nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
Climatic events are also an important factor that affect the physical environment, limiting humanitarian access. The most recent example is Cyclone Gati, that made landfall in Bari district on 22 November. Heavy rainfall and strong winds damaged the main road that connects the port town of Bossaso to Qardho town, situated on the crossroads that link major population centres. Road access to areas heavily affected by Cyclone Gati remain extremely challenging, impacting the emergency humanitarian response.
Flash floods caused by heavy Gu rains in April 2020 led to the contamination of water sources that led to an increase in the number of cholera cases.
[ NUTRITION LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  Among households of IDP settlements with children, 17% household reported their child ( ren )  having been enrolled in a nutritional centre/therapeutic feeding centre in the 6 months prior to data collection while 25% household of non IDP settlements with children reported their child ( ren )  having been enrolled in a nutritional centre/therapeutic feeding centre in the 6 months prior to data collection.
[ NUTRITION LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  32% of the households of non IDP settlements reported that it takes less than 15 minutes to reach to the nearest nutrition facility while 35%, 17% and 14% of the households of non IDP settlements reported it takes 15 30 minutes, 30 60minutes and 1 3 hours to reach to the nearest nutrition facility respectively. Only 2% of the households of non IDP settlements reported that it takes more than 3 hours to reach to the nearest nutrition facility.
WASH partners have reached 87,505 people  ( 16,712 women, 15,893 men, 28,489 girls and 26,411 boys )  with WASH services, including 9,983 people reached with emergency water supply, 77,522 people with hygiene supplies and hygiene promotion critical for COVID 19 prevention. With 95 per cent outreach, targeting hygiene promotion and supplies, access water supply and sanitation remains a critical gap.
On 5 July, domestic aviation services resume with strict health guidelines, apart from Mogadishu and Hargeisa airports;
Additional support to innovative initiatives by Ministries of Education to provide alternative approaches to education.
The main factors for the 2020 Gu cereal production decline in southern Somalia include successive and severe flooding, erratic rainfall, and a prolonged dry spell and insecurity/conflict. In northwest regions, the 2020 Gu/Karan cereal production  ( harvest expected in November )  is estimated at 22,500 MT. Despite ongoing control efforts, Desert locusts have caused significant damage to crops  ( cereals and vegetables )  and fruit trees in northwest regions, especially in Togdheer and W. Galbeed.
Large scale and sustained humanitarian assistance  ( food security and nutrition )  and government support have contributed to preventing the worsening of food security and nutrition conditions across many parts of Somalia.
[ General household information ]  The most commonly reported reasons for not taking action on COVID 19 were do not mind getting COVID 19  ( 45% ) , not at high risk of getting COVID 19  ( 32% )
[ Accountability to Affected Populations ]  41% of households reported having at least one member who could not read or write.
In riverine livelihoods of southern Somalia, devastating floods during the 2020 Gu season have destroyed farmland, planted crops, and caused population displacements, leading to a significant decline in crop harvest, and a loss of agricultural employment opportunities. Consequently, a significant proportion of poor households in riverine livelihoods have moderate to large food consumption gaps.
Moreover, the Deyr rainy season has started with moderate to significantly heavy rains reported in South West State, Puntland and central regions of Hiraan, Bakool, Galgaduud, Mudug, Nugaal and southern areas of Sool region. The communities living in the riverine areas along Juba and Shabelle rivers are at high risk of flooding.
On 26 January, a UN delegation led by DSRSG/RC/HC Adam Abdelmoula visited Baidoa town to discuss the humanitarian situation with authorities as well as assess overall needs.
The agropastoral livelihood zones experienced dry spells, erratic rainfall and Desert Locusts, which significantly affected the coping capacity of vulnerable households due to a substantial reduction in household stocks and income.
IOM continued COVID 19 awareness campaigns in IDP settlements, host and migrant communities. Furthermore, a four days training on COVID 19 and humanitarian border management was organized in Mogadishu for 40 frontline immigration officers and health workers, to provide them with the required skills to address the impact of COVID 19 in the areas of protection, infection prevention and control at Points of Entry  ( PoEs )
In agro pastoral livelihoods of Somalia that have been affected by erratic rainfall, extended dry spells, and desert locusts, the 2020 Gu season cereal harvest and agricultural employment have been affected significantly. As a result, some of the poor agro pastoral households in these regions have moderate to large food consumption gaps
Out of these totals, approximately 30,000 ha of planted off season deyr and main season gu crops were destroyed, including maize, cowpea, sesame, and vegetables.
The lack of commercial flights and limited road transport because of the constrained access, has affected the ability of the humanitarian community to reach impacted populations.
Humanitarian staff and facilities are repeatedly exposed to violence  ( both targeted and unintentionally ) . This is more frequent in the southern and central part of Somalia, and in the disputed area of Sool and Sanaag regions in the north. Incidents that directly target humanitarians differ in nature and include killings, abductions, expulsions, arrest and detentions, looting, assault and other forms of armed violence.
