Day: August 18, 2022

Brief Analysis

Ongoing drought and water shortage, displacement, livelihood losses, escalation of food prices, and lack of support or aid, continued to preoccupy most callers this week (11-18 August 2022) to Radio Ergo’s audience feedback platform. Whilst there are many variables affecting usage of this call-in platform, in terms of numbers of calls this week Togdher, Sanag, and Galmudug stood out. Concerns over high prices were widespread across the country. Conflict in some areas exacerbated people’s drought challenges. Questions about COVID19 continued for the Radio Doctor to answer, as well as questions for other experts on the radio shows about livestock disease and farming issues. The following summarises the calls by theme.

Drought and water shortage – among the callers from Togdher there were many from Buhodle. They complained of severe water shortage affecting livestock and people and asked for water aid and assistance. A caller in Bhallidig said they luckily still had some water, whilst another in nearby Awdanle said they had no water. Callers in Burao prayed for rain and asked Somaliland government to help. Callers in Qorilugud, Sahil, and Sheikh said the drought was harsh and spoke of water shortage, affected livestock, and lack of vegetation. A caller in Talabur said their livestock could barely get any water at all now. In Gabiley, a caller said they were facing drought. Among Sanag callers, a caller in Badhan said they were suffering drought, water shortage, and malnutrition and they needed water, medicines, and other items from Somaliland government. Callers in El-afweyne, Erigabo, and Hingalol complained of severe drought and water shortage. A caller in Ragadeye said their well had been destroyed by the last heavy ‘Gu rains and they needed help to rebuild it. In Mudug, callers in Galkayo and Jariban said they were suffering from water shortage. Calls from Galgadud included Adado, Abudwak, Balanbale, Dusamareb, Dalsan, Marere, and Guriel. A female caller in Guriel said they needed aid agencies to bring them generators to be able to access water. A caller in Dusamareb said the main well supplying the area had dried up. In Hiran, a caller in Beletweyne said they had been displaced to rural areas after losing their livestock and needed help. A caller in Mahaday, M. Shabelle, said they had lost their livestock, inflation was high, and they had been neglected by aid agencies. A caller in Baidoa said more displaced people were joining the IDP camps and they needed aid.

Prices – callers in Buhodle and Sarar spoke of steep price rises and the need for the government agencies to intervene. A caller in Lasanod called on local businessmen to lower their prices. A female caller in Garowe said it was becoming harder to afford basic items. A caller in Mogadishu said the price rises were hefty, whilst a caller in Kismayo said they had been suffering a shortage of supplies. A female caller in Dobley, Gedo, said life was becoming hard due to high food prices. Another female in an unidentified area said profits from her shop had dwindled due to the high prices.

COVID19 – there were calls for the Radio Doctor about COVID19 from Gedo and Bossaso, among other places.

Source: Radio Ergo

Concerns are growing over the food and nutritional needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Barsalogho commune in Burkina Faso’s Centre Nord region. Humanitarian partners have been experiencing increasing constraints in accessing areas in Barsalogho as Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) in the area have been reinforcing their presence in recent months and imposing irregular controls. Aid organizations noted that food aid deliveries have been delayed up to three months due to the persistent blockage of main roads since the beginning of 2022. Since the end of April, about 93,400 IDPs have sought refuge in Barsalogho commune, equivalent to 14 per cent of the total 657,000 IDPs in the Centre Nord region, which is the largest IDPhosting region in the country.

SIERRA LEONE

27 PERSONS DIE IN ANTIGOVERNMENT PROTESTS

As of 11 August, at least 27 people had died in anti-government protests and clashes in Sierra Leone, including 21 civilians and six police officers, as hundreds took to the streets in frustration at economic hardship and a perceived failure by the government to cushion the impact of rising prices. To address the deteriorating security situation, the government imposed a nationwide curfew on 10 August. No violent events have been reported since 10 August. UN and non-governmental organizations have been monitoring potential humanitarian impacts of the situation and working with partners and the government to deescalate the situation, calling for a calm and peaceful dialogue, especially as the legislative and presidential elections are approaching and planned to take place in 2023.

SENEGAL

HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODS KILL ONE PERSON AND INJURE MANY

Heavy rains in the capital Dakar caused floods that killed at least one person and injured many. On 5 August, the rain was significantly heavy with 127 mm recorded. Flood water over one-meter-deep covered city streets, severely disrupting traffic. A man died in his car in the Mermoz neighborhood in Dakar, according to a statement from Senegal’s Ministry of Interior. Another person was saved and sent to the hospital in critical condition, according to the police. The rainy season in Senegal typically lasts from July through October

THE GAMBIA

FLOODS KILL 11 PERSONS, AID ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT GOVERNMENT-LED ASSESSMENT

On 30 and 31 July, the Gambia experienced the highest amount of rainfall in 34 years, causing significant floods, killing 11 persons, and affecting another 42,000 people according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). About 5,407 persons have been displaced and currently live in temporary shelters as their houses were inundated, in addition to losing their food stock and their livelihood, which is increasing acute food insecurity risks.

Sanitation facilities have been damaged, exacerbating water-borne disease risks. IFRC and the government have provided food, nonfood, and logistics support. At the request of the government, UN organizations have deployed teams to support a government-led rapid needs assessment launched on 16 August.

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs