European Union Training Mission Somalia

PRESS SUMMARY 25th April 2018

“In ‘Media’ stat virtus” EUTM - SOMALIA 25/04/2018

Speciale difesa: contingente italiano Eutm Somalia presenta 21 progetti di cooperazione realizzati nel biennio 2017-2018

Roma, 24 apr 16:00 - (Agenzia Nova) - Il comandante dell’Italian National Support Element (It-Nse) della Missione di addestramento dell’Unione europea in Somalia (Eutm Somalia) ha incontrato il vice governatore della regione del Banadir e il suo staff. L’incontro, che si è svolto presso l’ufficio del sindaco di Mogadiscio e governatore del Banadir, è stato voluto fortemente per mostrare la volontà da parte dei militari italiani della missione Eutm di supportare l’amministrazione locale. L’iniziativa, si legge in un comunicato dello Stato maggiore della Difesa, ha avuto inoltre lo scopo di presentare le attività della Cellula di cooperazione civile e militare (Cimic) svolte e da svolgere da parte del contingente italiano in Somalia. Nel corso dell’evento sono stati discussi gli esiti dei 21 progetti eseguiti a supporto della popolazione locale che hanno interessato, nel corso del 2017-2018, principalmente i settori sanità, sicurezza, servizi di emergenza e supporto umanitario alle minoranze. Questi interventi sono stati realizzati grazie alla determinazione degli operatori del Multinational Cimic Group, unità dell'Esercito – a valenza interforze e multinazionale – specializzata nella cooperazione civile-militare che opera a Mogadiscio sin dal 2014.

Tra i numerosi interventi si possono elencare i progetti di ristrutturazione delle Mother and Child Health Centre dei distretti di Shibis e Darkeenley, infrastrutture pubbliche che hanno come target l’assistenza delle giovani madri partorienti e dei minori sino ad un età di 3-5 anni. Gli interventi del contingente italiano hanno infatti reso le strutture, prima precarie e mancanti dei servizi essenziali, tra le più accoglienti della città ed hanno permesso l’implementazione, grazie al coordinamento con le principali organizzazioni internazionali presenti in Somalia, di servizi quali il supporto ed assistenza al parto, prevenzione malattie sessualmente trasmissibili, programmi nutrizionali specifici, campagne di vaccinazioni ed attività di monitoraggio delle violenze domestiche. Inoltre l’attività di Cimic ha supportato la municipalità del Banadir con la ristrutturazione ed ampliamento di una stazione di polizia nel distretto di Bondheere, distretto particolarmente bersagliato dagli attacchi di al Shabaab,

EUTM - SOMALIA 1 EUTM - SOMALIA 25/04/2018 con la donazione di equipaggiamento al dipartimento dei locali vigili del fuoco che interviene con i pochi mezzi a disposizione in caso di attacchi esplosivi in città. Nel campo delle politiche di sviluppo sociale si sono inoltre sostenuti progetti per la diffusione degli sport di squadra femminili ed attività di “vocational training” che permettano un'emancipazione delle giovani donne e studenti somale. (Com) https://www.agenzianova.com/a/0/1899340/2018-04-24/speciale-difesa-contingente- italiano-eutm-somalia-presenta-21-progetti-di-cooperazione-realizzati-nel-biennio-2017- 2018

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Missione EUTM SOMALIA: ITALIAN-NSE presenta 21 progetti CIMIC (Civil Military Cooperation)

pubblicato il 24 aprile 2018 Mogadiscio. Il Comandante dell’Italian National Support Element (IT-NSE) della Missione EUTM Somalia ha incontrato il Vice Governatore della regione del Banadir e il suo staff (Città di Mogadiscio).

L’incontro, che si è svolto presso l’ufficio del Sindaco di Mogadiscio e del governatore del Banadir, è stato voluto fortemente per mostrare la volontà da parte dei militari italiani della missione EUTM di supportare l’amministrazione locale.

L’iniziativa ha avuto, inoltre, lo scopo di presentare le attività di CIMIC svolte e da svolgere da parte del Contingente italiano in Somalia.

Nel corso dell’evento sono stati discussi gli esiti dei 21 progetti eseguiti a supporto della popolazione locale che hanno interessato, nel corso del 2017-2018, principalmente i settori sanità, sicurezza, servizi di emergenza e supporto umanitario alle minoranze. Questi interventi sono stati realizzati grazie alla determinazione degli operatori del Multinational CIMIC Group, unità dell’ Esercito a valenza interforze e multinazionale, specializzata nella cooperazione civile-militare che opera in Mogadiscio sin dal 2014.

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Attività a favore delle donne.

Tra i numerosi interventi si possono elencare i progetti di ristrutturazione delle Mother and Child Health Centre dei distretti di Shibis e Darkeenley, infrastrutture pubbliche che hanno come target l’assistenza delle giovani madri partorienti e dei minori sino ad un età di 3/5 anni. Gli interventi del Contingente Italiano hanno infatti reso le strutture, prima precarie e mancanti dei servizi essenziali, tra le più accoglienti della città ed hanno permesso l’implementazione, grazie al coordinamento con le principali organizzazioni internazionali presenti in Somalia, di servizi quali il supporto ed assistenza al parto, prevenzione malattie sessualmente trasmissibili, programmi nutrizionali specifici, campagne di vaccinazioni ed attività di monitoraggio delle violenze domestiche.