The scale of floods prevented re planting in May, but by June, the floodwaters are beginning to recede, which has allowed farmers to plant recessional crops gradually. In Hiiraan, poor households in flood affected riverine areas have seed shortages and are seeking help from kin and friends.
The rainfall forecast for the week ending on 14 September 2020 indicates moderate rains in the Ethiopian highlands and minimal rains inside Somalia. Therefore, the levels are expected to continue rising along the entire channel of Shabelle as more waters from the eastern Ethiopian highlands are still streaming in.
[ WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE  ( WASH )  LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  92% of IDP settlement and 93% of non IDP settlement households found with a WASH Living Standard Gaps  ( LSG ) .
Below average rainfall in May and dry conditions in June have led to widespread crop moisture stress in most agropastoral areas, resulting in poor seed germination and crop wilting.
According to the results of FSNAU's nutrition survey in December 2019 and associated projections, Serious levels  ( GAM WHZ 10 14.9 percent )  of acute malnutrition are anticipated in June based on below normal milk and food consumption as well as non food factors. Crisis  ( IPC Phase 3 )  outcomes are most likely.
There is also growing concern for the spread of COVID 19 within IDP settlements.
Humanitarian partners and authorities are scaling up their responses and have reached 157,470 people with life saving assistance across the country.
In addition, reports of intensified tax structures imposed on the commercial sector, including commodities imported through the Mogadishu seaport and market centres, have increased.
UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to strengthen government ownership in the social protection sector and to establish a government owned Unified Social Registry.
The effective cancellation of the Hajj has significant implications for the Somali economy. Somali exports are dominated by livestock export to Arabian countries; typically, 55 70 percent of annual livestock exports occur during the Ramadhan and Hajj season, peaking in August
There has been a slight downward shift in affected peoples' views on their ability to live without aid and whether life in the country is improving. They highlight cash  ( 49 per cent ) , food  ( 42 per cent ) , and health services  ( 37 per cent )  as interventions that are insufficiently provided by aid agencies. Additionally, in line with findings from 2018, 44 per cent of GTS respondents said that aid does not empower them to live without humanitarian assistance in the future. They call for more focus on income generating activities, education, and vocational training to increase self reliance.
Since the activation of the CCCM Cluster in 2017, the cluster has expanded its coverage across the country, with a focus on urban areas with the largest number of displaced people. An estimated 709,000 new displacements were reported from January to December 2019 according to PRMN, mostly to urban areas, where displaced people move to private IDP sites with poor living conditions and little access to basic services.
More way stations along the migratory routes should be established to provide basic assistance and awareness raising to the migrants and host communities. Recognising that mobility is a determinant of health and risk exposure, there is a need to urgently adopt innovative, systematic, multi sectoral and inclusive responses to mitigate, prepare for and respond to COVID 19 amongst the migrant population.
Poor households cannot capitalize on the above average terms of trade due to the limited availability of saleable animals to cover their minimum food and non food needs
In Sorghum High Potential and Low Potential Agropastoral livelihood zones of Bay and Bakool regions, below average gu rainfall and atypically high pest incidence  ( crickets, stalk borer )  have reduced cereal and cash crop production prospects.
The majority  ( 58 per cent )  of affected people who filed suggestions or complaints say they did not receive a response from aid agencies. According to GTS  ( Global Trade Services ) data, community awareness of feedback mechanisms has been on a steady downward trend since 2017. This contrasts with affected people's awareness around reporting abuse or mistreatment by agency staff: the majority  ( 83 per cent )  of aid beneficiaries surveyed feel able to report misconduct by humanitarian staff.
Due to multiple hazards, prospects for the main season gu harvest in June/July are below average.
IOM continued its community mobilization and sensitization sessions on good community hygiene and sanitation practices to IDP communities. During the reporting period, IOM rolled out activities in Kismayo targeting students in primary schools and Madrasas.
According to the Food Security Cluster, the level of humanitarian food assistance delivered to this area has considerably declined since the final quarter of 2019
Although assessments of crop damage are limited due to COVID 19 and insecurity, FSNAU and FEWS NET estimate that up to 45 percent of farmland in riverine areas was left uncultivated after the floods.
From March to May, food assistance reached only 9 11 percent of the population on average per month in Galgaduud and Mudug.
The reduction in the dollar supply due to reduced trade activities accelerated the depreciation of the SOS locally, which lost about five percent of its value from March to May. The value of the Somaliland Shilling  ( SLS )  is stable.
As a result, the retail price of maize exhibited steep price increases of 20 30 percent compared to 2019, though prices are comparable to the five year average
[ HEALTH LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  27% of IDP settlement and 10% of non IDP settlement households found with a health Living Standard Gaps  ( LSG ) .
The Shelter cluster response requirements decreased from $64 million to $54 million due to re prioritised activities as a result of COVID 19.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with support from the UN, conducted a survey of 600 Somali MSMEs in June and July, to assess the impact of COVID 19. Results forthcoming.
