Mr. John Ogege is currently coordinating all relief efforts aimed at responding to the drought emergency in Somalia. He has recently returned from a food distribution exercise in Banadir Region of Central Somalia – one of the areas worst hit by the drought – ....
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and is currently preparing to travel to Galmudug Region of South Central Somalia to assess progress of ongoing activities as well as hand over a recently rehabilitated borehole to the local WASH Committees of the Region. He recently granted an interview to ADRA Somalia’s Public Relations Office on ongoing efforts on the ground:You have recently returned from a food distribution exercise in Banadir Region – one of the region’s worst hit by the drought; what was the experience like?
Based on the distribution exercise, the situation in Banadir is very dire. The IDPs have little or no access to food, clean water, shelter and health facilities. Malnutrition, diarrhoea and measles cases have been reported with some of these cases leading to mortality especially among young children. It is important to note that this situation is replicated across various regions of Somalia. The IPDs at the many camps in Banadir have trekked long distances to get here and have faced major challenges on the way including being harassed by Al Shabaab elements for seeking help from the Central Government which is in direct conflict with Al Shabaab. Cases of gender violence (e.g. rape) have also been reported. One man walked with his family from Dinsor District (Bay Region) to Mogadishu – a distance of almost 300 kms and so are many other IDPs. All IDPs at these camps are helpless and desperate. They need food and water as well as health care for those most affected by the crisis.
What challenges did you face during the distribution?
One challenge was selection of beneficiaries. It was difficult to select who is in higher need than the other, quite hard to fractionate the most needy. Also, the numbers of those in need far outweigh the resources available. Moreover, insecurity remains a challenge. With every distribution, insecurity is always an underlying issue. In the Somali context, where large crowds are gathered there is always a potential for terrorist attacks. The actual presence of security personnel who provide security during distribution are also a potential threat since militants can target them. The likelihood of looting is also a challenge.
Somalia has always faced drought challenges previously. Why is this particular drought any different from those previously experienced in the Region?
You are right, recurrent droughts have been a common feature but these have continued to exacerbate the already bad humanitarian situation in Somalia. Coupled with insecurity due to unceasing political conflicts, this has gravely undermined and weakened the population’s resiliency, and deepened the sufferings of vulnerable communities. Following the effects of the persistent recurring drought in Somalia, the recent “Jilaal” (dry season) has been particularly harsh with the prevalence of dry conditions continuing for almost 9 months. The short rainy season “Deyr” (October-December) failed in 2010 and the subsequent 2011 “Gu” (April-June) rains also failed in most areas. As a result, the number of needy Somalis has increased as the impact of drought continues to grip the Horn of Africa country.
Have the recent rains helped improve the situation somewhat?
Although the rains are a welcome relief, they have brought with them a new challenge – flooding. In the past week, there have been heavy rains in the Juba River Basin in southern Somalia. Several areas in south Somalia continue to report flooding, mainly in the Gedo and Lower Juba regions. Localized floods are hindering the delivery of assistance to people in crisis.
What is ADRA’s Approach in Responding to the Emergency?
In responding to the emerging emergencies, ADRA’s strategy is to reach to the unreached and provide the immediate life saving responses. ADRA is partnering with local NGOs in areas where the Agency’s access is limited including Somali Community Development Organisation (Galmudug Region), Development Action Network (Banadir Region) and Taakulo Somaliland Community (Sool and Sanaag Region).
Can you share any unique experiences you have encountered while in the field?
In the course of this response I have encountered a number of experiences. What stands out for me is the strong resilience of the Somali people. The drought may have decimated their chief of livelihood – livestock – but they are still ready to pick up the pieces and resume their normal livelihoods as soon as possible. The Somalis are a very resilient people but the 2011 drought has really stretched this resilience and it is the fact that ADRA is able to help out that makes this entire response worthwhile. The need for food, water and medical care in the region is very dire and the fact that a specific number of people can be reached by ADRA interventions is quite encouraging.
Give us a last word.
I take this chance to thank all ADRA donor offices who have made this response possible. The situation in the southern regions of Somalia remains critical, with three million people in crisis and 250,000 suffering from famine. ADRA Somalia is still open for funding resources for immediate response to the situation.