Inoltre l’attività di CIMIC ha supportato la Municipalità del Banadir con la ristrutturazione ed ampliamento di una stazione di polizia nel distretto di Bondheere, distretto particolarmente bersagliato dagli attacchi di Al-Shabab, con la donazione di equipaggiamento al dipartimento dei locali vigili del fuoco che interviene con i pochi mezzi a disposizione in caso di attacchi esplosivi in città. Nel campo delle politiche di sviluppo sociale si sono inoltre sostenuti progetti per la diffusione degli sport di squadra femminili ed attività di vocational training che permettano un emancipazione delle giovani donne e studenti somale.

L’atteggiamento fraterno e l’empatia manifestata durante l’incontro da parte del vice governatore e del suo staff ha chiaramente mostra quanto la presenza fisica del personale italiano nelle aree interessate all’attività di cooperazione, nonostante il clima di sicurezza risulti particolarmente non permissivo, trovi un riscontro più che positivo da parte della popolazione locale. http://www.reportdifesa.it/missione-eutm-somalia-italian-nse-presenta-21-progetti-cimic- civil-military-cooperation/

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Somali Parliament registers candidates for the speaker election

April 24, 2018 - The interim parliamentary electoral committee is registering for the second consecutive day the candidates vying for the seat of the house’s speaker.

Five candidates, including former speaker Sheikh Aden Madobe and the minister of water and Energy Salim Aliyow Ibrow, were registered on Monday ahead of the election on 30th April.

The organizing committee of the election said in a statement on Sunday that any candidate from the cabinet who is standing for the speaker should resign before his registration day.

The vote came after the former speaker of Somalia’s parliament Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawaari has resigned warly this month after few weeks of political standoff among the MPs. http://radioshabelle.com/somali-parliament-registers-candidates-speaker-election/

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Parliamentary elections Committee ends registration of speakership candidates

Tuesday April 24, 2018 - Parliamentary Election officials say that Tuesday is the deadline for candidates vying for the Lower House Speaker election.

Mogadishu (HOL) - The Parliamentary Elections committee officially concluded the registration of candidates on Tuesday ahead of the election of the Lower House Speaker slated for 30th April. With two days of candidate nomination, the committee had so far registered over six contenders who will vie for the office of the speaker. In a statement, the electoral team directed the several ministers vying for the speakership to resign from their ministerial posts, for them to contest. So far, four ministers have complied with the directive by resigning from their offices yesterday and today before attaining their nomination forms.

Mohamed Mursal Abdirahman, Defense minister who is vying for the office of the speaker announced his resignation on Tuesday afternoon and was the last minister to step down, Abdirahman who once served as Somalia's ambassador to Turkey took the office last year after his predecessor, Abdirashid Abdullahi quit the office Minister for Water, Salim Ibrow, State Minister for Trade, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed and deputy minister interior, Issack Yarow have also exited their offices.

The candidates are expected to deliver their campaign speeches on 25th and 26th before the parliamentarians head the poll to elect the new speaker.

Mohamed Osman Jawari who was Speaker since 2012, resigned from the office early this month following a tense month-long political stand-off. https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Apr/157765/parliamentary_elections_committ ee_ends_registration_of_speakership_candidates.aspx

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2nd official turns down appointment by Hirshabelle authorities

Tuesday April 24, 2018

Jama Farah Kaba-weyne, a trader from Beledweyne, said that he was not consulted by the Hirshabelle Administration prior to his appointment. Beledweyne (HOL) - A trader from Beledweyne has turned down his appointment to hold a post in the infant Hirshabelle administration, citing a complete lack of consultation before his appointment. Jama Farah Kaba-weyne was nominated for the Deputy Governor of Hiiraan region this month by Hirshabelle Interior Ministry. Kaba-weyne who spoke to the media on Tuesday said the Hirshabelle administration did not consult him prior the appointment.

He added that he was not willing to take the post. "I heard my nomination on the radio, There was no consultation given, I am a shop owner living in Beledweyne, and I don't need a position within Hirshabelle administration," Kaba-weyne said. He called on Hirshabelle authorities to engage in delebrations with the individuals before appointed for post. Last Month, Faisal Abdullahi Omar, a secondary student in Jowhar announced his rejection to take up Assistant District Commissioner of Gamboole town just a day after he was allegedly appointed by Hirshabelle Interior Ministry. The 16-year-old claimed he also heard his nomination on the media and was not given consultation on the post. "I am still a student at Sheikh Hassan Barsame Secondary School in Jowhar. I heard I was appointed as Deputy Gamboole district Commissioner by (Hirshabelle) Minister for Interior. I cannot hold that post," Omar told the media.

https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Apr/157766/2nd_official_turns_down_appointment_by _hirshabelle_authorities.aspx

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Clan dynamics to play major role in by-election for new Wajir governor

Tuesday April 24, 2018 - Former Wajir govenor Ahmed Abdullahi celebrates with his supporters outside the court of appeal on friday last week afther it upheld the ruling by High Court overturning governor Mohamed Abdi's win./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