On average, the labor to cereal terms of trade  ( ToT )  across major reference markets were 20  50 percent lower in May compared to May 2019 and 10 30 percent below the five year average
Low reporting by male GBV survivors due to discriminatory social norms and limited number of men and boys as GBV service providers to cater to the needs of men and boys.
Only one certificate is issued to an entire household, leaving multiple members of the household without proper documentation to carry with them.
Service disruption and closure of services centres due to COVID 19 impacting overall reporting and response
While data on the direct impacts of COVID 19 on individuals who have contracted COVID 19 within Somalia are limited, health shocks are associated with increased difficulty earning income or engaging in livelihood activities.
In May, the average daily labor wage in Middle Juba dropped by 15 percent from May to April and by and 9 percent compared to May 2019. In contrast, the labor wage in northwestern agropastoral areas remains high. Combined with below average cereal prices, the labor to cereals ToT remain favorable.
The rainfall during 2020 has been characterized by heavy rainfall in April and extended dry spells since mid May in many parts of Somalia. Hagga/Karan  ( July September )  rains have been mostly favorable in agro pastoral and pastoral livelihoods
As of 20 August, one month food rations have been distributed to 2,000 households in affected villages in Afgooye and 18,000 people in Wanla Weyn. Food rations for 4,200 affected households in Marka is planned.
To ensure the continuation of health service provision and patient safety and confidence, 99 percent of UNICEF supported health facilities have now established handwashing stations and 73 percent triage stations outside.
In the aftermath of the “triple threat' in Somalia, of COVID 19, locusts and floods, the Nutrition Cluster is closely monitoring the situation in terms of any increase and/or decrease in the admissions rates of acute wasted  ( GAM )  boys and girls in the nutrition facilities.
[ EDUCATION LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  The most commonly reported types of education facilities attended were Primary mixed school for boys and girls  ( 60% ) , Quranic school for boys  ( 24% ) , Quranic school for girls  ( 22% )  and Secondary mixed school for boys and girls  ( 12% ) .
Among the 10.9 million people reached through COVID 19 risk communication and community engagement, 1 million are IDPs in 881 sites
The Cluster is targeting 2.7 million people at risk of COVID 19 with emergency WASH assistance as partners continue to carry out life saving interventions.
At least 900,000 face masks and 16,728 digital thermometers are needed for schools.
In August, WASH Cluster partners reached 1.3 million people, being 48 per cent of the 2.7 million people targeted.
While overall import levels are performing well, food imports have fallen. Remittances are stabilizing for both households and businesses. Recent domestic revenue data as of end June indicates encouraging trends, which if continued suggests that domestic revenue collection will be around 85 to 90 percent of the original 2020 budget
Health partners supported 13 isolation centers and trained 85 health workers on case management, including in Kismayo and Lascanood; and donated essential medical equipment to Lascanood Isolation and treatment center. Partners deployed 32 staff to De Martini hospital and contributed to the payment of salaries. At least 850 individuals followed up with home based visits and telephone consultations in Kismayo and Afmadow.
The continued provision of treatment and preventive nutrition services is still taking place: 296,387 mothers and caretakers of children 6 to 23 months received individual infant and young child feeding  ( IYCF )  counselling.
The decreased financial requirements do not reflect an improved humanitarian situation – $1.01 billion is the funding that is required for a refocused and prioritized humanitarian response that takes into account the original needs identified in the 2020 HRP launched in January, as well as the new challenges and constraints related to the triple threat of COVID, locusts and flooding
The first and second phase of the sample collection in the districts have been concluded; with 1,082 samples collected in 44 districts. WHO is currently working with health authorities to address the issue of a possible local transmission of the virus in districts with a positivity rate ≥ 5%.
Several partners including WHO, Physicians Across Continents, Action Against Hunger, Somalia Relief Centre and SOYDA are supporting health and nutrition interventions for more than 48,000 people in Afgooye and Wala Weyn districts.
IOM is working with partners and governments to put in place mitigation measures to reduce the spread of COVID 19 and improve health and hygiene conditions and access in displacement sites. IOM continues to assist member states to strengthen disease surveillance and prevention at PoEs specifically with truck drivers.
WFP and its implementing partners started food distributions in July to over 23,000 flood affected people in nine villages in Jowhar district. The assistance will continue until December.
Three local NGOs  ( ARDO, Shabelle Foundation and SOCDO )  have commenced providing 1,050 hygiene kits targeting people affected by Hagaa floods in parts of Jowhar and Mahaday districts, Middle Shabelle.
Authorities supported by humanitarian partners and the local communities deployed 18,000 sandbags in parts of Jowhar and Mahaday districts in July, particularly at river breakage points. Humanitarian partners in Jowhar town dispatched an additional 2,000 sandbags to Mahaday district in late July
Despite the pandemic, 558 teachers  ( 25 per cent females )  have continued to be supported through monthly emergency incentives, and the Ministries of Education organized under strict COVID 19 protocols the final examinations for grade 8 and/or 12 students, ensuring these children can graduate from their respective level, and consequently proceed to secondary school or university.
