Issued 17 December,

NUTRITION SITUATION

In October and November FSNAU with partners, conducted 9 representative nutrition surveys in Togdheer, Mudug, Galgadud and Hiran regions. The results of the surveys indicate a Sustained Nutritional Crisis in Central and Hiran regions with a less concerning yet critical situation in Togdheer. 

In Central regions 4 surveys representing the 2 livelihoods and the 2 regions were conducted and, based on WHO (2006) growth standards, all the rates are indicating a very similar situation. For the livelihood based surveys, results of 20.2% (15.6-24.7) Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) and 4.6% (2.8-6.3) Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) were reported in the Addun livelihood and 19.1% (15.3-23) GAM and 4.3% (2.7-5.9) SAM in the Hawd livelihood. For the region based surveys results of 19.4% (14.5-24.3) GAM and 5.5% (3-7.9) SAM were reported in Galgadud and 22.3% (17.6-27) GAM and 6.1% (4.1-8.1) SAM in Mudug. The death rates were in line with baseline figures, with the exception of the Hawd survey where both rates approached the alert levels.

These results highlight the sustained crisis in Central region and indicate no improvement from the situation reported in the Gu season six months ago. This sustained crisis has also been noted in selective feeding centers run by international agencies in the region, where increasing numbers of severely malnourished children are being admitted. With the continuing poor food security outlook for the region, all efforts to ensure the sustained delivery at scale of life saving interventions such as food aid, nutrition rehabilitation services, health, water and emergency livelihoods support are essential to prevent further deterioration.

Hiran region is also in a sustained crisis with Very Critical rates of GAM in all three surveys exceeding 20%. There was no difference between livelihoods with the Riverine population survey reporting results of >20% GAM and >4% SAM; the Pastoral population survey reported results of 21.2% (16.5-25.8) GAM and 5.3% (3.1-7.6) SAM and the agropastoral population survey reporting results of 23.4% (19-27.8 ) GAM and 7.4% (3.9-10.9) SAM. Deaths rates were in line with baseline figures. However, similar to Central region, response agencies in the region also report high admissions into selective feeding centers. When compared to the Gu ’09 surveys no change has been noted in the agropastoral population, however some deterioration from the Critical rates in the Pastoral and Riverine populations, have been recorded. This again highlights the need for sustained humanitarian interventions at scale in Hiran to meet the needs.

Finally some improvements were noted in Togdheer region in the northwest. Although a representative survey were not conducted during the Gu ’09, an integrated analysis indicated a Very Critical nutrition situation in the agropastoral population based on data from rapid assessments and health centers, however the recent survey reported a Critical situation with 16.1% (13.1-19.1) GAM and 2.9% (1.5-4.4) SAM. During the Gu, the high numbers of children identified as acutely malnourished were thought to be associated with an outbreak of acute watery diarrhea and general high disease burden in the area. Currently no such cases are being reported, which may be the reason the situation may have improved to some extent, however it remains of concern and efforts to rehabilitate the acutely malnourished in that population are needed. For the Togdheer pastoral population the situation is classified as Serious with the recent survey reporting a GAM rate of 10.1% (7.7-13.2) and a SAM rate of 1% (0.4-2.4). Death rates in both surveys were below alert levels. A comprehensive analysis will be reported in the December Nutrition Update.