reduce the risk of fire and the negative impacts of burning kerosen indoors.
Through this quarterly reporting a total of 5,298 <5 children received penta 1 3 in both the mobile outreach project sites as well as the facility base program sites, this has since provided the target beneficiaries enhance access to feasible emergency integrated nutrition and primary health care services.
Worryingly however, the damage to road infrastructure and market access have adversely affected the terms of trade with higher prices of maize, and significantly lowering the prices for goats and daily labour wage rates by up to 30 and 102 per cent respectively below the five year average.
The Hagaa floods in July/August have had mixed effects. While the floods disrupted recessional cultivation activities and inundated crops, the rains are supporting late planted Gu main season crops and Gu off season crops. This comes amid alleviated fears that the forecast of a below average Hagaa season would deplete soil moisture and negatively affect off season crops. In general, farmers have benefitted from improved access to water for irrigation.
Through the facility and outreach program sites SOYDA was able to reach a total of 9,321 children under five boys and girls for vitamin A supplementation to enable enhance the vulnerable children nutrition status. This has since be able the program to reach more than 84% of the monthly coverage under five children thus indicating greater progress to the set indicators within the program.
Somalia's marginalised communities and internally displaced persons are expected to most severely be affected by the impact of the floods.
As of 31 August, Somalia has confirmed 3,310 COVID 19 cases in the country, 93 reported fatalities and 2,479 recovered cases.
The CCCM cluster established a standardized complaints feedback mechanism  ( CFM )  in July 2020 with the objective of uniformly capturing key complaint data which can be analyzed by humanitarian partners.
Somalia is one of the most politically fragile countries in the world. Prolonged tensions between Somalia's federal government, regional authorities and clans, coupled with the ongoing conflict with Al Shabaab, have hampered state building efforts
Without appropriate mine action, IEDs may continue to play a key role in Somalia's Civil War; causing mass destruction and having a long lasting impact on children's lived experiences.
Stagnant water is seen around IDPs settlements in south Gaalkacyo that act as a breeding ground f or mosquitoes and communicable diseases
COVID 19 continues to spread, infecting over 3,000 people by the end of June.
A rapid assessment was conducted at the IDP site before distribution, which revealed an increased number of suspected AWD  ( 17 to 25 cases every 24 hours reported to the health facilities ) .
In Baidoa and Kismayo, the construction of the buildings for the Land Commission was completed under Dhulka Nabadda  ( Land of Peace )  durable solutions project funded by the Peace Building Fund. The construction was done through cash for work support. The offices will provide the land administration support and will serve 1,115,000 beneficiaries altogether in Baidoa and Kismayo districts.
In addition, due to lack of teachers' incentives, 37  ( 3 females )  teachers have dropped out of teaching with the MoE soliciting for support from agencies to respond.
But the Government is committed to using current opportunities to strengthen health and social development. These include implementation of Somali National Development Plan for 2019–2024 and the Somali Universal Health Coverage  ( UHC )  Roadmap, launched in September 2019.
Child rights awareness reached 29 per cent more people when compared to the last reporting period in February. Awareness campaigns included 294 school children  ( 154 boys and 140 girls )  in Puntland who engaged in school based outreach to promote child rights and governance.
A total of 506 survivors of gender based violence  ( 88 per cent female )  continued to receive support  ( legal, medical, material, MHPSS )  in safe houses and service points.
So far, since July 2020, 709 persons, including 219 women, received training in seven different topics. In September, 54 year old Mohamed Olad Mohamoud, who runs the Yaka Health Centre in Yaka village of Qardho district, participated in a training run by WHO and funded by CERF. During the training, health professionals who work with the Federal Government and Puntland State, like Mohamed, learnt about communicable diseases and priority diseases that form part of the early warning alert and response network system  ( EWARN ) . They were shown how to report alerts of notifiable diseases, and informed about alert thresholds of priority diseases and surveillance performance indicators, such as registration. They also learnt about biological samples collection, packaging and shipment; how to analyze data and monitor trends of diseases; how to respond when there is a disease outbreak; and how to protect themselves from getting infections when managing patients.
Besides reaching a population of 425,826 people through house to house visits in 90,451 households, whilst another 45,000 people were reached through health education sessions, mosque announcements and community meetings.
Every year, the rains gift Somali communities with much needed water for their animals and agricultural activities. However, in many riverine areas in the south and central States, intense rains result in the Juba and Shabelle rivers overflowing. This causes floods, which destroy homes and roads among other assets and infrastructure, and exacerbate the spread of water borne and vector borne diseases, such as cholera and malaria.