Education Cluster partners are providing technical support to the Ministry of Education in the implementation of the safe re opening of schools. The partners are targeting at least 900,000 children countrywide with various education interventions under the COVID 19 response, for the period April to December 2020.
FGS/MoH senior officials, UNICEF, and Save the Children attended the Service Delivery Learning Programme  ( SDLP )  organized by World Bank GFF. The SDLP concluded with the development of a change plan for Somalia, including a review and update of the national CPRP to include continuity of essential health services, harmonised frontline health cadres, and innovative technology such as piloting telemedicine in selected urban settings.
[ PROTECTION LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  13% of IDP settlement and 32% of non  IDP settlement were with a protection LSG
The pandemic has led to major disruption nationwide, including a reduction in remittances from the diaspora, a mainstay for many Somalis, and a reduction in casual labour opportunities due to COVID 19 restrictions.
[ PROTECTION LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  2% and 2% of households of IDP settlements and Non IDP settlement reported gender based violence  ( GBV )  related incidents against anybody in their community in the 30 days prior to data collection.
[ PROTECTION LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  21% of IDP settlement and 39% of non  IDP settlement were with a protection LSG
The longer marginalized children are out of school, the less likely they are to return resulting in drop out in the long run. Children from the poorest households are already almost five times more likely to be out of primary school than those from the richest.
[ SHELTER & NON FOOD ITEMS  ( SNFI )  LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  99% of IDP settlement and 82% of non IDP settlement households found with a Shelter and non food items Living Standard Gaps  ( LSG ) .
The fall is steepest in the Northwest due to the declining goat price, at 20 percent below the five year average. In northeastern and central Somalia, the TOT remain near  to 10 percent above the five year average, but the decline is significant for pastoralists who have below normal saleable livestock holdings
[ SHELTER & NON FOOD ITEMS  ( SNFI )  LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  Three most commonly reported types shelter damage or defects reported by households were Opening or cracks in roof  ( 25% )  , Roof partially collapsed  ( 19% ) , Broken or cracked windows  ( 17% ) .
While most households have been able to return home, they face very limited cereal stock availability and reduced agricultural labor income.
Delivery of services has been affected by the insufficient PPEs and trained health care workers.
Essential health services need to be scaled up, with a particular focus on high risk groups, such as IDPs.
Poor households are only gradually beginning to engage in recessional cultivation of off season cash and cereal crops in areas where floodwaters are receding.
A total of 88,649 livestock exports were recorded in September, which is a 19 per cent decrease compared to August, a 73 per cent decrease compared to July and a 58 per cent decrease compared to the last four years. The price of red sorghum  ( cereal grain )  has increased by 61 per cent  ( 8,300 SoSH )  per kilo, while white sorghum has increased by 55 per cent  ( 9,027 SoSH )  per kilo. Prices of imported commodities  ( red rice, sugar, vegetable oil and wheat flour )  exhibited small to medium increases in comparison to the previous quarter.
In the South, where poor pastoralists' livestock holdings are near  to above baseline, a sale of local quality goat can purchase an average of 66 kg in the Juba regions, 96 kg in the Sorghum Belt  ( Bay, Bakool, Gedo, and Hiiraan ) , and 169 kg in the Shabelle regions
Flooding and the desert locusts infestation has also meant over stretching available resources as the focus had to be shifted towards saving lives and away from securing durable solutions to the plight of refugees and asylum seekers.
On 5 June, seven local NGO staff were abducted in Bulomareer town, South West State, by unidentified gunmen and released two days later. Partners have had to adapt the existing programmes to the new reality of COVID 19, this includes the suspension or reduction of some activities, whilst the risk of poor health outcomes due to a wide range of hazards including malnutrition, water borne diseases and vaccine preventable illnesses could dramatically increase prompting a significant shift in current programmes.
The Humanitarian Country Team adopted a revised version of the Centrality of Protection strategy for 2021 2022, which now includes an additional annex highlighting the relevance of the strategy's priorities in the response to COVID 19 in Somalia.
Preventative and curative nutrition assistance reached 584,000 pregnant and nursing women, and children aged 6 59 months
In June, food security outcomes are somewhat better than previously projected in northern Somalia due to a scale up of humanitarian food assistance and lower than anticipated damage to rangeland from desert locusts
The cost response for Protection decreased to $79 million from $83 million due to modified activities related to COVID 19.
The economic impacts of COVID 19 on the global and Somali economy are leading to a decline in foreign exchange earnings from external remittances and exports of livestock and other products.
Based on available baseline information, remittances are a more important source of income in rural areas of north central Somalia than in rural areas of the south. Internal remittances have also been affected due to the impact of social distancing measures on business activity, leading to a decline in social support from middle and better off households.
Lack of personal protective equipment  ( PPE )  and inadequate water and sanitation in healthcare facilities  ( HCF )  creates unsafe conditions for HCWs and patients; contributing to disruptions in essential services: acute and primary care; child health and vaccination; reproductive health, as well as GBV services and mental health services.
