News
29/10/2009
Bocoray River Embankment and the general situation of the region after today’s heavy rains.
The Bocoray river embankment which lies between Magalay and Gaafay 9kms on the North East of Jowhar Town has flooded due to the heavy rains in Middle Shabelle in the past two days. The breakage is about 6 meter in width.
The flowing villages will directly be affected directly by the breakages of this particular river embankment:
- Bulo Ahmed
- Cigow Sabuun
- Lamawaab
- Muryaale
- Magadley
- Gaafay
- Naxarow
- Lafo Malayley
- Cali Caalin
- Buulo Gaabow
If the river breakage is not controlled in the coming days, it will also affect the people living in the following villages:
- Gaafay
- Buulo Waraay
- Buulo Bacaad
- Buur Bishaaro
- Dooraale
- Geedo Birkaan
- Bulo Tayeeg
- Bulo Bukuraar
- Timire
- Cabdigaladi
- Bulo Sheikh Hilowle
The river level today was 4.70m and can any time flood water. Today (28th of October) the rain was pouring for more than 3 hours filling up all gullies and cutting villages from the rest of the region.
Also the Kacan village has experienced floods today due to the heavy rains. The local NGO’s, Community elders and the authority of Middle Shabelle has had a meeting today in regards to the floods situation. The discussions were geared towards the community preparedness and requirements of materials and funds in order to curb the essential destruction of the floods. ICRC has participated the meeting by telephone and mentioned the provision of some materials.
WOCCA again would like to renew its call for help to save the meagre assets of the farmers and pastorolists. WOCCA/UNICEF has provided a number of sand-bangs to some villages but so far there is no other help. We appeal to the international community and the UN organization to provide the necessary materials and/or funds to help the people of Middle Shabelle.
For an UPDATE on the situation please occassionally visit www.woccaorg.com
05/10/2009
Possible FLOOD EMERGENCY SITUATION IN MIDDLE SHABELLE REGION, SOMALIA
Scenario of River Flood Emergency Alert In Middle Shabelle Region
Women and Child Care Organization (WOCCA) – LNGO based in Jowhar, Middle Shabelle region of South Somalia, in close working with agro-pastoral communities, local authorities and humanitarian agencies in Middle Shabelle region – in Food Security sectors and emergencies such as Flood Watch activities in throughout the region.
The current Flood Watch - scenario in Middle Shabelle region, indicates Agro-pastoral settlements in Shabelle valley especially in the lower reaches of Mahadday and Jowhar Districts of Middle Shabelle region are at high risk to face River flooding in this season (in the coming few weeks) –Heavy rains are expected in the upper catchments of the river basin in Ethiopian highlands which will lead to high increase in River-water-levels (Both Shabelle and Juba Rivers). Already, its today reported that the river in Middle Shabelle is gaining momentum and the level of the water is raising.
The Emergency Unit of WOCCA, regularly monitors, checks and records the level of the River-water levels as well as flood watch on daily-basis – by using; (a) Daily reading of River water measurement/Gauge fixed beneath Jowhar town-bridge in collaboration with UNICEF and collects/fills daily date records with preformatted standard forms provided by UNICEF Jowhar field office to WOCCA (b) Regular daily communication contacts with local mobile phones (or daily visits) to rural villages in Mahadday and Jowhar - where WOCCA already established Community Flood Watch (CFW) - mobile-teams/volunteers, and (c) in close cooperation and information sharing with other humanitarian agencies in the region and the local administration authorities.
The River-water level reading as of 4th of October 2009 - indicated the level of the Shabelle River was 2.45 meter and three nights ago it was 3.00. The level fluctuates at the moment and it’s hard to read. Our staff is reading the level on a daily basis and today 25th November 2008 the water level is 2.40. The river floods at the point of 5.40 where the River breaks embankments - as standard measurement of Shabelle River water-level reading. The River would break embankments, but farmer communities, so far controls it by using massive pumping of River water discharge for irrigation continuously to farming areas along the River-sides, also WOCCA has last month reinforced two river embankments namely: Buqda Maalifo and Buqda Xamiir reer Muxudiin with the help of UNDP – as local coping mechanism for flood control preventive preparedness strategy by local communities and Local NGO’s. While, even the embankments of the farming fields deem at risk to breakage as a result of over irrigation bumping to farming areas beyond their irrigation capacities.
