CHF-DMA-0489-091 “Food Assistance for Emergency Relief and Protection of Livelihoods” – 3,700,000$

Benadir has been classified in humanitarian emergency since the Gu 2007 season. A rapid - non-representative - MUAC assessment by FSNAU revealed a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) of 29.2% and a Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) of 12%. Routine data from health centers have shown very high (>20%) and fluctuating trends of malnourished children in the last 6 months in Medina, Waberi, Hamar weyne and Hamar Jabjab.

Current nutrition services delivery points cover only 10 districts of Mogadishu. Plans are being finalised by WFP and UNICEF to support the expansion of services for both severe and moderate malnutrition to all 16 districts of Mogadishu.

The expansion will allow easier access to and greater coverage of nutrition services by all vulnerable groups in Mogadishu. In particular, it will reduce the opportunity cost and time taken by mothers and children to walk to the nutrition centers in a highly insecure environment.

WFP has been implementing TSFP in Benadir since 2008 and the programme has gained in coverage and quality since then. The programme currently covers 10 districts of Mogadishu and plans are being finalised to scale up to 16 districts allowing availability of services and an equitable access in all parts of Mogadishu. WFP will continue to support the treatment of moderate malnutrition with Ready-to-Use Supplementary food as it has proven to be very effective and presents evident logistics and programmatic advantages. Services will be integrated with the management of severe malnutrition, provision of micronutrients supplements, deworming, health and nutrition education, etc. as a basic package of nutrition services.