However, the cancellation of the Hajj is reportedly driving a decline in livestock exports in June. The loss of export income among better off households who dominate the export trade affects poor households by reducing labor demand down the livestock value chain, including those who are involved in earn income from animal feeding, watering, holding, and marking
[ PROTECTION LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  4% of households of both IDP settlements and Non IDP settlement reported areas in their community where girls or women do not feel safe.
At a time when households are highly dependent on markets to purchase their food, purchasing power has declined.
Additionally, the impacts of COVID 19 on the Somali economy is weakening social support and leading to an increase in the livestock supply after the cancellation of the Hajj.
Somalia has reported 125 new COVID 19 cases and five deaths since 21 August, bringing the total number of cases confirmed since the first case was reported in March to 3,390 with 98 deaths, as of 21 September. At least 14 per cent  ( 250 cases )  of the total confirmed cases were reported among health workers, negatively impacting response, amid limited health care services in the country. All the seven states have confirmed COVID 19 infections, with Banadir State having more than 44 per cent  ( 1,535 cases and 55 deaths )  of the reported cases, followed by Somaliland  ( 934 cases and 31 deaths )  and Puntland  ( 496 cases and nine deaths )  by midSeptember. While the number of new reported daily COVID 19 infections has declined, it is too early to predict whether Somalia has flattened the curve as the response is challenged by various factors including limited testing capacity, access and operational challenges.
OCHA and partners continue to work on strengthening the coordination and the capacity of relevant Federal Government of Somalia  ( FGS )  counterparts; national and subnational coordination forums and partners, in enabling effective humanitarian response and ensuring a coherent response to crises in Somalia. This was also seen in the joint response to COVID 19, where a new coordination structure under the UN Task Force focusing on key pillars has come into effect, seeing technical leads working with the Federal Ministry of Health, State Ministries and partners to implement a common strategy.
[ PRE EXISTING VULNERABILITIES ] 91% of households reporting not having any working household members
The Cluster partners continue to work in close collaboration with the FMoH and State Health Authorities through joint planning, meetings  ( IMS )  and capacity building to address the pressing need to scale up core essential services in the face of COVID 19: provision of acute and essential services with a much greater focus on provider and patient safety; infection prevention and control  ( IPC )  in HCFs with WASH; improvement in case management capacity for most common health threats and emergencies and maternal and child health services, including vaccination.
Displaced households often share latrines, use latrines that are insecure, and have less access to hygienic materials than non displaced households. In addition, WASH constraints heighten risks of GBV across all population groups, while people with disabilities face additional challenges with regards to sanitation in terms of access, overreliance on family members and lacking dignity.
In Quarter 2, the Aid Coordination Unit  ( ACU )  provided logistical support for the transport of 65,522 kg in medical assets from Mogadishu to different locations in the Federal Member States. ACU has also provided catering for 48 days to 45 medical doctors working in the Martini Hospital in Mogadishu.
The price of a liter of cattle milk, which is already seasonally high since livestock migrate away from rivers to avoid water borne diseases, was 8 10 percent above the five year average in Jilib of Middle Juba and Jowhar of Middle Shabelle reference markets in May.
[ PROTECTION LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  84% and 80% of households of IDP settlements and Non IDP settlement reported no child friendly spaces in their community.
Prevailing high maize prices and declines in the daily labor wage drove a decline in the sorghum to labor terms of trade in May. In Jilib, for example, a day's labor wage could only purchase 6 kg of maize, which is 50 percent below May 2019 and 33 percent below the five year average.
The cost of the response has gone down from US$165 million to US$142million, this is due to the modified activities that have taken place due to COVID 19.
Among the people in need, 1.7M are children, 0.4M are women and 0.4M are men. Among those groups, the cluster identified 0.2M older people and 0.4M people living with a disability who will require specific attention.
In the projection period, between February and April 2021, the number of population groups with a Critical acute malnutrition prevalence  ( GAM ≥ 15% or IPC Phase 4 )  is projected to increase from the current nine to 16: Bossasso IDPs, Garowe IDPs, Galkacyo IDPs, Hawd Pastoral of northeast and central, Beletweyne IDPs, Beletweyne urban, rural Hiran  ( Beletweyne, Jalalaqsi, Buloburte and Mataban districts ) , Mogadishu IDPs, Huddur urban/IDPs, Southern Inland Pastoral of Elberde district, Baidoa IDPs, Bay Agropastoral, and Riverine of Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, Middle Juba and Lower Juba livelihoods.
Similarly, a deterioration from Alert  ( IPC Phase 2 )  to Serious  ( IPC Phase 3 )  is expected in Guban Pastoral, Northwest Agropastoral, Toghdeer Agropastoral, and Coastal Deeh Pastoral of northeast and central regions. A deterioration from Acceptable  ( IPC Phase 1 )  to Alert  ( IPC Phase 2 )  is expected among the urban population in Burao.
Somalia's economy has proven more resilient amid the COVID 19 pandemic. According to World Bank estimates in September, gross domestic product is projected to decline by 1.5 percent in 2020, compared to June estimates that anticipated a decline of 2.5 percent
In Lower Juba, health authorities distributed rapid diagnostic tests to public and private clinics to scale up active case detection.