The Court of Appeal’s decision on Friday to uphold the ruling by High Court Judge Alfred Mabeya in the Wajir governor petition on January 12, will send voters back to the ballot. This follows the nullification of the election of Governor Mohamed Abdi of Jubilee. The court ruled that he was not validly cleared to vie for the seat. He lacked a valid university degree and his election was marred by malpractices. A three-judge bench of justices Philip Waki, Milton Makhandia and Patrick Kiage ruled that the IEBC should conduct a fresh election for governor of Wajir. Political heavyweights and brokers are already spinning into action. New alliances are being formed. Complex clan and sub-clan dynamics will play a key role in determining the next Wajir CEO. Both Abdi and his predecessor Ahmed Abdullahi, who challenged his election, are from the Yaber sub-clan of the Degodia. However, Abdullahi’s co-petitioner Ahmed Muhumed is from the Ogaden clan. The Ajuran clan, which took the Senate seat, will be a deciding factor. Abdullahi was opposed by veteran politicians in the county who accused him of not consulting them on key decision. News of the nullification of Abdi’s victory has been received with mixed reactions. Some residents back it while others say it will slow development. Resident Mohamed Kheir, a hardware owner in Wajir, said they are relieved. They can now pick a leaders of their choice. Abdi has taken his battle to defend his victory to the Supreme Court. https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Apr/157755/clan_dynamics_to_play_major_role_in_b y_election_for_new_wajir_governor.aspx

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Blow to Wadajir leader as Kenyan authorities block Nairobi meeting

April 24, 2018

Abdirahman Abdishakur speaking to the media at Wadajir Party headquarters in Mogadishu following raid by government forces. Photo credit: Goobjoog News

Kenyan authorities Tuesday blocked opposition politician Abdirahman Abdishakur from addressing a political rally in Nairobi after he suffered a similar fate in Mogadishu.

Wadajir party chairman Kamal Gutale confirmed the cancellation of the meeting scheduled for today at Sir Ali Muslim club in Nairobi’s Eastleigh.

“Indeed the meeting has been cancelled,” Gutale told Goobjoog News but did not elaborate circumstances under which the meeting was cancelled.

Abdishakur whose residence was raided by security forces killing five of his guards last December was set make his first formal address at the rally after he was cleared by authorities in Mogadishu to travel. Banaadir regional court had earlier barred him from travelling outside the country pending a case against him.

The National Assembly leader in Kenya Aden Duale said in a media interview the country’s laws did not allow a foreign politician to hold a rally in the country adding such meetings ‘were aimed at destabilizing the Federal Government.’

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“According to our laws a foreign politician cannot hold a political rally in the country,” Duale who has previously cautioned Somali politicians holding meetings in Nairobi said. “We can’t allow politicians to use Kenya as a base to destabilize the Somali government. We want to dedicate time and resources to build the Somali government.”

The intelligence agency NISA blocked Abdishakur from addressing a public forum at Sahafi Hotel in Mogadishu mid last month.

The politician who is also a fierce critic of President Mohamed Farmaajo administration yesterday posted a tweet explaining why he would not support the current administration.

“My answer is very simple to those who asked me to support current administration. I will support any leader who will draw his/her legitimacy from visions of truth, reconciliation and national unity rather than from divisive, fear and false clan- factional agendas.” http://goobjoog.com/english/blow-to-wadajir-leader-as-kenyan-authorities-block-nairobi- meeting/

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https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-federal-government-takes-sides- in-the-gulf-rift

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PM Khaire: Somalia will start printing currency soon

Tuesday April 24, 2018

Mogadishu (HOL) -Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khaire said that international partners have agreed that Somalia had made visible changes in public finance management, good governance and economic recovery.

The PM's comments came after a recent high-level roundtable in Washington attended by Somalia’s Finance Minister, Abdirahman Beileh, lauded the developments made by Somalia in the financial sector.

PM Khaire mentioned that officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank finally agreed to support Somalia resume printing its currency.

“One year ago, we promised to improve the country’s economic situation, a few days ago our finance minister has attended a meeting in Washington, where it was acknowledged that the Somali government had made a big achievement in the financial and economic reform agenda. Thus, participants agreed to help Somalia resume its banknotes for the first time since the government collapsed in 1991,” he said.

He added that some European nations have also pledged to begin providing direct financial support to the federal government channelling the financial aid via the Central Bank.

He noted that the debt clearance path is now open for the federal government.

According to the IMF, Somalia's external debt stands at about $5.2 billion. Somalia has not made a service or amortization payment on the debt since civil war broke out nearly three

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Much of the principal debt dates back to the Cold War when the world's superpowers battled for supremacy in Somalia and the horn of Africa. Almost all of Somalia's debt burden is accounted for by arrears on credit advanced in the early 1980's, well before most of Somalia's population - where 60% of the population is estimated to be under the age of 25 - was born.

Somalia's government has undergone an aggressive campaign to access debt relief which includes adherence to an IMF staff-monitored programme.

The IMF estimates that economic growth is set to quicken to 2.5 percent in 2018 from 1.8 percent in 2017.

Earlier this year it was announced by the Ministry of Finance that $42.5 million was raised in domestic revenue during the first quarter of 2018, a fiscal milestone since the collapse of the central government in 1991. https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Apr/157762/pm_khaire_somalia_will_start_pri nting_currency_soon.aspx

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Ambassador Al-Hanaq, Somali Sports Minister discussbilateral relations

24/04/2018 MOGADISHU-SABA

Yemen's Ambassador to SomaliaFadl al-Hanaq discussed today with Somalia's Minister of Youth and Sports and MP Khadija Mohammad Diri, the bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and means of enhancing and developing them in various fields.

The Ambassador praised the efforts of the Somali leadership, government and people on their support for Yemen and internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. http://www.sabanew.net/viewstory/32241

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Turkish envoy to Somalia Olgan Bekar: Still so much work to be done in Somalia

April 23, 2018 by Ali Baashi - Turkey’s ambassador to Somalia said that bilateral ties are growing along with strong brotherhood and solidarity, and stressed the necessity to prioritize economic and cultural relations to further strengthen political ties that are currently at an excellent level

DAILY SABAH | April 23, 2018 | By YUNUS PAKSOY – Turkey still has its hands full in Somalia in spite of excellent and brotherly bilateral ties and humanitarian efforts as well as investments since 2011, Turkey’s Ambassador to Somalia Olgan Bekar said. Speaking to Daily Sabah in an exclusive interview, the Turkish envoy in Mogadishu said that Turkey has realized a remarkable number of development and humanitarian projects in Somalia since 2011, which led to “excellent political ties.”

“There is so much work to be done. I think it would be beneficial to prioritize bilateral economic and cultural relations to further strengthen the political ties that are currently at an excellent level,” Bekar said. Underscoring that the Turkish state strives to allow its Somali brothers and sisters to live a normal life, the envoy said that governmental and nongovernmental organizations exert every effort to be on the ground.

The Turkish ambassador, who has been posted in Mogadishu for a four-year term, believes the Turkish-Somali ties grow at a pace with a notion of strong brotherhood and solidarity. “Somali society keeps the relations with our country out of their daily political context and places special value on them. The Somali people consider our country as a real brother that would support and stand by Somalia at its most difficult times,” Bekar said. The Somali

EUTM - SOMALIA 17 EUTM - SOMALIA 25/04/2018 people find themselves in an environment with a de facto nonexistent state. Furthermore, the country has been in a civil war since the early 1990s. The Turkish envoy said the country is being tested with multidimensional and broad problems.

“It requires effort, patience, energy and time to realize normalization in every aspect of the daily life in Somalia. Turkey has been strengthening bilateral ties within the framework of humanitarian diplomacy principles since 2011 in order for our Somali brothers and sisters to have a normal life,” he said, adding that the road ahead for everyone in the country is very long.

Military training facility quenches security need

Turkey opened a military training facility in the Somali capital city of Mogadishu in September 2017. The Turkish and Somali governments signed an agreement that allowed the Turkish military to train and equip Somali soldiers and military officers for five years. Sitting on vast land, the military training facility has already been home to hundreds of Somali troops.

Commenting on the significance of the military training base, the envoy said that the precondition for the Somali state to have an institutional ground again is to ensure security at an acceptable level. “It is the essential goal to establish Somali security forces. It is a requirement of our comprehensive Somali policy for our country, which has won the trust and love of the Somali people, to play a role in the re-establishment of Somali security forces,” he said. Bekar underlined that the military training facility quenches a great deficiency in the area of security in the country. “Commissioned and noncommissioned military officers, who will constitute the backbone of the Somali army in the future, are being trained by the talented officers of the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK],” he said.

The ambassador also noted that the training program offered to Somali troops is the first of its kind. “For the first time a regular commissioned and noncommissioned military officer training program is being carried out within the Somali borders,” he concluded.

Turkey prefers to stay out of domestic politics

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The people of Somalia have been indeed damaged by the meddling of other countries in their internal affairs. Corruption allegations, political turmoil and deadly bombings still haunt the country. In such a climate, Turkey, a country that is very actively engaged in Somalia, prefers not to interfere with any of Somalia’s internal matters.

Bekar said Ankara attaches great importance to remain a nonpolitical actor in Somalia. “Turkey always makes efforts to stay outside of internal political developments,” he added.

Calling on all international actors in the country to lend a helping hand to Somali brothers and sisters, who are going through serious tests and difficulties, the envoy said that a Somalia that lives in peace and achieves to preserve its own security should be everyone’s common goal http://www.qaranimo.com/news/2018/04/23/turkish-envoy-to-somalia-olgan-bekar-still- so-much-work-to-be-done-in-somalia/

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NUSOJ: Journalists’ union accuses Somali Ministry of Information for faking sincerity to resolve journalists’ safety crisis (23.04.2018)

https://minbane.wordpress.com/2018/04/23/https-wp-me-p1xtjg-6ng/

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AfDB launches “Say No to Famine” project in Somalia

Tuesday April 24, 2018 - The African Development Bank’s Deputy Director General for East Africa, Nnenna Nwabufo, represented the institution at the launch of the Say No to Famine – Short-Term Regional Emergency Response Project (STRERP) for Somalia.

