Humanitarian Emergency will Continue in Southern Somalia

Although the Gu rainy season is not yet complete, the Food Security Analysis Unit for Somalia (FAO/FSAU), together with FEWS NET Somalia, predicts that conditions of Humanitarian Emergency in Southern Somalia will continue from July through December 2006. Several Central and Northern Regions continue to face stressed conditions and will be in an Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis. Comprehensive field assessments will be conducted later this month and to determine levels of severity for specific areas, and generate new estimates of populations in crisis. However, it is evident at this stage that urgent humanitarian needs will continue.

Fortunately the direst prediction that famine conditions were possible from last January to June has not come true. This is due to the deep social support systems of Somali people, the absence of an outbreak of widespread conflict, and humanitarian relief operations providing food, cash, water, health care, veterinary, and other basic services.