Since late June, Hagaa riverine and flash floods have affected over 250,000 people in Hirshabelle, South West, Jubaland states as well as Sanaag and Banadir regions; of whom about 183,000 were displaced from their homes by floods. Over 85 percent of the displacement occurred in the two most affected regions in the Shabelle river basin   Lower Shabelle  ( South West State )  and Middle Shabelle  ( Hirshabelle State ) .
In July, authorities relocated some affected families to safer areas and provided temporary shelter, dewatering of stagnant water, and opening of clogged drainages/roads in Kismayo.
Continued challenges in maintaining social distancing. Stigma to both community and staff has greatly affected service delivery, leading to a drastic reduction in attendance at health facilities. Partners have reported capacity gaps among the CHWs working on COVID 19 response. Insufficient PPE for staff; stock outs experienced.
WHO assessed the situation and with State MOH planned to do measles vaccination campaign integrated with vitamin A supplementation and deworming in October. This campaign will be done in Kismayo district targeting children who are under five years.
[ WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE  ( WASH )  LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  Proportion of households of IDP settlements reporting not having sufficient water for the following purposes were Not enough water for cooking, bathing, washing, and other domestic uses  ( 8% ) , Not enough water for domestic purposes only  ( 9% ) ,Not enough water for personal hygiene only  ( 48% ) .
Emergency water supply/trucking for 9,000 families in the affected communities in Wanla Weyn and Marka districts.
Most poor households are facing moderate to large food consumption gaps. Crisis  ( IPC Phase 3 )  outcomes are most likely on the area level, but around 10 15 percent of the population likely have large food consumption indicative of Emergency  ( IPC Phase 4 ) .
[ WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE  ( WASH )  LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  Most commonly reported problems related to accessing sanitation facilities by households of IDP settlement were Lack of sanitation facilities  ( latrines/toilets )  / facilities too crowded  ( 54% ) ,Sanitation facilities  ( latrines/toilets )  are not functioning or full  ( 35% ) .
In agropastoral areas of Bakool, Bay, Hiiraan, Lower Shabelle, and Lower Juba, Stressed  ( IPC Phase 2 )  outcomes exist.
GBV is a concern for people across all parts of the country, with displacement exacerbating these risks.
Below normal crop development led to reductions in weeding labor demand in May
Poor households are earning below normal levels of income through agricultural labor due to reduced weeding activities because of the early end of the gu rains, making it more difficult to meet their non food needs despite the affordable availability of sorghum
According to the latest assessment conducted by humanitarian partners and led by OCHA, a total of 8,759 households  ( 52,554 people )  have been displaced by the clashes. Close to 80 per cent of those displaced are women and children.
In Hiraan region, reports from local authorities indicate that displaced villagers had arrived in the town and settled in the IDP settlements over the past seven weeks after the loss of their farms  ( including different types of crops )  due to devastation caused by the Desert Locusts.
Although poor households' food stocks are below normal due to a minimal short cycle maize harvest, they can meet their food needs through agricultural labor income from karan and fodder crop production, social support, and food assistance.
[ HEALTH LIVING STANDARDS GAP  ( LSG )  ]  Five most commonly reported illnesses or injuries household members of IDP settlements had in the past two weeks prior to data collection were fever ( 10% ) , Diarrhea  ( 3% ) , Cough with fast or difficult breathing  ( 3% ) , skin infections  ( 1% ) , eye infections  ( 1% ) .
In their response to COVID 19, protection partners suspended in person training and capacity building and moved to virtual options or smaller groups, where possible.
[ CAPACITY GAP  ( CG )  ]  91% of households were found to have at least one Food Security Living Standard Gap ( LSG )  and/or a Capacity Gap  ( CG ) . 29% of households were found to have a food security LSG but no Capacity Gap  ( CG )  in food security, 62% of households were found to have both a food security LSG and a Capacity Gap  ( CG )  in food security, 9% of households were found to have no food security LSG but a Capacity Gap  ( CG )  in food security.
According to WHO, some of the main challenges Somalia faces include reaching vulnerable children who are difficult to access due to security and other logistical challenges and assuring caregivers that polio vaccines are safe for newborns.
Link more people with Infant and Young Child Feeding  ( IYCF )  mobilization sessions and nutrition to meet the needs of pregnant women and lactating mothers. Additionally, provide awareness sessions on FGM for mothers of newborns babies
Based on available information from the Ministry of Health and local and international health experts, including the WHO, the number of COVID 19 cases is likely to rise in the near term due to both the spread of the virus and increased testing
[ PRE EXISTING VULNERABILITIES ]  94% households reporting having been displaced for longer than one year
Based on ongoing breeding, wind climatology, and limited control operations within Yemen, the shift in the monsoon winds in October/November will likely lead to a new invasion of desert locusts from Yemen to Somalia by the October to December 2020 rainfall season.
According to the FAO, the breeding has been fueled by favourable weather conditions resulting from ongoing rains. The locust infestation has significantly affected the newly planted Deyr crops, pasture and vegetation.