In addition to this, the communities and local village/District authorities in these three districts have approached WOCCA for flood alert preparedness. These field reports noted an increase of River levels seen at almost all rural and urban areas in Middle Shabelle region raising concerns of sudden out-break of river embankments. If the river embankments break, a massive flooding in different places and villages are highly expected to occur in coming weeks.
Between the 1st and the 5th of October 2009, WOCCA Teams including members of community/village elders and Local Authority - made quick assessment and visited to flood alarming areas/villages in Mahadday and Jowhar Districts in order to assess the possibility of flooding in the areas.
The assessment teams found and reported that 15 Villages (Duduble, Dinlawe, Huriwaa, Isse-Hudur, Marerey, Lamo-waab, Raqayle, Gashanle, Tugarey, Bardhere, Magay, Nukay, Halgan, Mandheere, and Bacdley ) in Jowhar and Mahadday districts face immediate flood emergency situation and another great number of villages are anticipated to face flood emergency if the river embankments break in the coming weeks. WOCCA anticipates that around 10,000 households in/around 28 agricultural villages in Mahadday and Jowhar Districts are at immediate risk to flooding. It was anticipated flooding will deteriorate and destroy a huge agricultural crop production areas of about 65,000 Hectors in lower parts of Shabelle valley, thereby, will severely threaten the food security situation of agro-pastoral communities as well as their lives and loss of Household assets. In addition to this, as often occurs the Floods will also cut the main tarmac road from Mogadishu to Northern Somalia and also will make other feeder roads connecting agricultural settlements inaccessible to other parts of the region if no immediate preventive action is taken place.
It was noted a quick further build-up of river levels control support at Mahadday and Jowhar are highlighted as immediate need to step up flood preparedness/preventive activities both material and CFW support. A crucial need for timely flood breakage emergency responsive interventions to support people rehabilitate River embankments, irrigation canals’ breakage, roads and water catchments – is apparent. More importantly, Flood protection contours against main tarmac road needed over the distance between the Chinese Canal and Mahadday, and some areas between Jowhar and Bal’ad where River floods may close the main road between Jowhar and Beletweyn, and also may cause a huge human displacement as well as destruction of large agricultural crop farming areas.
Villages prone to immediately floods
| SN | Name Of the Village | District | Direction (river) |
| 01 | Duduble | Mahaday | West |
| 02 | Dinlawe | Mahaday | West |
| 03 | Huriwaa | Mahaday | East |
| 04 | Hudur Isse | Mahaday | West |
| 05 | Marerey | Mahaday | West |
| 06 | Lamo waab | Jowhar | East |
| 07 | Raqayle | Jowhar | East |
| 08 | Gashanle | Jowhar | East |
| 09 | Tugarey | Jowhar | East |
| 10 | Bardhere | Jowhar | East |
| 11 | Magay | Jowhar | East |
| 12 | Nukay | Jowhar | West |
| 13 | Halgan | Jowhar | West |
| 14 | Mandheere | Jowhar | West |
| 15 | Bacdley | Jowhar | West |
Last year’s flooding, WOCCA and the communities received sand bangs to control the river embankments from UNICEF. Currently UNICEF’s office in Jowhar is unmanned as it was looted during the transitional period power shift in Middle Shabelle. UNICEF was always keen to provide immediate assistant however the organization’s presence in the area is now extremely limited. WOCCA appeals to all INGO
WOCCA’s River Watch team who have done the assessment has identified the following villages to be hit hard if the floods intensify and no precautions are taken Below are the name villages, estimated number of inhabitant HHs, Population under flood risks in Mahadday and Jowhar Districts – Middle Shabelle region. These localities at risk for flood crisis of which by nature usually experience such flood disaster events on recurrent basis:
