Somalilandsun – As the region remains vulnerable to the impact of the challenging climatic conditions, amidst inadequate coping strategies and development assistance the humanitarian community is already prepositioning stocks and undertaking preventative programmes in areas likely to be affected by the El Niño
This is per a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA that reveals that About 3.2 million people are in need of life-saving and livelihood support, while over 1.1 million people are internally displaced
The OCHA report adds that The likely impacts of the 2015-16 El Niño events may be severe in areas characterized by some of the worst humanitarian and human development indicators in the world. It is foreseen that Somalia could experience flooding in southern and central regions and Puntland, as well as exacerbated drought conditions in Somaliland as early as end of September 2015 to December 2015.
The effects of the El Niño phenomenon could extend several months into 2016.
The El Niño Contingency Plan has been developed in consultation with authorities at federal and regional level to prepare the humanitarian community for an effective, integrated timely response, taking into account lessons learned and needs identified from the previous responses to El Niño related emergencies. Main gaps and constraints identified by humanitarian partners are access constraints and funding shortfalls.
The humanitarian community is already prepositioning stocks and undertaking preventative programmes in areas likely to be affected by the El Niño.
Read the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA report in PDF