As a response to food security, the Bank has supported the people of Somalia, mobilizing approximately US $34 million (25 million Units of Account), from both the Transition Support Facility of the African Development Fund and the regional envelope. The STRERP project aims to provide emergency food assistance, fodder for pastoralists and medical supplies to about 800,000 Somalians, who are most vulnerable to the impact of the drought. It also puts in place the preliminary building blocks to strengthen links between the production, distribution and consumption hubs of the food systems in the affected regions, leading to increased system-wide efficiency and longer-term resilience. STRERP Somalia aims to immediately address the humanitarian needs of those affected by drought and famine.

Elmi Omar Aainsane, Acting and Deputy Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, welcomed the invited delegates on behalf of the Federal Government of Somalia. He particularly commended the African Development Bank for its timely action against famine in the region, assuring that the assistance would get to the beneficiaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Nwabufo underscored that the Bank’s response demonstrates its commitment to supporting and assisting its Regional Members Countries (RMCs) that are severely affected by prolonged drought periods and unstable food production systems.

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“Food security and healthy food for all in Africa, that’s what the African Development Bank strives for through its many projects and work in Regional Member Countries,” Nwabufo said.

The meeting also brought together representatives from the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), Save the Children, and the United Nations; Ministers from the Federal and Member States, as well as public servants from different Ministries in Somalia. https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Apr/157768/afdb_launches_say_no_to_famine_proje ct_in_somalia.aspx

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Press Release on African Union Training Workshop on Electoral Boundaries Delimitation for Somalia

Nairobi, 23 April 2018: The Department of Political Affairs (DPA) of the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has organized a training workshop on electoral boundaries delimitation for the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) from 23 to 25 April 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya. The multi-stakeholder training workshop drew Somali participants from the NIEC, Ministries of Constitutional and Interior Affairs, the Boundary and Federal Commission, Office of the Prime Minister, among others. The capacity building workshop on electoral boundaries delimitation is in response to the request from NIEC to the DPA to provide electoral assistance in implementation of its 5-Year Strategic Plan (2017-2021). Pursuant to Chapter Seven of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the AU has a mandate to provide electoral support to Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of Member States. Support to NIEC is one of the priority EMBs identified by the DPA in providing sustainable electoral- cycle based technical assistance. The capacity building training workshop is conducted at a crucial moment when Somali stakeholders are engaged in constitutional-making process and development of the legal framework for the general elections based on universal suffrage scheduled to take place in 2020-2021. This is the second capacity building initiative by the DPA targeting NIEC and other electoral stakeholders in Somalia, which builds on the training on electoral systems which was conducted in July 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya. Electoral systems design is inextricably related to the process of electoral boundary delimitation. Collectively, electoral systems and electoral boundary delimitation are crucial in shaping the type of electoral architecture for any country. This training is therefore crucial in contributing to the sustainability of democratic governance, peace and political stability in Somalia. This is in line with AU Agenda 2063, The “Africa We Want”, specifically Aspiration 3 which envisions “An Africa of good governance, democracy, and respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law.” http://www.peaceau.org/en/article/press-release-on-african-union-training-workshop-on- electoral-boundaries-delimitation-for-somali

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ISIS Operative Nabbed In Mogadishu

On Apr 24, 2018

A suspected ISIS militant was on Tuesday arrested by Somali authorities and displayed to the media.

The man was identified as Jama Hussein Hassan and is said to have confessed to be an ISIS operative.

He was found with several bomb making equipment.

Hassan told Police that he was a former Alshabaab militant before he switched allegiance to ISIS

He had been based in the rough terrains of Galgaal a hotbed of Pro-ISIS militants led by Sheikh Abdiqadir Mumin https://www.radiodalsan.com/en/2018/04/24/isis-operative-nabbed-in-mogadishu/

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Somalia: Lightening strike kills newlyweds

April 24, 2018 - Security forces inspect the area after a car bomb attack took place in Mogadishu, Somalia on 22 March 2018

A lightning strike has killed a newlywed couple in Ari-addays village, some 30 kilometres south of Abudwaq town of Galgaduud, Halbeeg reported today. “The two were at home when the incident occurred. No one else was living with them, there was heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning struck them,” a relative told Halbeeg.

Heavy rain began to fall in the first week of March, with southern and central regions of Somalia flooding in April. The Juba and Shebelle region in Somalia was only hit by moderate rain, according to the Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) unit. According to Relief Web, rain this year has negatively impacted the humanitarian condition in Somalia, causing overcrowding in temporary shelters housing internally displaced persons. The Shebelle River is expected to rise from the rain, with some 200,000 Somalis at risk of flooding in Belet Weyne town. Despite an uptick of rain fall Somali farmers have reportedly started working on their crops early, in a bid to take advantage of the opportunity for cultivation. In February this year some 38 Somalis died from severe drought conditions in southern Somalia. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180424-somalia-lightening-strike-kills- newlyweds/

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Seasonal rainfall above average across Horn of Africa-report

April 24, 2018

FILE: Vehicles wade through a flooded road after a heavy down pour in Mombasa

NAIROBI: Rains across the Horn of Africa have surpassed expected amounts according to records from the East Africa Seasonal Monitor, which released its analysis Monday.

This latest report comes a few weeks after the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum issued its seasonal outlook for the March-May period – which is considered an important rainfall season over the equatorial parts of the region.

