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JOINT INITIAL ASSESSMENT

GALGALA DISPLACED PEOPLE IN BARI AND

SANAAG REGIONS. Date: 08 March 2015

Some of the new displaced people living outs tricks of Buraan village

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General context

In August, 2010, Galgala military operations campaign took place periodically from

August 2010 until 3rd October 2014 and the government aimed at re-gaining control of

the Galgala hills which had fallen in hands of Al shabaab. Since beginning of August,

2010 to October 2014, an estimated 1950 HH (11700 persons) have moved into El-

Dahir, Awsane, El Lahelay, Af-Urur, Bossaso, Kalabayr, Buraan and Dhahar following

the military operation . Those fleeing to the above locations cited threats from Al

Shabaab as main reason for moving. An unknown number of Households fled to other

villages from areas of displacement in mainly Bari and Sanaag regions. The main reason

of this displacement according to interviewed families and Key informants are insecurity

and government imposed supply restrictions including food, medicine and other

important items to cut supply line of the Al shabaab in the areas.

The Conflict had also affected the humanitarian delivery and accessibility in the areas.

The displaced people lost their livelihood sources and accessibility for the inhabitants in

the areas. About 1950 households fled but around 1657 HHs settled in the areas

assessed that include pastoralist, agro pastoralist, villagers, Farmers, honey collectors,

cow herders, and frankincense collectors fled from these areas in 2010 and between

2014. Largest displacements occurred four times in August 2010, June 2011 and

February 2012 and October 2014 up to now. Among villages that experienced large

population displacement included Galgala, Maraja , Balidacar, Hamur, Hadhweyn , Bali-

khaddar and Madarshoon most of these families constructed Shelter in El-dahir, El

Lahelay, Awsane, Af urur, Buraan ,Bossaso, Dhahar and other nearby cities and

villages.

The Initial Investigation assessment was conducted jointly by; WFP, UNHCR, NRC, IOM,

SCI, ASAL, HADO, ACDC,OTP, DRC, CARE, SEDO, TASS AND OCHA in collaboration the

local authorities in the region, traditional leaders and HADMA focal point in Sanaag

region, following the appeal raised by Puntland president, with especial emphases on

acute water scarcity, Shelter/NFI and Food and livelihood.

Though the assessment was initial investigation and not an exhaustive but the overall

situation was felt punitive, communities reported that there are about 1657 HHs of

displaced people including old and new arrivals (390 HHs in Buraan, Eldahir 489, El

lahelay and Awsane 278 HHs and in Dhahar 500 HHs, who fled in August 2010 and

October 2014. In addition there are some areas which are not accessible such as Af-

Urur and Kalabayr in Al madow mountains which we cannot verify the number of HHs

living in these areas. Majority of them depend on their families and some live out skirt

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of those towns visited. Both new and old arrivals have limited access to basic needs;

they have lost their income sources with no shelter, health, nutrition, education and

with limited clean water. No humanitarian assistances been reported in any of the

villages, people get their income through barrowing and followed by livestock in Buraan

and gifts from relatives in Dhahar and Bossaso.

Old/New Displaced people living their relatives.

S/N Villages Old displaced people August 2010

New Displaced people Oct 2014

Total displaced HHs

1 El Dahir 166 323 489 HHs

2 Awsane 115 38 153HHs

3 El Lahelay 85 40 125 HHs

4 Buraan 217 173 390 HHs

5 Dhahar 320 180 500 HHs

Total displaced: 903 754 1657 HHs

The main objectives of the mission:

• To determine the main challenges the displaced people are facing and what

response they are in need and

• Estimating number of persons displaced in Galgala and surrounding villages;

• The current food security, livelihood, WASH situation of the communities after

the displacement;

• The needs of the displaced people both in short and long terms;

• Possible interventions and ways to implement both in short and long terms

intervention.

• To come up with recommendations of the most appropriate response strategy

based on the assessment findings.

•

Methodology

Prior to the mission, teams met the regional local authority to brief them of the

situation on the ground and to have their views and inputs as well. During the

assessment mission, the teams visited the most villages displaced households to collect

information; along with the direct observations also informal key informant interviews,

individual household interviews as well as Focus Group Discussion sessions.

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An initial investigation tool assessment form developed by UNOCHA was used to collect

the data. The assessment tool was only reflecting Multi cluster Food security,

NFI/Shelter, Education, Health, Nutrition, Protection and WASH. In the process of

gathering data, a discussion was arranged with the community committee, visited

households, observations water sources/storages and available community based

infrastructures such as Schools.

The assessment took days beginning from 3rd March, 2015 to 5th March, 2015 and the

assessment covered two regions Sanaag and one village under Bari.

JOINT MISSION FINDINGS.

Food security

• The current affected populations are Agro-pastoralist and pastoralism. Food

sources are mainly browning’s followed by gifts from the host community.

• Normal foods found in the market are include, rice, flour, past and animal

products. Elders reported that the food prices relatively high comparing to

other markets and displaced people cannot afford to buy enough food due to

low income.

• People use fuel wood for cooking.

• Majority of them reported through browning from their relatives, while others

reduced their meals per day.

• There were assistance by humanitarian actors in areas hosting the displaced

from Galgala such as general food distribution supported by WFP in 2011 and

cash for work ADESO which is not targeting the displaced people in Eldahir

and Surrounding villages. However newly displaced IDPs had not received any

assistance despite they live food insecure situation.

Education.

• In the areas visited Eldahir, Buran and Dhahar have public schools consist of

primary, Intermediate and secondary level except El Dahir Public school

which has not secondary classes. Current enrolled students are 2060 both

male and female but the numbers of school aged children from the displaced

and poor host communities are more than those who are not enrolled in this

year. Reasons being; limited number of classes’, limited qualified instructors

and the main reason reported by the all interviewees is that Parents can’t

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afford to pay school fees by all the children while the Awsane and El lahelay

are not operational

• The out of school children were estimated 1430 and they explained the

reason that the displaced community are not able to pay the school fees to

be charged to children’s learning and materials.

Health and Nutrition.

• There is evidence of malnutrition and children but not severe, due to shortage of

water but lactating mother and elders looks thin and moderately malnourished.

• There’s nutrition program run by WFP through MCHs in both Buraan and Dhahar

which is targeting view number of mothers and children from poor household.

With no specific program targeting to the displaced people.

• This is one MCH in Buraan which is not equipped as per the required. The MCH

in Buraan needs equipment, enough drugs and qualified staff.

• Dhahar district has one MCH center and one hospital. These centers cannot

cover the needs of the people due to lack enough equipment and professional

nurses.

• El Dahir MCH has not been operational for the past three years due to lack of

medical support and qualified nurses.

WASH.

• Dhahar, the main water source is a Borehole yielding about 12m3 per hour

and number of privately owned Berkeds. The water price is 0.5 USD per

drum. The borehole lays corner of the town where most of the households

cover long distance to reach, furthermore the borehole don’t have extension

to the town. Prices are expensive and most of the people reported that don’t

afford such cost. There is less storages/vessel’s to collect water. There is no

proper household water treatment at all.

• In regard to the interventions, the interviewed water management

representatives said that Care international pledged to rehabilitate the

borehole by replacing the riser pipes, generator and provision of submersible

pump.

• Buran. Main water sources are include, 01 borehole, shallow wells and 01

spring well. The borehole yield is too low and produces 6m3 per hour. No

rehabilitations being done for the last 6 years. Distribution pipes are too old

with leakages and need to be replaced. The cost is too expensive 01 dollar

per barrel. The shallow wells are estimated 45 wells, 6 of them are covered

by DRC and the remaining need to be rehabilitated. The collection vessels

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are Jerry cans and drums. There is also less storages a facility; interviewee’s

reported that only very view HHs have small berkads at their House. Majority

of the people don’t treat the water. Furthermore no humanitarian interventions

reported in Buraan for the past two years.

• Water tankers provide water for the purpose of drinking in some villages,

while some villages get water from their storages for all the purposes. Around

80% of water storages (Berkeds) in the visited areas have already dried up.

Water trucking price is high considering the background and the ability of the

people which can be termed as vulnerable communities.

Shelter & Protection.

• Most of the displaced households live with host families living in collective and

spontaneous settlement. The main challenges that poor host families and

displaced households are shelters have holes in coverage. Shelters are

partially destroyed and cab be repaired. The major concern for is rain, heat

and cold. Most of the displaced populations do not have blankets, Plastic

sheets, bed mats and jerry cans.

• There are police and army forces from Puntland Government present in both

Buraan and Dhahar to enforce the law and as well in El Dahir.

• There are persons with disabilities, persons with chronic illness, and destitute

older persons in both locations. The most affected groups are women, men,

girls and boys.

Security situation.

• The Overall security situation of the visited settlements was quite good and

calm during the field mission and no security problems met by the mission.

General Recommendations and Immediate actions.

• Food security measures should be initiated and nutrition programing for

children under 5 years and lactating women.

• Provide food for work and cash for work for the rehabilitation of the poor

feeder roads to improve road conditions and food security in the community.

Such project will create short term-employment, income and livelihood for

people in the district.

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• Mobilization of funds for response to water crisis and water trucking in case

the situation escalates.

• Provide supplementary fuel and equipment support to the El Dahir and

Buraan boreholes to reduce water prices in the area and facilities and

rehabilitation of strategic water sources, dumps, shallow wells and water

quality monitoring.

• Improving hygiene education through awareness raising sessions and

provision of hygiene kits.

• Construction of Latrines to the most vulnerable displaced people and

construction of shelters.

• Supporting the Heath centers and ensures people have access to basic

medicines and nutrition programs.

• Supporting the school aged children’s who are not currently enrolled in the

schools, through construction of new schools or supporting the current

schools to engage those children and the supporting School feeding program

in all the areas assessed.

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PHOTOS