Situation Update
On 10 November 2013, the State of Puntland in Somalia was hit by a tropical cyclone, followed by very heavy rains and flash floods. An estimated 20,300 households (approximate 142,000 people) in Nugaal and Bari region have been affected, with over 8,500 households being worst hit. Livelihoods were severely destructed, and local pastoralists have lost up to 90 percent of their entire livestock. According to an updated report from Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) and UN Food and agricultural organization (FAO), many families living in Nugaal and Bari region are still experiencing acute food security crisis as a negative impact after the cyclone hit.
This cyclone is considered as one of the many silent disasters around the world which has difficulties to catch the attention of international headlines. Limited support could be mobilized to provide essential humanitarian aid which hindered sufficient resources to fulfill the humanitarian needs.
International Red Cross Actions
The International Red Cross is working closely with the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) to provide relief and early recovery assistance to those affected by the cyclone, and is seeking a total of HK$21 million globally to assist 3,300 households (approximate 23,100 people). To date, the following activities have been carried out:
Provided health services for over 5,700 persons through the deployment of four mobile health teams;
Provided vaccination for measles as well pentavalent vaccines (Note: The “five-in-one” pentavalent vaccine protects children from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) which causes pneumonia and meningitis.) to 143 children;
Distributed 600 mosquito nets to 300 households;
Organized hygiene awareness campaigns on prevention of diarrhoea, reaching 600 households in Nugaal region;
Distributed non-food items, including kitchen sets, mosquito nets, blankets, tarpaulins, sleeping mats and jerry cans to 300 households in nomadic settlements.
Hong Kong Red Cross Actions
The Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) has mobilized approximately HK$2.2 million supporting Somali Red Crescent Society and International Red Cross actions. The amount is used to provide one month essential full food package (50 kg of rice, 25 kg of beans, 25 kg of wheat flour and 10 litres of cooking oil per family per per month) for 1,950 cyclone affected households (approximately 13,650 people) in Bari region.
General Enquiry
Please dial 2802-0016, fax to 2802-0017 or email to relief@redcross.org.hk.