Mogadishu (RBC) The Jowhar floods have contaminated water sources, including shallow wells, and damaged latrines. In Jowhar market, the flooding has led to an average increase of 20 per cent in the prices of food commodities such as rice, sorghum, pulses and sugar, since mid-October. However, the price of maize, which is the major cereal consumed in the region, has been stable since September, according to FSNAU.
Further flooding could delay planting for the Deyr season and negatively affect food security. The clan fighting in November in Middle Shabelle riverine may also affect farm activities and eventually the harvest. Humanitarian partners have provided emergency assistance in the form of household items, emergency shelter, food, water and sanitation to affected families.
Nearly 4,000 empty sacks to block the river break and reinforce the river embankment have also been provided. The Federal Government of Somalia allocated US$50,000 in late September for Jowhar town rehabilitation and relief.
Despite localized flooding, the October-December Deyr rainy season is still forecast to be below normal, which could result in increased food insecurity, especially where the previous rains underperformed in agro-pastoral areas of Bakool and Hiraan regions, and the Sool Plateau in the north.
The seasonal rains started on time in most of Somalia, but intensity in parts of Somalia and distribution have been poor. The Food Security Cluster is encouraging its members to extend the “lean season” programming by one to two months and possibly expand it to include more vulnerable households.
Based on the post-Gu harvest assessment released in September, food security partners are targeting about 214,000 people monthly with responses geared towards improving access to food. In addition, 515,000 people are targeted through safety nets until January 2014 and 2.9 million will benefit from livelihood investment activities between September 2013 and January 2014.
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