According to the Bulletin, 73k people are affected by Deyr floods since October 2020
The impact of the ongoing flooding compounded by economic and social impacts of COVID 19, escalated conflict, and forecast of below average Gu rainfall from October to December 2020 may result in further deterioration of humanitarian outcomes for affected communities through 2021.
Heavy rains were also reported in Cadaado and Cabudwaaq towns but did not cause displacement.
Due to border closures and movement restrictions no assisted voluntary return and reintegration  ( AVRR )  support was provided during the reporting period, although 441 migrants were registered at the Migrant Reception Centres  ( MRCs )  in Bossaso and Hargeisa.
In Jubaland, heavy rains on 2 November pounded semi permanent shelters in IDP camps and other pre urban settlements in Kismayo. No major incident or damage was reported, but roads in the city were f looded due to poor drainage.
Major region from displacement is drought in the Baki District
Community Based Organizations  ( CBOs )  continued to support the reintegration of disengaged combatants through phone calls to provide case management, religious counselling and mentorship services. CBO's made approximately 1,000 calls to 118 beneficiaries in May, providing valuable psychosocial support as beneficiaries continued to reintegrate despite the effects of COVID 19.
Furthermore, social cohesion activities in Abudwaq started, with the training of 100 female campaigners to carry out COVID 19 awareness campaigns in 25 target locations in and around Abudwaq, including IDP and host community areas.
Furthermore, in an effort to suspend evictions during the COVID 19 pandemic, the Protection Cluster, including NRC under Danwadaag consortium, local authorities, and other stakeholders worked towards an eviction moratorium, which was put in place in the end of April 2020. Combined with government support and activities on housing, land and property, this led to a zero eviction record in Baidoa in May and June  ( compared to 6,360 evictions reported in Baidoa in April 2020 ) .
IOM Somalia Displacement Tracking Matrix  ( DTM )  strives to provide localized, up todate information on the basic needs of the target population, cross border mobility, displacement figures and trends in drought affected areas.
In the new directive, government and non  government entities were advised to reduce the number of staff in office.
PAPER BASED VOUCHERS TO ELECTRONIC CARDS  ( E CARDS )  IOM continued to work on the transfer of Cash Based Interventions modality, from paper based vouchers to E Cards. IOM intends to replace and advance the current transfer mechanism using paper based vouchers, to a web based information management system that can be used to manage assistance provided to beneficiaries and monitor the complete project lifecycle of CBIs and In kind Interventions, record all cash and NFI distributions and transactions, track commodities purchased, disbursed and distributed. It is expected that the system will be operational by August 2020.
In May, IOM opened a new OTP site in Sabiid Health Centre, Afgooye. Besides malnutrition screening at the health facility level only, IOM started with screening at the community level through outreach services conducted by community health workers.
In addition to the ongoing crisis of the pandemic, Somalia continues to deal with a complex evolving situation in managing already scarce and overstretched resources.
Disruption of supply chains due to pandemic and weather conditions led to depletion of stock and increase of prices of food and non food items  ( NFIs ) , thus putting additional burden on the most vulnerable people.
Since schools reopened in mid August, five percent of children have not re enrolled in UNICEF supported schools.
In mid March, UNICEF, as part of the UN family, assisted the Government in delivering the first batch of COVID 19 vaccines, through the COVAX facility, to the country. The arrival of the vaccines was marked with a high level ceremony, organized in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, WHO and other UN sister agencies, as well as highlighted through a press release, photo essay and social media coverage. The first vaccinations were covered to enhance the uptake of the vaccines.
UNICEF leads the WASH and Nutrition Clusters and the Child Protection Area of Responsibility and co leads the Education Cluster with Save the Children.
The MoE Somaliland undertook a rapid assessment in 61 schools to find the effects of pre drought on schools. The report indicated that 1,158 children  ( 486 girls )  had dropped out of these schools and among these 50 per cent of the children are in Togdheer and Sool regions. The school dropout was exacerbated by the movement of families as result of drought.
One child escaped from Al Shabaab and was placed in a UNICEF funded interim care centre in Mogadishu for support.
Two streams of intervention, one for mass awareness on the prevention of COVID 19 infection and fatalities and another for promotion of the COVID 19 vaccine, were in full scale operation throughout the month.
In March, UNICEF supported 18,078 children  ( 8,777 girls )  with school supplies in Galgaduud, Hiraan and Middle Shabelle regions. There were 117 teachers  ( 47 female )  who were trained on psychosocial support and class management and received monthly incentives.