| # | Village | District | Est.# of HHs, Population at Risk | |
| # of HHs | # of People | |||
| 1 | Bulo Ahmed | Mahadday District | 850 | 5100 |
| 2 | Kulmis | Mahadday District | 520 | 3120 |
| 3 | Shiidle Bari | Mahadday District | 360 | 2160 |
| 4 | Huriway | Mahadday District | 560 | 3360 |
| 5 | Eji | Mahadday District | 650 | 3900 |
| 6 | Duduble | Mahadday District | 226 | 1356 |
| 7 | Mansur | Mahadday District | 184 | 1104 |
| 8 | Dinlawe | Mahadday District | 270 | 1620 |
| 9 | Shaam | Mahadday District | 229 | 1374 |
| 10 | Hudur Isse | Mahadday District | 168 | 1008 |
| 11 | Burfulle | Mahadday District | 48 | 288 |
| 12 | Jowhar Somali | Jowhar District | 550 | 3300 |
| 13 | Timire | Jowhar District | 558 | 3348 |
| 14 | Gedo Barkan | Jowhar District | 995 | 5970 |
| 15 | Bur Bisharo | Jowhar District | 380 | 2280 |
| 16 | Gafay | Jowhar District | 320 | 1920 |
| 17 | Magadley | Jowhar District | 130 | 780 |
| 18 | Lama Waab | Jowhar District | 390 | 2340 |
| 19 | Muryale | Jowhar District | 150 | 900 |
| 20 | Sabun | Jowhar District | 400 | 2400 |
| 21 | Mareerey | Jowhar District | 293 | 1758 |
| 22 | Baro Weyne | Jowhar District | 579 | 3474 |
| 23 | Gunbe | Jowhar District | 290 | 1740 |
| 24 | Barrey | Jowhar District | 449 | 2694 |
| 25 | Kalundi | Jowhar District | 170 | 1020 |
| 26 | Moyko | Jowhar District | 460 | 2760 |
| 27 | Halgan | Jowhar District | 160 | 960 |
| 28 | Nukay | Jowhar District | 396 | 2378 |
| Total | 10735 | 64412 | ||
Based on the above alarming situation, WOCCA believes the food security condition of the population in the areas under high flooding risk will remain worsen and most likely to encounter severe food insecure, massive displacement and in emergency situation that would require more humanitarian assistances – in coming weeks. Therefore, timely humanitarian emergency intervention is crucially needed in order to save human lives and avoid widespread destruction.
Proposed - Top Urgent Flood Emergency Response Interventions
- Provide urgent support to communities’ flood preparedness plan for sequential flood preventive/control actions in the event of a 'red alert' for high risk of major flooding.
- Assist communities in River breakage fixing/sealing by manpower and construction through cash for work/Cash relief activities, providing materials support such as sandbags and logistical support for river bank management along key stretches of the river at risk to flood breakage together with Cash Relief assistance.
- Emergency Food ration Relief to most vulnerable families in most critical areas under flooding threat.
- Re-enforcement of farming areas’ embankment structures with sandbags, tree-trunk-poles, timbers - local materials etc.
- Road accessibility prevention structural rehabilitation against floods: Cash for Work/ Cash Relief to workers and by hiring heavy machines (Bulldozers, Rollers, Graders, Loaders and Heavy Trucks for transportation of coral sand) - for constructing flood protection barriers / soil contour lines against tarmac road to save from flood damages.
- Link cash distribution/Cash for work to IDPs relief within the emergency timeframe.
- provision of NFI Relief assistance
In the case of floods there will be an urgent need for inter-agency intervention to the situation in Jowhar and Mahadday districts. Last year, UNICEF were kind enough to provide sand bangs to control the floods. However UNICEF’s office was looted and has minimum presence in the area.
12/June/2009
Taariiq nololedka Mohame Abulle Mahdi
TAARIIQ NOLOLEEDKA AGAASIMIHII HEY`ADDA DRYEELKA HAWEENKA IYO CARRUURTA (Wocca) MARXUUM
MAXAMED CABDULLE MAHDI
SHAQSI KU DHEERAA UMMADA SOOMALIYEED
Bismillaahi Raxmaani Raxiim
Maanta oo ay taariiqdu ku began tahay 11ka Juun 2009ka waxa ay ku began tahay sanad guuradii ka soo wareegtay maalintii uu geeriyooday Allaha u naxariistee Agaasimihii Hay`adda Daryeelka Haweenka iyo carruurta (Wocca) Maxamed Cabdulle Mahdi oo ahayd 11kii Juun 2009 kii.
