SOUTH/CENTRAL SOMALIA FOOD DISTRIBUTION

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002011 SIPDIS AIDAC AID/DCHA FOR MHESS, WGARVELINK, LROGERS DCHA/OFDA FOR GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, IMACNAIRN, KCHANNELL DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN, JDRUMMOND, TANDERSON AFR/EA FOR JBORNS, SMCCLURE ROME FOR FODAG NEWBURG GENEVA FOR NKYLOH BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER NSC FOR JMELINE, TSHORTLEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KE SO SUBJECT: SOUTH/CENTRAL SOMALIA FOOD DISTRIBUTION UPDATE, APRIL 2006. Summary ¶1. From February to mid-April, 2006, a total of 25 251 MTs of FFP Title II emergency food aid has been distributed to 1,296,818 victims of the drought in South and Central Somalia. This represents a 44 % achievement in comparison to planned levels. The food pipeline will remain stretched and distributions lower than planned at least through May. From June to September the pipeline will be healthy, and barring a major logistical barrier, planning levels should be reached. WFP Somalia Distributions ¶2. From the beginning of its drought emergency operation in February 2006 to mid-April 2006, WFP Somalia has distributed a total of 13 788 MTs of food to 775 388 beneficiaries. This is a 44% achievement rate in terms of MTs and 50% in terms of number of beneficiaries. ¶3. It is to be noted that WFP has adopted a distribution schedule by 45 day intervals. Its first round scheduled to begin February 15 and end on April 3 actually began on February 22 and is still ongoing as of this writing. Achievement rate on the basis of that 45 day cycle is 79% - although it is at least two weeks late in its implementation. ¶4. Regions assisted by WFP/Somalia were Lower and Middle Juba (389 140 beneficiaries); Bay (233 748 beneficiaries); Bakool (97 300 beneficiaries),and Gedo (55 200 beneficiaries). CARE Somalia Distributions ¶5. CARE Somalia has distributed 11 463 MTs to 521 430 beneficiaries since February 2006. Regions covered were Gedo (432 228 beneficiaries); Central (61 242 beneficiaries); Hiran (15 552 beneficiaries),while another 12 408 beneficiaries were reached in M/Shabelle, Bay and Bakool. Summary of FFP Emergency food aid distributions ¶6. From February to mid-April, 2006, a total of 25 251 MTs of FFP Title II emergency food aid has been distributed to 1 296 818 victims of the drought in South and Central Somalia. Gedo region has received the most (487 428 beneficiaries) while Lower and Middle Juba (389 140 beneficiaries),Bay (236 436 beneficiaries) and Bakool (103 132 beneficiaries) were also primary beneficiaries. M/Shabelle, Hiran, and Central regions had a combined 80 682 beneficiaries. Food aid pipeline ¶7. The combined (WFP and CARE) food pipeline reflects a mere 11 681 MTs either in Somalia or enroute to Somalia as of mid-April. Against the combined monthly requirement of 21 700 MTs, this represents 54% availability for distribution in the next few weeks. Another combined 6 315 MTs are in Mombasa available to be trucked or shipped to Somalia while a total of 83 432 MTs are on the high seas, enroute to Mombasa except for 6,000 MTs being shipped directly from Durban to El Maan, Somalia. ¶8. While 80% of the commodities enroute to Mombasa are scheduled to arrive by the end of May and would ensure a healthy pipeline for at least four months, it is unlikely that they will be available for distribution until well into June. Therefore, distributions for at least another month, or through May, are likely to fall short of targets. BELLAMY