EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Between May through July 2015, FSNAU conducted 39 seasonal nutrition surveys across most regions and livelihood zones of Somalia, covering displaced (13), urban (6) and rural populations (20). The overall goal of this seasonal assessment was to establish the extent and the severity of acute malnutrition and determine the contributing factors of malnutrition among different livelihoods in Somalia in. The assesments were conducted in collaboration with Government institution (Ministry of Health) and partners.
METHODOLOGY
The surveys were cross sectional based on two-stage cluster sampling using Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART) methodology. The first stage of sampling was selection of clusters with Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) and the second stage was the selection of households within the clusters using simple random sampling approach. The assesments covered 26 845 Children (6-59 months) from 16 919 households.
Weight-for-Height Z-Score was measured for 33 surveys while Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) was used as an indicator of wasting in the remaining six.
KEY FINDINGS
Acute Malnutrition (GAM)
The 2015 Gu nutrition survey results indicate a median GAM rate of 13.6 percent (Serious) and a median SAM rate of 2.3 percent (Alert) for children under the age of five in Somalia. No change in GAM prevalence phase was noted for 22 out of 39 livelihoods surveyed while 18 out of 39 livelihoods showed no change in SAM since Deyr 2014/15.
Improvement in nutrition situation was noted in five livelihoods:-Bay Agro pastorals, Hawd (Northeast & Central), Bakool Pastoral, Sool Urban and Bossasso IDPs.
The prevalence of acute malnutrition) which exceeds the UN trigger for emergency nutrition action (i.e. GAM ≥ 15 %) was seen only in South Central region in 9 livelihoods:- North Gedo (Pastoral & Riverine), South Gedo (Pastoral, Agro pastoral and Riverine), Mataban District and Beletweyne district as well as in Central Coastal Deeh and Cowpea livelihood zones.
Out of 13 IDP settlements surveyed during 2015 Gu, five showed Critical levels of GAM (≥15 %): Dhobley IDPS (Lower Juba), Baidoa IDPs (Bay), Dolow IDPs (Gedo), Garowe (Nugaal) and Galkayo (Mudug). It is of concern that acute malnutrition levels in three of these IDP settlements (Dolow, Garowe and Galkayo) are sustained at Critical levels over the past two years. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Dhobley currently face a nutrition emergency as reflected in Critical levels of GAM and SAM which are accompanied by Critical levels of Crude Death Rate (CDR). The nutrition situation among Dollow IDPs has also deteriorated since December 2014 with an increase in Critical levels of GAM, a near doubling of CDR as well as increases in Under-Five Death Rate (U5DR) and morbidity levels.
Critical levels of GAM prevalence (≥15%) were recorded in two out of six urban areas surveyed during 2015 Gu (18.4% in Bari and 15.7% in Nugal) while Serious GAM prevalence (10-14.9%) was noted among Mogadishu urban (10.5%) and Alert (5-9.9) in Sool urban and Kismayo urban.
Out of 15 livelihoods with Critical GAM/MUAC, 12 showed sustained Critical levels of acute malnutrition