Agaasimihii Guud ee Hay`adda daryeelka Haweenka iyo carruurta (Wocca) Maxamed Cabdulle Mahdi waxa uu ku dhashay magaalada Muqdisho 21July 1964tii, waxaa uuna dugsigiisa hoose dhexe iyo sareba kaga baxay isla magaalada Muqdisho. Maxamed waxa uu macallin ka soo noqday dugsigii sare ee Shibis ee gobolka Banaadir.
Maxamed cabdulle Mahdi 1984dii waxa uu ku biiray wasaaradda Beeraha mashruuciisa fidinta Beeraha halkaas oo uu ka mid ahaa shaqaalihii mashruuca wuxuuna ka soo qabtay howlo kala duwan.
1985tii waxa uu u soo wareegay Bankigii dhexe ee Soomaaliya qeybtiisa xisaabaadka isagoo isla sanadkaasi loo soo wareejiyay qeybtii sarifka lacagaha Qalaad ee Bankiga Dhexe.
1989kii waxaa loo magacaabay Agaasime ku xigeenkii Laantii Sarifka lacagaha qalaad ee la oran jiray Ma degenayaasha illaa iyo burburkii Dowladii horena halkaasi ayuu ku dhameystay.
1991 waxaa uu contractor u noqday UNITAF/UNICEF/ICRCda isagoo gaarsiiyay ummadii dhibaateysneyd waxyalihii nolosha asaasiga u ahaa ee aanan looga marmin ummadii dhibaatadu heysatayWaxyaabaha la taaban karo waxaa ka mid ahaa dayactirkii waddada balcad oo aheyd mid dhibaato soo gaartay xiligii dagaalada.
1996dii waxa uu ka mid noqday ururkii Daryeelka haweenka (WOCA) oo uu ka gaaray illaa iyo Agaasime ku xigaha ururka waxaa uuna soo shaqeeyay howlaha bani`aadanimada ee gobolka Shabeelaha dhexe taas oo uu ugu dambeyntii uu Agaasime ka noqday Ururka Ururka daryeelka Haweenka iyo Caruurta (WOCCA).
Marxuumku waxaa uu ka soo qabtay howlo farabadan oo dhanka bani1aadanimada ah Gobolka Shabeelada dhexe taasoo waxyaabaha lagu xasuusan karo ay ugu horeeyaan in uu gobolka ka hirgeliyay illaa iyo 10 dugsi ama school oo uu isaga aas`aasay kuwaasi oo ku yaalla guud ahaan gobolka Shabeelaha dhexe kana faa`iideysteen carruur u badan agoon oo halkaasi wax ka barta waxa kaloo uu ka hirgeliyay xerooyinka qaxootiga ee gobolka qaarkood illaa iyo 4 dugsi oo ay qaxootiga wax ku bartaan.
Agaasimihii Hay`adda Daryeelka Haweenka iyo carruurta (WOCCA) waxa uu wax ka qabtay fatahaada wabiyada iyo u kaalmeynta dadka beeralayda ah ee gobolka taas oo wax weyn ka tartay daqliga reeraha beeralayda ah ee ku dhaqan gobolka.
Marxuumku waxa uu gacan ka geystay howlaha caafimaadka ee gobolka iyo waliba dhibaatadii Tsunamiga ee degmooyinka ku teedsan xeebta badweynta hindiya ee gobolka soo gaarsiisay dhibaato lixaad leh taasoo uu ka fuliyay degmooyinka ku teedsan xeebta barnaamijyo loogu gargaarayo dadka degaanadaas.
Allaha u naxariistee Maxamed cabdulle Mahdi waxa uu ahaa halyeey waqtigiisa u huray barnaamijyada loogu gargaarayo umadda ku nool gobolka Shabeelada Dhexe taas oo aan marnaba la illoobi doonin.