The report indicates that since late March, rainfall has been above average over broad areas of Somalia, eastern and southern Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi. Initial satellite- derived estimates suggest rainfall since late March has been as much as 200 percent of average across many areas.

“Overall, seasonal rainfall totals in excess of 150 percent of average have been observed across much of the region, though poor performance has been observed in parts of northern Ethiopia,” says the weather monitoring body.

Short-term forecasts suggest heavy rainfall is likely to continue over the next week in much of the region, which should further strengthen rainfall surpluses in many areas, and will become relatively less widespread and concentrated over southwestern and eastern

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Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, coastal, central and western Kenya, and northern and coastal Tanzania.

In Northern Kenya, heavy rains and flash flooding in have destroyed homes, displaced many, and left tens of thousands at risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, including in Dadaab, one of the world’s largest refugee camps.

RED FLAG

At least 750 homes have been swept away by raging floods in Mandera, which displaced about 4500 people, and in Turkana County, a bridge has been washed away, cutting off stranded communities from supplies and support.

In Daadab, the humanitarian agencies have raised the red flag saying that there could be a breakout of waterborne diseases after latrines filled up with water and overflew – creating a breeding ground for diseases such as cholera.

The Aid agencies said that they are racing against time to respond to humanitarian needs of the displaced – despite a recent reduction in funding with some agencies such as Save the Children having to cut its operations in half last year, and the UN’s World Food Program soon to cut food rations by 30%.

“Children are children and they want to play in the water, which is practically toxic. They don’t realise it could be fatal. What’s more, the floodwaters are washing away people’s belongings, livestock and homes, and families are living in open areas without access to shelter or food,” said Caleb Odhiambo, Area Manager of Save the Children’s Dadaab operation.

Nearly a quarter of a million refugees, mainly from Somalia, live in the camp—more than half of whom are children. But aid workers there report a recent increase of new arrivals from across the border. http://goobjoog.com/english/seasonal-rainfall-above-average-across-horn-of-africa- report/

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Floods displace over 4000 people in Beledweyne town

Apr 24, 2018

Mogadishu(SONNA)-Over four thousand people(4000) were displaced after heavy rains and river floods in Beledweyne town in Hiiraan region, SONNA reported.

Beledweyne District Commissioner, Mohamed Osman Abdi told Somali National News Agency that there are difficult situations in the town.

“Over four thousand people displaced from Beledweyne town in the last three days, most of those living in Koshin and Hawo-Tako neighborhoods in this town fled from their homes to villages outside the town”, Mr. Abdi said.

He added that the Somali Shilling isn’t working in the town, saying that was another challenge existed there.

” We had meeting with officials from Humanitarian agencies on Monday and set up a committee comprising of 18 members of both Hiiraan regional Administration and the agencies to extend emergency assistance to people affected by the floods”, He added.

On the other hand, Hirshabelle State President, Mohamed Abdi Ware called the Federal Government, Humanitarian agencies, traders and Hiiraan diaspora to help to those people in very critical conditions at moment.

Mr. Ware discussed this with International partners who paid a visit to the town yesterday according to our reporter there.

Shabelle river often makes floods in Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions under Hirshabelle state in Somalia. http://sonna.so/en/?p=13145

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Five killed in Somalia flooding crisis

Tuesday April 24, 2018 - MOGADISHU, (CAJ News) – AT least five people, including two children, have died following severe flooding that has displaced thousands of refugees in Somalia.

The presence of the terror group, Al-Shabaab has hindered delivery of aid to affected communities across the conflict-prone East African country. The children have been confirmed dead in Cadaado city in the central Galgudud region as rains worsen conditions in overcrowded Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) settlements. An estimated 9 300 displaced people in the settlements have been affected and an unknown number has moved to nearby towns until flooding recedes. In Jubaland, three people have died as a result of flash floods in Ceel Waaq and Ceel Cadde in the southern Jubaland.

An estimated 28 200 people have been displaced.

Up to 350 000 people are at risk.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) bemoaned the presence of terror groups in the area. “Due to the presence of Al-Shabaab, humanitarian partners have little access to such areas in Middle Juba region,” a spokesperson said. Ironically, the Al-Shabaab has displaced the citizens from their homes through a reign of terror over two decades. In contrast to 2017 when the country suffered drought, heavy rains have pummeled Somalia since the beginning of March.Subsequent flooding has increased the risk of diseases such as malaria, acute watery diarrhea and cholera. https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Apr/157757/five_killed_in_somalia_flooding_crisis.aspx

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Former Somali herders commute from city casual jobs to support families left in rural areas

Tuesday April 24, 2018 - (ERGO) – Hassan Warsame, 60, has been commuting between Galkayo city in northeastern Somalia’s Puntland region and his rural home more than 50 km away ever since he realized that he could never rebuild his life around livestock again.

As soon as he has some weekly wages in his pocket from working on a construction site, he buys food for the family and travels home to the village. He has eight children depending on him. Hundreds of other pastoralists, whose livestock and livelihoods have been devastated by the drought in different parts of Mudug region, are doing something similar.

Hassan mixes cement and sand on the building site, and loads heavy materials onto trucks. He said his job needs physical strength more than any particular skill, so it was easy to pick up.

