A round-up of activities of the UN system in Somalia in April 2021

28 Apr 2021

A round-up of activities of the UN system in Somalia in April 2021

 

Emergency | FAO in Somalia continues to find innovative ways to respond to and mitigate the desert locust crisis

FAO in Somalia is continuously finding innovative ways to respond to and mitigate the desert locust crisis. The eLocust3 app, which can be connected to mobile phones to trace and track hopper bands of locusts, has helped pave the way for technology to contribute to emergency efforts. With generous funding from the World Bank, FAO and partners implement activities that are both innovative and tech-savvy to help local farmers and agro-pastoralists save their crops from insect infestations and mitigate the effects of desert locusts on communities.

https://bit.ly/3ahTEaj

 

COVID-19 Response | UNDP and MoPIED study socio-economic impact to help guide response

UNDP and MoPIED have combined more than 20 studies to produce the most comprehensive picture to date of the social and economic damage from COVID-19. Funded by the Government of Japan, the study also includes a suite of recommendations for how to build back better and greener while leaving no one behind.

https://bit.ly/3xoKpim

 

COVID-19 Response | UN-Habitat and SIDA partner in cash transfer initiative to cushion Kismayo residents from COVID-19 pandemic effects

UN-Habitat kicked off a cash transfer initiative meant to cushion residents of Kismayo from the harsh economic impact of COVID-19. The first tranche of direct cash transfers of USD 70 each was sent to 250 vulnerable households in Western Kismayo. The same 250 households will each receive a total of USD 210 over a three-month period to support their families in an initiative that will benefit over 2,000 people indirectly. This initiative falls within the larger Youth and Urban Regeneration Project (YOURS) project, funded by the Government of Sweden, aiming to contribute to reducing spatial urban inequalities by promoting sustainable urban regeneration, youth development and re-integration of marginalized groups through building capacity of government institutions and socio-economic resilience of urban communities.

https://unhabitat.org/un-habitat-and-sida-partner-in-cash-transfer-initiative-to-cushion-kismayo-residents-from-the

 

Migration Management | UNODC supports the Somali Police on management principles

UNODC started the Investigation Management and Administration Training (IMAT), module 4, on Police Management Principles, for police officers from Mogadishu and Puntland. The training which took place across Federal Member States (FMS) ended 26 April, where it concludes in Jubaland and South West State. The IMAT trainings are organized and implemented by UNODC's Criminal Investigation programme (CIP) in Somalia, funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). CIP is a part of UNODC’s Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) branch, which is implemented within the framework of the wider UNODC Regional Programme for Eastern Africa (2016-2021). The police officers receiving training are CID/U officers in chief, deputy and/or admin positions that already attended IMAT 1, 2 and 3.

https://twitter.com/UNODC_EA/status/1383448212078428167

 

Media Training | UNESCO strengthens the safety of journalists ahead of elections in Somalia

The two-day training equipped participants with knowledge on safety challenges faced during the course of electioneering reporting. Planning for personal security, risk assessment, security in transit and digital security during elections coverage were also the core component of this training, coupled with assessment of specific safety risks faced by female journalists during elections, and the gender sensitiveness in election reporting as a whole.

https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-strengthens-safety-journalists-ahead-elections-somalia

 

Migration | IOM Somalia assists stranded Ethiopian minors to return

Assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) allowed 34 Ethiopians to leave Bossaso, a port city in Somalia where they had been stranded, some for up to two years. The majority were unaccompanied minors mostly from the Oromo region of Ethiopia. Since the onset of COVID-19, increased numbers of Ethiopians have found themselves stranded in Somalia and forced to survive without adequate water, food or shelter. This often marks the end of their onward journeys to their intended destinations in the Arabian Peninsula where they hope to find work.

https://twitter.com/IOM_Somalia/status/1382588426386599936?s=20

 

COVID-19 Response | UNICEF equips partners to combat misinformation amid COVID-19

As COVID-19 has spread across Somalia, so has misinformation fueling uncertainty, anxiety, discrimination, and stigma. Given an increasing caseload, the need to take action and apply a coordinated approach to address fake news and rumours has never been this critical. UNICEF is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and partners to help produce and disseminate public service announcements, educational videos, and key messages to promote key COVID-19 prevention measures as well as the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines. UNICEF has also deployed social mobilizers to share the messages in communities and supported the COVID-19 call centre to share accurate information and debunk rumours. In April, more than 663,000 people were reached by community mobilizers, 105 mosque announcements on COVID-19 prevention measures were aired, and radio spots continued to be broadcast throughout the country.

https://www.unicef.org/somalia/stories/accurate-and-timely-information-s...