With an increased likelihood of drought in some areas of Somaliland, there is a strong possibility for children to drop out and eventual closure of schools.
Additionally, nine schools in Belet Weyne had repairs and other improvements done to existing water systems by adding water connections with provision of plastic water tanks.
There were 256 deliveries were supported by a skilled birth attendant.
In collaboration with Government and implementing partners, UNICEF continued to provide essential health services to marginalised populations in South Central of Somalia.
Hence, UNICEF will continue to advocate for and mobilize resources to ensure that no child with SAM is left behind, prioritizing those living in marginalized and hard to reach communities including the internally displaced persons.
The delivery of lifesaving nutrition treatment to children affected by severe acute malnutrition  ( SAM )  has continued to be a priority for UNICEF and partners.
Continued predictable, flexible and timely donor support is critical to sustaining vital response activities and preventing further deterioration of the situation in Somalia.
In 2021, UNICEF is appealing for US$ 124.3 million to sustain provision of life saving services including critical nutrition, health, WASH, child protection and education in emergency interventions.
Despite control efforts, the presence of desert locusts in Puntland continues to negatively impact on people's livelihoods due to destroyed crops and exhausted pasture. Nomadic communities are the most affected as an estimated 60 – 70 per cent of livelihoods in Puntland relies on pastoralism.
Food assistance, water tracking, shelter repair and basic health services are among the key needs of people living in costal settlements of Xaafuun, Hurdiye and Garduush.
While the vaccination campaign continues, efforts continue to be undertaken by the Federal Member States to curb the spread of the virus. For instance, in March, authorities in Jubaland released new directives primarily focused on crowding and movement restrictions, protective measures, and personal hygiene rules.
Before the commencement of the vaccine, immunization teams were trained on vaccine introduction, target population and vaccination strategy, vaccine injection procedure, infection prevention and control, monitoring adverse effects after immunization and tools for data collection and reporting.
The federal government with support from UN agencies has rolled out the Covid 19 vaccine campaign. As of 5 April 2021, a total of 91,087 vaccine doses have been administered across the country.
In Middle Shabelle, consequences of water shortages forced about 5,000 farmers among riverine communities in Jowhar and Mahadaay to flee to Mogadishu in search of casual labour to support their families.
Availability of water and pasture conditions have significantly deteriorated, leading to increased livestock migration and rapid rise of water prices.
According to the FAO latest drought update, the worst affected regions include Lower Juba, Middle Juba, Gedo, Mudug, Nuugal, Bari, Toghdheer and Sool which are currently experiencing severe water shortages for domestic, livestock and agricultural production purposes.
116K People displaced by water shortages since October 2020.
Gardoush is in a very remote area surrounded by the Indian ocean. The nearest town is over 400 kilometers away. Access to basic services is challenging.
This SHF allocation is complemented by two CERF allocations; a Rapid Response allocation of $7 million to address the critical water shortages and an Anticipatory Action allocation of $20 for early action against potential drought in many parts of Somalia.
The WASH Cluster estimates that 3.3 million people are in severe and extreme need of humanitarian WASH assistance and 1.1 million people are in catastrophic need of assistance.
Currently the community must walk 12 kilometers to fetch water. Access to clean drinking water is a nightmare.
The population in Garduush relies heavily on fishing as main source of livelihoods.
Over 116,000 Somalis were displaced by water shortages between October 2020 and March 2021.
The drivers of acute food insecurity in Somalia include the compounding effects of poor and erratic rainfall distribution, flooding, Desert Locust infestation, socioeconomic impacts of COVID 19, and conflict
As of 23 March, the cumulative total number of suspected cholera cases in 2021 was 780, including 2 associated deaths with a case fatality ratio  ( CFR )  of 0.3%.
The crisis has been exacerbated by protection risks and limited access to health facilities and basic services.
In response to the water crises, both federal and local authorities, and humanitarian partners are providing support in various areas.
As of 29 March, the 2021 HRP is only 3.9 percent funded  ( $43.1 M ) .
Over 1.5 million people were provided with health and WASh assistance
While this early funding from is required to provide life saving humanitarian assistance and livelihood support to millions of Somalis in 2021.
Over 50 shelters were damaged by the cyclone and had their roofs blown off by the strong wind.
At the same time, a community based disease surveillance tool by the ICRC and Somali Red Crescent in June has detected seven times more suspected cases of AWD than COVID 19. Of the more than 65,000 visits, the team has recorded 161 cases of suspected COVID 19 versus more than 1,100 suspected cases of AWD. Twenty five cases of suspected measles were also documented in the Kismayo area.