After working for four days, he spends Thursdays and Friday with his family, returning to work on Saturday morning. His average earnings are 550-600,000 shillings ($20) a week. As he received the cash, he always gives it to a friend working in a local shop to keep it safe for him. Once he has taken out the money he needs for his own living and transport, he is able to buy 15 kgs of flour, 20 kgs of rice, and 10 kgs sugar to keep the family going while he is away in the city.

Hassan’s family remains with 15 feeble goats from their original herd of 300. They cannot make a living out of such a few pitiful animals. As he could not afford to transfer his family to the city, Hassan felt it best to separate.

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“I do this work to get food. There is a great disparity in this life and the previous one – the previous one was much better,” he told Radio Ergo’s local reporter.

There are around 340 men doing similar casual labour in Galkayo, who have recently come in from surrounding rural areas, according to the local authorities. They work mainly in construction, quarrying, and serve as waiters in restaurants. Hassan and his co-workers sleep in local mosques on the days they are away from their homes, as they do not have relatives in the area to stay with.

Sharif Abdi, 34, is another father of eight who came to Galkayo looking for employment. He goes early in the morning to a food market in Galkayo to offload and load groceries to trucks. He left his family in Afgaduudle, 170 km away, and he cannot afford to see them during the weekends. He earns 240,000 ($10) and buys them five kg of flour, rice and sugar and asks truck drivers going that way to deliver them to his family.

Five years ago he owned a healthy herd of 150 goats, but only 10 survived the drought. He told Radio Ergo he decided to venture into this work in January, when his family could no longer survive the harsh living conditions they were facing.

The social welfare representative at Galkayo municipal council, Muhidin Yusuf, told Radio Ergo they cannot do much to improve the lives of these new workers, but they have met local employers asking them to give employment opportunities to displaced pastoralists.

Muhidin Yusuf said there were various initiatives underway with assistance from aid agencies to restock pastoralist families’ herds to enable them to rebuild their old livelihoods in the rural areas. However, he recognized that such plans might not succeed, in which case they would need to look into bringing the families to the city from the villages and organizing skills trainings to open better job prospects. https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2018/Apr/157760/former_somali_herders_commute_fr om_city_casual_jobs_to_support_families_left_in_rural_areas.aspx

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Mayor of Mogadishu appeals urgent humanitarian assist in order to save lives in IDPs camps

Mogadishu | QOL | 24 April 2018 – H.E. Abdirahman Omar Osman (Eng. Yarisow), the Mayor of Mogadishu & Governor of Benadir Region has launched an urgent appeal to save lives of Internally Displaced People (IDPS) in the capital city of Mogadishu who are facing the worst humanitarian crises as the rain season intensifies.

Mayor Yarisow said “The humanitarian needs deepen in the Benadir Region as the city faces unique challenges that need urgent attention. Over half million persons are displaced and basic essential packages shelter, food, health and sanitation are urgently needed. In recent months, we have seen a rise in number of newly displaced families arriving in Mogadishu due to conflicts in neighboring regions. Majority of these families have not been reached with any form of assistance and are facing heavy rains without basic protections.”

With an already over stretched aid mechanisms, the increase in need has placed greater pressure for districts such as Kaxda, Daynille, Dharkinley, Hodan, Gubedley and Garasbaley. Over 100,000 families are estimated to be without adequate shelter. The heavy rains have destroyed the makeshift shelter huts. Disease outbreaks are of a serious concern after heavy rainfall and poor sanitation. Water born illnesses such as Cholera, AWD and vector born illnesses such as Malaria are common and threaten already fragile and vulnerable groups. High rates of food insecurity persist in the region and further weaken the resilience of displaced communities. Elderly, woman, girls and young children are particularly vulnerable.

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Mayor Yarisow stressed the importance of urgent assistance and said “Given the grim realities, it is imperative that efforts to mitigate and minimize human suffering be timely and effectively coordinated. After conducting a rapid assessment in IDP camps in the Benadir Region, we are urgently calling for an emergency humanitarian assistance as follows;

I. We call on international partners and all stakeholders to assist in the provision of emergency shelters.

II. We ask the partners to WASH clusters to closely work with the local authority and scale up services in above districts.

III. We ask partners in food security cluster to increase wet kitchens in above districts to reach more families in extreme food insecurities.

IV. We call on all relevant government institutions to work closely with Benadir Regional Administration to improve conditions of displaced persons in the region.

V. We encourage civil society and Somali citizens to engage in outreach programs to assist thousands of other Somalis in need.”

The current humanitarian need will only exacerbate unless action is taken now. A lag in coordination will surely lead to devastating consequences. Resource alignment is critical to avert full-blown humanitarian crises as rain with flash floods in some camps continues. We advise all stakeholders and partners to make the current humanitarian need a priority to ensure we do not witness unnecessary human suffering and loss of life. BRA calls on international and local partners along with government counter parts to address urgent needs of more than 100,000 IDP households in the region.