COVID 19 infections have been confirmed across the country, with Banadir region having more than 36 per cent  ( 1,593 cases and 57 deaths )  of the reported cases, followed by Somaliland  ( 1,247 cases and 39 deaths )  and Puntland  ( 1,101 cases and 13 deaths ) . While the end of 2020 saw a decline in new reported daily cases, numbers began to increase significantly in the first quarter of 2021.
Displaced people have limited access to protective shelter, safe water and sanitation facilities, as well as other basic needs.
With the onset of COVID 19 and other natural disasters  ( the Gu floods, desert locusts and drought ) , UNHCR has established 10 hotlines across the country to better enable persons of concern to request support or otherwise provide feedback.
Somalia continues to face the impact of multiple shocks  ( floods, desert locusts and COVID 19 pandemic ) . In November, WFP provided lifesaving food assistance to 1.9 million people through distribution of in kind food baskets  ( comprising of cereals, fortified vegetable oil and pulses )  and cashbased transfers  ( CBT ) , enabling the most vulnerable to meet their daily minimum food and nutrition intake requirements.
[ Displacement ]  Top three reported reasons for leaving previous location were Drought  ( 67% ) , Lack of water ( not drought related )   ( 25% )  and Eviction  ( 20% )
It is evident that these floods have led to outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea AWD/cholera reported in many parts of the country as of 29th Jun 2020
Top three reported reasons for coming to current location were: Availability of work/income opportunities  ( 28% ) , Presence of water ( 26% )  and Presence of food distribution/food aid  ( 12% ) ,
In addition to awareness raising directly related to COVID 19 as noted above, UNHCR and partners reached more than 4,000 persons of concern and hosting community with awareness raising related to SGBV prevention and response
GAM is higher than the 15 per cent emergency threshold in 10 out of 33 areas, with the majority  ( 51.7 per cent )  of malnourished children concentrated in six regions, as well as in areas hosting IDPs.
Create and promote adult learning programs for women and well as livelihood projects in order to empower women with entrepreneurship skills and knowledge and small grant start ups for setting up small businesses.
The use of molecular assays for new viruses such as the COVID 19 virus requires that an appropriate biosafety level and biosafety practices are in place at all times. To ensure adequate biosafety in these laboratories, we provided them with appropriate biosafety equipment and conducted online training for the laboratory technicians on maintaining strict biosafety levels.
During the 2020 Gu season alone, more than 50,000 hectares of crop and farmland were inundated  ( 12,000 hectares in Middle and Lower Shabelle; 10,500 hectares in Hiraan; 20,000 hectares in Middle Juba; 10,000 hectares in Lower Juba; and 3,500 hectares in Bay and Bakool ) .
Poor pastoral households in Addun Pastoral livelihood zone of central Somalia have yet to recover from the erosion of their main livelihood, livestock production, from recurrent droughts in 2016/17 and 2018/19. Although two consecutive seasons of above average rainfall during the 2019 deyr and 2020 gu supported medium sheep/goat births and good milk productivity, the average herd size and composition remains too low to meet their essential food and non food needs simultaneously and also grow the size of their herd back to sustainable levels.
Labor income and social support are also below normal, due to the reduction in labor demand driven by declining remittance flows to urban areas and declining trade and investment. While most poor pastoral households in Addun do not receive remittances directly, they are indirectly affected as better off households who do typically receive remittances are less able to provide social support or hire labor. Income from the sale of bush products, which remains normal, is not sufficient to fill the income gap.
Despite below average rainfall in May, the arrival of the hagga winds in June, and receding river water levels, most farms remain waterlogged. This prevented households from re planting in time for the main gu harvest in July. In addition, the early end of the gu rains within the livelihood zone and in neighboring agropastoral areas diminished labor demand, reflected in a 26 percent decline in the daily wage rate in Wanlaweyn of Lower Shabelle in May compared to the five year average.
In both livelihood zones, poor households earn nearly 50 percent of their annual income from agricultural labor; however, poor households in low potential areas have fewer productive assets or income sources relative to those in the high potential areas. In June, poor households are currently earning some income from milk and livestock sales, while reducing non staple food purchases and other essential non food expenses.
Overall, the impact of the pandemic on food security is most significant in urban areas, where poor urban and IDP households face declining daily labor wages, internal remittances, and social support. Pastoral households in the Northeast are also more affected due to higher dependence on exports of livestock, seafood, and frankincense.
Declines in business activities have affected the airline, construction, road transport, hospitality, petty trade, miraa/khat trade, and education and health services sectors. In the South, declines in business activity have affected labor demand. In Abudwaq and Kismayo, where wages have fallen most significantly, the daily labor wage fell to 30 40 percent below May 2019 and by 27 33 percent compared to the five year average.
