The Horn of Africa crisis of 2011-2012 affected 13 million people. The main focus of the crisis was across southern Ethiopia, south-central Somalia and northern Kenya. Regional drought came on top of successive bad rains and rising inflation. It ramped up a chronic livelihoods crisis into a tipping point of potential disaster by putting extreme pressure on food prices, livestock survival, and water and food availability. Armed conflict across the region compounded chronic ecological and economic vulnerability, which escalated the crisis and limited people’s survival and recovery choices. (IASC Real-Time Evaluation of the Humanitarian Response to the Horn of Africa Drought Crisis in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya - Synthesis Report)
Appeals & Funding
- Djibouti Appel global 2013
- Ethiopia Humanitarian Requirements 2013
- Kenya Emergency Humanitarian Response Plan 2013
- Somalia Consolidated Appeal 2013-15
In Syria, government military aircraft targeted rebel-held districts in the northern city of Aleppo, killing at least 15 people according to opposition activists. In parallel, Damascus announced that it had retaken control of the key Damascus – Homs supply highway after gaining ground in the battle for the strategic Qalamoun region. London and Washington decided to suspend all non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition fearing that military equipment may fall under the control of Islamic radical groups.
Snapshot 3 - 10 December
In Syria, the conflict has been going on for over 1,000 days, and to date, the war has displaced 6.5 million people internally and forced 2.3 million to cross into neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, Washington indicated that it has been in talks with Islamist opposition factions non-linked to Al-Qaeda, in order to push for a negotiated settlement to the crisis.
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
Below average 2013 “gu” cereal crops expected in central/southern areas following unfavourable rains, pest outbreaks and reduced planted area
Off-season crop production forecast at above average levels
Early start of the dry “hagaa” season (July to September) has negatively impacted on pasture and water availability in the north-east
Prices of cereals declined in August in most markets Just over one million people are in need of humanitarian assistance (about two thirds are IDPs in settlements)
In Syria, insurgents heightened their offensive to capture airports and air bases in Aleppo, leading to intense fighting across the province. In eastern Syria, rebels captured the town al-Shaddadeh after three days of fighting that left 130 people dead and forced some 40,000 people to flee the town. The number of Syrian refugees continued to rise, amounting to a total of 830,675, an increase of around 38,500 newly registered refugees or individuals awaiting registration in a week.
Appeal Target: US$5,570,557
Balance Requested: US$4,877,048
Geneva, 21 January 2013
This full appeal replaces the preliminary appeal SOM121 issued on the 9th November 2012.
Above normal rainfall is expected for the remainder of the season.
Dry conditions in late 2012 have led to late planting, raising concerns that agricultural production could be negatively impacted.
Localized storm damage has been reported in Malawi, Angola, Zambia and Mozambique.
A Cholera outbreak has hit Zambia.
Madagascar has declared an emergency to address the locust invasion threatening food security in the south.
La situation relative au Criquet pèlerin s'est améliorée dans le Sahel d'Afrique de l'ouest avec la diminution des effectifs acridiens en décembre suite aux opérations de lutte au Niger et en Mauritanie et au dessèchement de la végétation.
-November dryness caused a delay in the start of season in many areas across the region.
-Poor rains during the 2011/12 agriculture season and low rainfall in November have resulted in persistent below-average vegetation conditions and reduced water availability.
-Good rains in early December could help reduce moisture deficits.
-Zambia has reported army worm infestations in several provinces and efforts to control the worms and replant crops are underway.
EMBU, Kenya (AlertNet) – The most important post-harvest pest in Kenya’s dryland areas is the larger grain borer, locally known as ‘Osama’ in testament to its aggressive destructiveness.
Farmers say it flourishes in high temperatures – a particular problem as climate change brings warming conditions in many parts of the country.
The country is expected to produce 38million bags of maize valued at shs 114 b.
