Moderate to heavy rains are expected to continue in the next three days within the north western parts of Somalia. The upper parts of Juba and Shabelle River basins within the Ethiopian highlands, whose rainfall contribute significantly to the river flow inside Somalia, may also record moderate to heavy rains during the same period. There will be a reduction of rainfall activities during the forecast period within Bari, and Sool, Nugaal, Mududg and Galgad regions. Other places including the Southern regions are expected to record light to moderate rains.

The Somalia rainfall forecast for Gu 2015 rainy season is calling for normal rains in most parts of the country with few areas expected to receive enhanced rains. Despite the normal rains and due to the weak river embankments in the Juba and Shabelle rivers, there is risk of flooding owing to the topography of the area, uncontrolled irrigation activities and poor river basin management due to collapse of pre-war flood control infrastructure. As part of flood preparedness and contingency planning SWALIM, using satellite images, has mapped the river breakages in the middle and lower parts of the two rivers which are most vulnerable. The breakages database produced and shared with you earlier has been updated to include recent data for the January and February 2015 period. Three types of breakages have been identified namely; open, potential and closed. The open breakages are those that were still open during the period of investigation. The potential breakages represent points that have very weak river embankment or have experienced several breakages in the recent past. The closed breakages are those that were previously open but efforts have been made to close them.

Somalia has frequently been affected by droughts, famines and water-related humanitarian crises. Water is scarce and the only perennial streams, the Juba and Shabelle rivers, are transboundary with river flows mainly originating from the Ethiopian highlands. In both riparian countries water demands are projected to increase. This paper reveals the impact of rising regional water abstractions on stream flows by illustrating sectoral demands and joining them into scenarios of medium and high population and economic growth. These scenarios are associated to the time horizons of 2035 and 2055 respectively. The scenarios disclose alarming trends especially for the Shabelle River: In the medium and high growth scenarios, water demands surpass the available river flows by 200 and 3500 hm3, respectively. The calculated deficits partly derive from conflicting assumptions about river flows by the two main riparian countries, an obstacle to any integrated planning efforts and sustained regional development.

During the week ending on 01 December 2014, there was decrease in rainfall activities within the Juba and Shabelle river basins inside Somalia with most stations recording no rains with exception of Bullae in Middle Juba region recording a total of 14mm and Belet weyne in Hiran region recording 8.5mm of rainfall.

We are pleased to share Issue 7 of our quarterly newsletter “SWALIM Update” for the period August 2014 - October 2014 The newsletter provides updates on SWALIM water and land information management activities such as: • SWALIM Completes Mapping Riverbank Breakages on Juba and Shabelle rivers • Over 100 Partners Trained in SWALIM Information Management Tools • Somali Water Sources Information Goes Live • SWALIM - 10 Years of Sustained EU Funding • Expansion of the Weather Monitoring Network in South and Central Somalia • SWALIM Conducts Partner Capacity Needs Assessment • SWALIM Supports Development of the Somali National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) We hope you will enjoy this edition. You feedback will be highly appreciated.

During the third Dekad of November 2014 (21 – 30 November), there was no rainfall activities in the northern parts of Somalia with the exception of Eafweyne in Sanaag region of Somaliland and some stations in the north eastern regions that received moderate rains. There was continued rainfall activities in the Southern parts of the country with some stations receiving above normal rains.

Summarised physical and biotic descriptions of range monitoring sites

This report details the results of more than one yearandrsquos study conducted by the andldquoDivisione Esteroandrdquoof Technital, S.p.A. (which has had independent status since August 1975 and now goes by the name of Technosynesis S.p.A., Planning and Engineering Consultants). The report consists of six volumes. The first of these, the present one, summarizes all the investigations and conclusions, which are detailed in the other five volumes together with relevant documentation and explanations.