Munaasabada sanadguuradii 1aad ee ka soo wareegtay geeridii Agaasimihii Hay`adda daryeelka HAweenka iyo Carruurta (WOCCA) waxa ay hay`addani ku soo beegtay in ay hawada soo geliso websiteka www.woccaorg.com kaasi oo lagu soo bandhigi doono wax qabadkii hore ee hay`adda iyo midka manta iyo mustaqbalkaba.
INNAA LILLAHI WA INNAA ILLEYHI RAAJICUUN
17/May/2009
Early in the morning on 17th of May 2009, the group Al-Shabaab had an armed conflict in Jowhar with Islamic Courts Unions (ICU) which controlled all Middle Shabelle. There has not been any major bloodshed as the ICU decided to leave Jowhar, parts of the ICU heading to Mogadishu and the rest heading to other parts of the Middle Shabelle.
Al-Shabaab, so far, did not kill anyone in Jowhar and are apparently not intending to do so. However the group has started looting the offices of UNICEF and MSF Spain. They have also entered the compound of one of the local NGO’s. The Al-Shabaab Speaker apologized for this incident on radio and vowed to bring back all materials looted from these offices- they also said that they have no intentions raiding other local or INGO as well as UN organizations.
WOCCA with its current programmes with Oxfam Novib, Intersos, and Unicef did not suffer subanstantially under these conflicts and conditions. We have temporarily ceased our work in the IDP camps in Jowhar on 17th of May 2009 and will resume a week from this date as a new district commissionaire is expected to be appointed with that week.
The most urgent programme WOCCA is currently running is the WASH Cluster programme with UNICEF. AWD has been reported in Labawaab village in Jowhar and WOCCA is working on to curb the problem. Since travelling is becoming more of a challenge in Jowhar, WOCCA has stationed two of their staff in the Labawaab village to provide technical support as well as rehabilitate the well of the village.
WOCCA has history of working with any new political comer to the region. We have worked with the TFG previously, we have also worked with individuals who administrated the region on their own as well as the ICU and we can surely work with Al-Shabaab if they are here to stay.
AWD in Middle Shabelle
A number of AWD cases have been reported by Intersos Hospital in Jowhar and villages outside the town.
From 26th April, 2009 to 2nd May, 2009
Number of 26 diarrheoal cases of < 5 yrs and other 8 udults in total 34 cases observed in Jowhar Hospital , among them only a child dead from Jowhar town sections (Kulmis).
The casesf rom different locations while 18 children < 5 yrs came from Jowhar town sections and 8 cases of < 5 yrs came from outside Jowhar like Baarey village 5 cases < 5 yrs and B/Ahmed cige 3 cases < 5 yrs
All the adult cases came from outside Jowhar except 2 cases from Hantiwadag section of Jowhar town, the names of the villages and # of AWD cases are Moyke 1 pr, Dha'ifo 1 pr, Baarey 2 prs, Bal'ano 1 pr, and Laba-waab 1 pr.
Reported cases from INTERSOS hospital from 2nd May - 6th May 2009
11 cases of which 9 of them are < 5 were reported from INTERSOS hospital and number and places from the cases are as below
B/Ahmed Cigow village 1 < 5 yr
H/wadag section 3 < 5 yr
Horsed section 1 < 5 yr and 2 > 5 yr
Kulmis srction 1 < 5 yr
Baarey village 1 < 5 yr
Biyo Cadde village 1 < 5 yr
B/Sheikh seciton 1 < 5 yr
So far, WOCCA has been implementing hygiene awareness raising, distribution of chlorine, Aquatabs, water maker tablet, soap in Jowhar district to promote HH water treatment and provide access to safe drinking water, and promote hygiene awareness raising, and proper hand washing practices.
WOCCA currently accelerated distribution of Aquatabs, cholorfloc water maker for HH water treatment, soap and chlorine to Jowhar town sections and all villages in Jowhar district.
Besides that, WOCCA is also implementing the same activities for the AWD prevention and control activities through chlorination of water sources, HH water treatment, and distribution of soap and hygiene ans sanitation posters in Mahaday, and Bal'ad, districts in Middle Shabelle region.