Boys represented 74% of child deaths and casualties in 2019. The gendered impacts of explosive violence may represent the surge in recruitment of young boys into military roles, whilst girls have been disproportionately used in Somali conflict as sexual violence victims.
Abductions during explosions can lead to children being estranged from families, losing their access to education, becoming fighters or working in support roles, and being forced into marriage and sex slavery. If children are subsequently arrested for their association with armed groups, they are often subject to a lack of justice and maltreatment by the state, with prolonged detention periods, heavy prison sentences and death penaltie
Such attacks lead tolong lasting disruption to children's education, causing schooling to be either cancelled indefinitely or suspended for long periods of time. They expose teachers and students to physical and mental damage, and cause severe physical destruction of the school environment, thus 'eroding their sanctity as safe spaces', according tothe UN
In 2019,school attacksin Somalia involved the abduction of teachers and pupils, killing and threats against teachers, and destruction and looting of school facilities; marking a distinct targeting of children's access to education and the associated social mobility this brings.
Between 2013 and 2017, over100 schoolswere attacked in Somalia. Between 2016 and 2019, the number of school attacks reached 203, whilst 80% of these were carried out by Al Shabaab forces. School attacks increased in this period largely due to attacks by Al Shabaab in order to recruit children for military operations. Explosive weapons such as car bombs and IEDs were frequently used.
TheMine Action Reviewstates that as of 2019, Somalia is not on track to meet its deadline in clearance of mines and explosive remnants of war, and that there is a need for much greater support for the Somali Explosive Management Authority  ( SEMA ) .
In 2019 explosive remnants of war  ( ERW )  resulted in 54 child casualties.
Not all attacks against children were conducted by terrorists. On 16th October 2017,3 children diedin an airstrike: the explosive device was targeted at an Al Shabaab convoy.
Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, suffered one of Africa'smost seriousIED explosions in the form of an Al Shabaab suicide truck bombing in October 2017. The bomb killed around 600 civilians, including25 children. 15 children were also injured. The bomb detonated near shops and restaurants, and destroyed other vehicles includinga school bus. On 25 February 2016, Al Shabaabmortar shellsdestroyed a madrassa in Banadir state; killing 3 boys and injuring 2 boys and a girl.
To enhance child protection services in Somalia, UNICEF through its partners delivered psychological first aid, group and phone counselling, home visits and play therapy to 2,888 people, including 1,602 children  ( 748 girls 854 boys )  and 1,286 caregivers  ( 767 women and 519 men ) .
In last five months due to school closures, there is a reported 16.3 percent increase in child labor and 14.7 percent increase of children forced to do hard work. These are the factors affecting the re enrolment of children as schools reopen
It is expected that the desert locusts, the upcoming below average rainfall, compounded by COVID, will contribute towards the deterioration of production outputs, increasing vulnerabilities of households and will further aggravate the already poor malnutrition status of children
Considering the high underreporting rate in the country due to the weak surveillance systems in hospital settings to report infections in health care workers, stigma associated with testing and other associated factors, WHO's report indicated that the actual number of health workers infected with COVID 19 might be higher than what has been reported. The impact of the COVID 19 infection among the health workers on the health system needs further assessment.
Though children account for below 4.7 percent of the total confirmed cases in Somalia, the overall ARI/pneumonia cases in UNICEF supported health facilities increased marginally from 8,499  ( Aug/Sept )  to 8,655  ( Sept/Oct )  and Somaliland health facilities also saw a 99 percent surge in cases with unclassified fever.
UNICEF's COVID 19 appeal is US$ 35 million with US$ 22 million in funding received to date. In addition to the resources mobilized, UNICEF has reprogrammed US$1.1 million from existing funds. UNICEF Somalia faces a funding gap of US$12.1 million  ( 35 per cent of the funding requirement )    as needs continue to grow, UNICEF Somalia welcomes predictable and flexible funding to respond effectively and efficiently to the COVID 19 crisis and to the continuation of essential lifesaving services for women and children in the country.
The flooding affected at least 50,000 people  ( Approx. 8,200 Households ) .
In line with the 2021 Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan  ( HRP ) , as well as the Centrality of Protection Strategy, UNICEF's priorities are to provide life saving services to address critical malnutrition and excess mortality, effectively respond to mounting protection threats and support resilience building and early recovery.
UNICEF is also committed to implementing gender  responsive and socially inclusive humanitarian action to ensure those most in need receive the right life saving services.