Tran Nzoia county is expected to realize 4.6 million bags of maize valued at shs 13.8billion.The bumper maize harvest is to be achieved inspite of the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease which affected 60,000 hectares of maize nationally with production losses ranging from 10% to 60%. The government has since appointed a Taskforce to provide a long term solution to the maize disease.
More than 140,000 have been displaced in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after rebel group M23 gained control over the regional capital Goma and surrounding areas. Heavy fighting between rebels and the military continues to rage nationwide in Syria, primarily in Aleppo, Damascus and Deir al-Zor governorates. A recently published WFP assessment revealed that about 1.3 million people (25% of the total population) are considered food insecure in Kyrgyzstan, due to high food prices.
Gaza has been under attack since Wednesday, when Israel launched a military offensive with the declared goal of deterring fighters in the Palestinian enclave from launching rockets into its territory. 84 Palestinians have reportedly been killed. Violence erupted in the eastern provinces of DRC, following a months-long calm, with the rebel group M23 advancing on the regional capital of Goma. Heavy fighting between rebels and the military continues to rage nationwide in Syria, primarily in Idlib, Deir al-Zor, Damascus and Aleppo governorates.
Tropical Storm Murjan brings heavy rains and flash flooding to northern Somalia.
Flooding continues across portions of Nigeria and Ghana as heavy rains impact the region.
1) With seasonal rains ending and as vegetation dries out, locust swarms have formed in Chad and are expected to form in Niger and Mali. Swarms are expected to migrate towards the north as well as potentially into cropping areas in western/central Mali.
- Torrential rains continue across the western portions of West Africa.
- Widespread heavy rains were observed across eastern Africa.
- Hatching eggs and low-density locusts increase the potential for locust outbreak over many regions.
1) Heavy downpours have resulted in fatalities and displaced population over North and Central Darfur regions of Sudan during the past week. Flooding potential remains as heavy rains are forecast to continue during the next week.
Situation Générale en juin 2012
Prévision jusqu'à 'mi-août 2012
La situation relative au Criquet pèlerin est restée préoccupante en juin avec le déplacements des groupes d'ailes at des petits essaims de la zone de résurgence située de parte et d'autre de lafrontiere algéro-libyenne vers le sahel septentrional au Mali et au Niger, où des pluies son tombée six semaines plus tôt que la normale.
General situation during June 2012
Forecast until mid-August 2012
The Desert Locust situation remained serious during June as adult groups and small swarms migrated from the outbreak area along both sides of the Algerian-Libyan border to the northern Sahel in Mali and Niger where the rain have fallen about six weeks earlier than normal. Survey and control teams were mobilized in Niger but were limited by insecurity and a shortage of funds. Similarly, operations could not be carried out in northern Mali where locals reported small swarms.
Situation Générale en mars 2012
Prévision jusqu'à mi-mai 2012
Une résurgence du Criquet pèlerin s’est poursuivie en mars dans le sud-ouest de la Libye et dans les zones adjacents du sud-est de l’Algérie. Bien que les équipes de lutte nationales des deux pays aient traité 5 000 ha de groupes d’adultes en cours de grégarisation et en ponte, les effectifs acridiens vont certainement augmenter avec les éclosions et la formation de bandes larvaires en avril, particulièrement dans les zones inaccessibles.
General situation during March 2012
Forecast until mid-May 2012
A Desert Locust outbreak continued during March in southwestern Libya and in adjacent areas of southeastern Algeria . Although national control teams in both countries treated 5,000 ha of groups of gregarizing adults that were laying eggs, locust numbers will almost certainly increase as hatching occurs and hopper bands form during april, especially in areas that are inaccessible. Scattered adults arriving from northern Niger may augment local populations.
By David Njagi
MACHAKOS, Kenya (AlertNet) – Philip Makau appears to have won his battle against drought. Now he has one more enemy to take on.
For a decade, the 62-year-old farmer from the village of Kasinga, 30 minutes’ drive from the town of Machakos in southeastern Kenya, struggled to grow enough crops to support his ailing wife and his four sons.
Read the full article on AlertNet