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SOMALIA

Since the outbreak last month of major conflict in central and southern Somalia, the delay in establishing a strong centralised authority to ensure security for the local population and humanitarian operations risks aggravating an already severe humanitarian situation. The hardship facing families already uprooted from their homes by earlier flooding along the Shabelle and Juba rivers is now being severely compounded by a growing sense of lawlessness, as clan militias compete for control within the power vacuum left following the rapid withdrawal of the Union of Islamic Courts. At the time of writing, levels of displacement are in flux, but it is estimated that up to 75,000 people have been displaced since mid-December when the fighting escalated. There are reports of a large number of displaced people in Mogadishu and Kismaayo, areas currently inaccessible to aid agencies due to the volatile security environment. Insecurity within Southern Somalia has led to a rapid inflation in food prices which is likely to adversely impact the already high levels of malnutrition. Additionally, children in many areas of the South are now unable to attend school due to the risk of attack. Children are particularly vulnerable to being caught up in conflict, forcibly recruited into armed militias, and being orphaned or separated from their families.

KENYA

Somali refugee camps in North Eastern Kenya were badly hit by the recent flooding; some 167,000 people have been affected in the camps situated in Dadaab, and an estimated 723,000 people have been affected across Kenya. Across the Northeastern province access routes have been destroyed, restricting the delivery of humanitarian aid. Shelters, livestock and crops have been washed away and destroyed, and many areas are now suffering from increased rates of malaria, diarrhoeal disease, and Rift Valley Fever.

There have been over 200 cases of Rift Valley Fever in the last three weeks, so far killing some 75 people. Poor levels of sanitation, due to destroyed latrines, open defecation, and no dry fuel sources to boil or sterilise water, has led to concerns of waterborne epidemics, as well as increasing rates of malaria and diarrhoeal diseases. Cholera outbreaks have also been detected in coastal and northeastern province.

WHAT SAVE THE CHILDREN IS DOING

Due to the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever and increased threat of malaria in Kenya, Save the Children is distributing 3,000 child hygiene kits and 3,000 mosquito nets in Wajir district. Two of our child protection experts are working with the UN in Dadaab, where they are involved in identifying vulnerable groups displaced since the flooding, highlighting children's concerns, and monitoring access to education facilities. A Save the Children team is about to begin an assessment of the situation for children and their families in Mandera district if the security situation allows.

Save the Children has recently had to suspend operations in the Hiran region of central Somalia, which was on the front line of the fighting last month. The programme is looking to resume as soon as the security situation stabilises. Save the Children's programmes are continuing in Puntland, and the Togdheer region of Somaliland. Our work in Somalia focuses on emergencies, education, basic healthcare, food security and livelihoods.

SUPPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Despite months of clear predictions of a deteriorating security situation, international funding for Somalia is still critically low. The latest UN Consolidated Appeal for Somalia has only raised US$1.9 million of the required US$237 million, with Norway the only donor so far. The international community must do all it can to accelerate aid commitments to enable agencies to respond to the current crisis as well as prepare for the likely displacement resulting from conflict within the region. Save the Children is calling on neighbouring governments to facilitate the passage of humanitarian goods and personnel, to invest in preparedness, and to live up to their obligations under international law.