 

Aviation Training | UNSOS training for AMISOM and Somali Aviation personnel on Basic Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services

This ongoing capacity building program,  a milestone in Somalia’s aviation industry, is scheduled to take place every 16 weeks, and the first cohort has produced exceptional achievements including the graduation with honours of a female participant.

https://unsos.unmissions.org/boost-somalia%E2%80%99s-aviation-sector-operations-airport-rescue-fire-fighting-training

 

Women and girls | UNFPA responds to drought-caused forced displacement, particular challenges to women and girls

UNFPA has deployed eight mobile teams to deliver protection against gender-based violence and reproductive health services and is treating rape survivors in both IDP camps and host communities affected by drought. UNFPA has also distributed dignity kits, which contain basic hygiene necessities including soap and detergent, a toothbrush and toothpaste, underwear and menstrual pads to the women and girls affected to help them uphold their dignity.

https://www.unfpa.org/news/drought-somalia-forces-displacement-posing-particular-challenges-women-and-girls

 

Humanitarian | OCHA and Federal Government of Somalia declare drought

On 25 April, based on observed drought conditions and rainfall forecasts, OCHA and the Federal Government declared that the dry conditions in Somalia have escalated to a drought situation. The entire humanitarian community is deeply concerned about the deterioration of the situation. More than 80 per cent of the country is experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. Although the Gu rains started in some parts of the country, forecasts indicate below-average rainfall. Limited rainfall amounts are expected in May and June with larger parts of Somaliland, Puntland, central regions and the Gedo region being the worst affected.

https://www.unocha.org/somalia

 

Shelter | UNHCR builds additional shelters to decongest settlements

The need for decent housing has become more urgent in Somalia amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, UNHCR completed the construction of 50 Transitional Housing Units (THU) to decongest Qansaxley settlement for the internally displaced. Meanwhile, preparations are underway to start the construction of additional THU in Bosaso and Kismayo in the coming weeks. Overall, UNHCR has constructed 600 shelters in Dollow, Hargeisa and Baidoa in recent months.

https://www.unhcr.org/somalia.html

 

Business Development | UNIDO boosts confidence and investments of local manufacturing capacities

UNIDO Somalia, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), is supporting Somalia to diversify and increase local content by building Somalia’s production capacity and in turn achieve self-sufficiency. UNIDO’s interventions are already contributing in transforming the Somali private sector through the establishments of a network of Enterprise Development Units (EDUs) across the country, facilitating access to capacity building, markets, technology transfer and access to affordable financing.

https://www.unido.org

 

Covid-19 Response | WFP home delivery reaches 1.3 million people in the first year

April 2021 marked the first anniversary of WFP’s home delivery service in Somalia, helping to protect beneficiaries from COVID-19. Home deliveries through WFP's e-Shop platform have reached over 1.3 million people, as 217,000 deliveries have been made in the year since the service was launched. Using WFP Somalia’s e-Shop platform, beneficiaries of WFP cash-based assistance can use their mobile phones to check food availability and pricing with local retailers, place an order, and then have the food delivered straight to their homes. This not only provides choice and dignity for beneficiaries but helps to keep them safe since they no longer need to travel long distances to collect food – particularly important amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://twitter.com/WFPSomalia

 

Elections | UN and international partners urge Somalia’s leaders to overcome the impasse

In relation to Somalia’s elections, its international partners have continued to call on all Somali stakeholders to resume dialogue and reach an agreement to implement the 17 September 2020 electoral model, in order to conduct peaceful, inclusive, free, fair and credible elections without delay.

In a joint statement, the partners urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint and reject violence, resume dialogue, and avoid unilateral actions that would lead to further escalation. They also reaffirmed respect for Somali sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence.

https://unsom.unmissions.org/statement-outbreak-violence-mogadishu