However, the early cessation of the gu rains drove an increase in the price of water in May in several areas. However, the early cessation of the gu rains drove an increase in the price of water in May in several areas. In markets in central Somalia and in the Juba and Shabelle regions, the price of a jerry can is up to 45 percent above average. The highest price increase is observed in the Northwest, where prices are 40, 25, and 81 percent above April 2020, May 2019, and the five year average
All refugees, asylum seekers and returnees are struggling to cope with existing challenges including protection risks, inadequate housing, rising living costs, medical emergencies, difficulty accessing education, financial difficulties and destitution.
Information Communication Technology  ( ICT )  is one of the fastest growing sectors and the third biggest employer in the country. Alongside ICT, the media sector has rapidly expanded in recent years.
In a large, remote, poor and crowded settings, which are mostly inaccessible, finding cases and tracing contacts is a challenge. WHO deployed 3372 community health care workers  ( mostly women )  and 73 rapid response teams across 51 districts of the country to increase active surveillance, case finding and contact tracing.
As a result, at least 3.5 million people are projected to fall into Crisis or Emergency food insecurity  ( IPC Phase 3 or higher )  from June to September, with 1 million children projected to be malnourished.
We have worked closely with other agencies, notably UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund, to scale up essential health services. WHO staff have also increased monitoring and supervisory visits to these vaccination posts and maternal and child health care centres to ensure that routine health services resume operations.
Additionally, following three months' subsistence  ( cash )  allowance provided to 255 households  ( 1058 Individuals )  in Somaliland last month  ( post a vulnerability assessment and as part of COVID19 mitigation efforts ) , UNHCR continued providing cash assistance to vulnerable persons in July  ( 2,148 and 777 refugees/asylum seekers in Bossaso and Galkayo, respectively ) .
As COVID 19 cases exceed 3,200, partners have boosted testing and treatment capacity. Risk communication and community engagement has reached about 10.9 million people.
From March to September 2020, WHO shipped over 3900 samples from all areas of the country using either flights operated by the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service or special UN flights chartered by WHO to transport COVID 19 samples. This support was critical not only to increasing testing but also to identifying cases or clusters of cases early and instituting rapid containment measures to suppress transmission of the virus.
To address shortfalls in production during the crisis, smallholder focused intervention activities scaled up to strengthen local production and to stimulate the local economy through direct distribution of agricultural inputs  ( sorghum, maize, cowpeas, and beans seeds )  to 1,300 most vulnerable smallholder farmers affected by COVID 19.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management of the Federal Government of Somalia opened on 5 July the National Multi Hazard Early Warning Center in Mogadishu, which is expected to help prepare for and respond to disasters.
In Kismayo, 20 students continued their advanced ICT training in structural web programming language
The Protection Cluster, and its Child Protection and Gender Based Violence Area of Responsibility  ( AoRs ) , have worked with the CCCM cluster to reinforce the referral systems for protection cases, as well as to improve the mapping of eviction risks facing IDPs in sites. The Protection Cluster also monitored the protection risks which could be triggered or aggravated by COVID 19.
Over 2.4 million Somali people require lifesaving essential healthcare and nutrition services. Displaced households fare slightly worse than non displaced households on all health related indicators. Notably, displaced households have a higher number of health complications for children under 5 as well as for adults; they also tend to resort more to traditional mid wives, healers, and health centres than non displaced households. On the contrary, mental health issues affect both population groups in roughly similar ways.
Poor urban and IDP households are among those most affected, as they depend on daily wages and rely directly or indirectly on remittances to fill critical gaps in income and food sources. Moreover, urban and remote IDP sites are high risk, as overcrowded, dense living conditions create an environment conducive to COVID 19 transmission.
At least 20 active PSS Pillar actors have been mapped, including 17 NGOs and 3 UN Agencies in the ongoing partner mapping  ( 4Ws )  exercise to cover the national CPRP  ( March to August 2020 ) . State Level MoHs PSS pillar focal persons/leads started their appointments in mid July 2020 and are coordinating with humanitarian partners in Banadir, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Jubaland, Puntland, Somaliland and South West. In Lower Juba, the Ministry of Health is conducting health talks on the pandemic on both Radio and TV and is working with GIZ on sensitisation and awareness creation on PSS in Kismayo.
At least 294,300 people have received essential health assistance and 33,260 people received case management services, while at least 690,000 people have benefitted from infection prevention and control activities. Over 40 metric tonnes  ( MT )  of essential medical supplies and hospital beds have been airlifted to various states, 2,000 PPEs distributed, 20 ventilators delivered to Martino hospital in Mogadishu and 3,346 community health workers trained.
In terms of humanitarian impact on ongoing operations as prioritised in the 2020 HRP, clusters have carried out an extensive review of their operations, and consequently suspended reduced or adjusted some planned interventions, as well as scaled up other critical ones, and finally initiating new activities required to respond to the new needs generated by the COVID 19 outbreak.
Partners have, however, quickly adapted to the situation and increased levels of response significantly in April and May 2020  ( 70 per cent of the target )  to mitigate impact of the triple threat shocks to acute food insecurity. In addition, FSC partners have secured funds to reach 2.3 million people between July and September 2020. Resources are being mobilised to extend coverage to reach 3.1 million people through September  ( ongoing discussion with donors )