Highlights:
· With thanks to the funds received from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), UNICEF was able to scale-up its WASH response in drought affected areas of Puntland and Somaliland. Provision of safe water through vouchers is ongoing and 10 boreholes have been rehabilitated to date. In addition, 5,500 hygiene kits benefitting 33,000 people have been distributed to support safe hygiene practices and water treatment at household level.
· UNICEF and WFP are jointly working on an augmented response in targeted Internal Displaced Populations (IDP) sites to address the deteriorating food security and malnutrition. As part of this response, UNICEF initiated a three month integrated emergency intervention in Dollow IDP settlements in Gedo region, providing nutrition, WASH and health services, and targeting 42,053 IDPs, including 8,411 children under 5 and 3,364 pregnant and lactating women.
· Following the attack by Al-Shabaab (AS) on Puntland security forces in coastal villages of Mudug and Nugal regions, some 90 children were captured by the Puntland security forces. UNICEF, together with other UN agencies, is currently negotiating the release of these children in order to facilitate their reintegration