The operational capacity of the UNICEF led Clusters is significant, with a network of over 230 operational partners, including sub regional coordinators in over 15 regions. The network facilitates access to information, coordination and interventions in hard to reach and inaccessible areas.
In South West State, a recent ground survey by SWALIM indicated that there are several open and weak river embankments in Afgooye districts with some ranging from 500m to 1,000m wide creating further fears of possible flooding as the Deyr season continues
On 3 November, Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble called on authorities in the region to mobilise an immediate response to the floods in Mogadishu. He called for help f or IDPs living in camps who have hard hit by the heavy rains.
On 12 and 13 October, heavy rains triggered flash f loods in the riverine villages of Baraki and Jariirow, 20km west of Jowhar, affecting about 3,600 people. Authorities reported that two children drowned.
The heavy rains that lasted for eight hours had worsened the living conditions in IDPs sites especially for lactating/expecting mothers, children, elderly people and persons with disability.
On 27 October, two men died af ter a latrine they were digging collapsed f ollowing moderate rain at Waxaracade village, Dhuusamarreeb town.
Floods have als o been reported in Wadajir, Hodan, Wardhigley, Bondhere, and Kahda districts. Stagnant water is seen in most low lying areas such as Siigaale, Ceelqalaw, Howlwadag, Bondhere, and Wardhigley. One building collapsed in Hawlwadag district. Local media reports that three people have died.
On 24 October, heavy rains in Baxda village, Cadaado district destroyed property and killed one person.
[ by Deyr seasonal rains  ] Some 20 latrines inundated were in both settlements as people resorted to using open defaecation.
On 3 November, following heavy rain in south Gaalkacyo, an estimated 3,900 people were affected of whom 210 people were displaced in Bula Jawan and Ceelgaab IDPs settlements.
Situation overview Flash f loods triggered by Deyr seasonal rains  ( October December )  have affected over 35,000 people especially in Banadir region particularly in the capital of Mogadishu, Galmudug, South West and Jubaland states in the last two weeks.
587 Children and PLW were provided acute malnutrition treatment and also provided IYCF and NHHP counseling during this reporting period.
Skilled delivery is the core of primary health care services thus the project was able to record success in both facilities and at home visit for the traditional birth attendance hence encourage facility delivery and passed knowledge and information to the mothers in the target areas for safe motherhoods hence this reporting quarter a total 659 safe deliveries were conducted in SOYDA health and Nutrition facilities. This improvement was also attributed closer coordination between the program outreach team as well as community traditional birth attendants in the project areas.
With help of UNICEF, SOYDA conducted training of Health care workers and community health workers to promote COVID 19 information to limit spread the capacity of Health care workers and/or Community Health Workers  ( CHWs )  to on awareness and protection against COVID 19 information to limit the spread of the disease.
A total of 39,709 number of crisis affected women, children and Men in emergency was reached with improved life saving primary health care services, However, integration of nutrition, WASH, protection and health have helped the community members have better lifesaving nutrition and health services with easy access to the facilities and mobile sites. IEC materials on Covid 19 awareness and protection disseminated throughout our sites
However, SOYDA have been providing integrated package of nutrition, Food Security, Education, Civic Education, Youth empowerment, WASH, protection, and health intervention in Benadir, Southwest and Jubbaland State of Somalia. SOYDA shall however, continue its program implementation to enable reduce the vulnerability as well as provide improved lifesaving Health, Nutrition, WASH, Food Security, Protection and Education services
The floods have been triggered by heavy, above average rainfall locally and in upstream areas in the Ethiopian highlands and have affected Gedo, Hiraan, Middle Juba, and Middle and Lower Shabelle regions. The situation has been exacerbated by weak river embankments and open riverbanks. Recent analysis by SWALIM indicates that there are 109 open riverbank points along the Shabelle River. The worst affected districts are Balcad, Jowhar and Mahaday in Middle Shabelle  ( Hirshabelle ) ; Afgooye and Wanlaweyn districts in Lower Shabelle  ( South West State )  and Belet Weyne  ( Hiraan )  where over 85 per cent of the displacement has occurred.
IOM is engaging and training women, youth populations and religious leaders through social cohesion activities across Somalia, to deliver prevention and hygiene messages to other community members and counter myths and discrimination.
The distribution of dignity kits to 300 adolescent girls and awareness raising sessions on menstrual hygiene management was completed.
In March, the Ministry of Education announced the closure of the schools for four weeks as a precaution to prevent transmission of COVID 19 in Banadir region. This mostly affected learning of children in schools in the Banadir region.