BRA will convene an emergency humanitarian briefing with all stakeholders on April 30th, 0900-1200 at Mogadishu Municipality to address this critical humanitarian situation. Please confirm your attendance to [email protected] http://www.qaranimo.com/news/2018/04/24/mayor-of-mogadishu-appeals-urgent- humanitarian-assist-in-order-to-save-lives-in-idps-camps/

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Somalia: Humanitarian Dashboard - March 2018 (issued on 24 April 2018)

SITUATION OVERVIEW Drought conditions continued to contribute to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the first quarter of 2018, mainly in the north. Meanwhile, the Gu rainy season started the first week of March, with moderate to heavy rains in many parts of the country. Flash and river flooding have been reported in some regions, including Bakool, Hiraan and Middle Shabelle. Heavy rains in the Ethiopian highlands causes flooding along the Shabelle River resulting in displacement and crop and asset losses. Evictions continued to spike. From January to March, more than 133,000 people were evicted across the country. The 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan is only 18 per cent funded and most clusters do not have insufficient resources to support on-going operations and to mount a robust flood response as is required. KEY FIGURES

Overview People in crisis and emergency Internal Displacements 2.7 million* 1,325,000 People in need (total population: 12.4M**) (Jan 2017 - Mar 2018, UNHCR, PRMN) (*FSNAU February, 2018 **UNFPA 2014) Internal displacements due 5.4 million to drought, conﬂict/insecurity, 3.2 3.1 2.9 FSNAU February, 2018 2.7 300K ﬂoods and other reasons 2.4 250K

million 200K 1.14 150K People targeted 0.86 1.03 1.0 0.95 0.73 100K 4.7 million 50K This target number is an adjustment after FSNAU Feb Aug Feb Nov Feb Aug Feb Apr Aug Oct Feb 0 results in February. Jan Feb AprMar May OctSepAugJulJun Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 2014 2014 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017 2017 2018 2017 2018

FUNDING: HUMANITARIAN APPEAL 2018

1.5 billion 18% US$472 million HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLAN HRP FUNDING REPORTED TO FTS* RECEIVED FUNDING REPORTED TO FTS (HRP) 2018 REQUEST (US$) $278 million $194 million HRP Funding Non-HRP Funding Requirements by cluster (million $) Funded by cluster (million $)** (As of 23/04/2018) Funded Unmet million $ million $ Food Security 632 15.9% 101 532 Contributions by donor (million $)

Nutrition 254 13% 33 221 USA 126

WASH 129 2.4% 3 126 United Kingdom 65

European Health 2.8% 3 121 41 124 Commission

Protection 98 1.2% 1 97 Germany 13

Shelter and 70 1.4% 1 69 CERF 12 NFIs

Education 51 0% 0 51 Denmark 7

CCCM 42 0.9% 0.4 41 Canada 5

Enabling 26 18.1% 5 21 Japan 5 Programme Logistics 10 10.2% 1 9 Finland 1

Source: FTS 23/04/2018 * FTS Financial Tracking Service Switzerland 0.6 ** This does not include non-HRP funding

Creation date: 23/04/2018 Feedback: [email protected] www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.int FTS - Financial Tracking Service http://fts.unocha.org Sources: OCHA reports, UN agencies, Somalia clusters, OCHA FTS, 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan, Humanitarian Needs Overview, EUTM - SOMALIA 34 EUTM - SOMALIA 25/04/2018

Somalia: Humanitarian Dashboard - March 2018 (issued on 24 April 2018)

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES Life-saving: Provide life-saving and life-sustaining integrated, multi-sectoral assistance to reduce acute human- 1 itarian needs and excess mortality among the most vulnerable people.

Nutrition: Reduce emergency levels of acute malnutrition through integrated, multi-sectorial response. 2 Enhance integration of Nutrition, WASH, Health and Food Security programmes to strengthen nutrition-sensi- tive programming.

Protection: Support provision of protection services to aﬀected communities, including in hard-to-reach areas 3 and in IDP sites, targeting the most vulnerable, especially those at risk of exclusion. Resilience: Support the protection and restoration of livelihoods, promote access to basic services to build 4 resilience to recurrent shocks, and catalyze more sustainable solutions for those aﬀected, including marginalized communities.

CLUSTER OVERVIEW

CAMP COORDINATION AND CAMP MANAGEMENT (CCCM)

Improve the living conditions and protection of IDPs in sites and settlements and ensure access to services and assistance of all persons in need, with a focus on moving toward attaining durable solutions with full participation of the displaced and host communities.

2.1 million people in need 2,000 Estimated number of IDP sites in Somalia.

27% 38% 38% of target reached 1.5 million of target reached 1,600 of target reached 1,600 in Mar people targeted in Mar Sites targeted in Mar sites targeted Jan - Dec Jan - Dec Jan - Dec 403,321261,987 600 602 People reached in Mar Sites reached in Mar Sites reached in Mar

Number of displaced people with access to information Number of sites with established CCCM mechanisms Number of sites with established community about humanitarian services participation structures Needs 2.1 million people are displaced throughout Somalia and lack basic Number of displaced people with access to information about services. IDPs face overcrowding, poor sanitation, health and humanitarian services protection risks. Response CCCM partners continue to roll out Detailed Site Assessment (DSA) to cover the majority of districts within Somalia. Through the DSA, CCCM cluster members have assessed service delivery and their quality at 1,890 sites across 48 districts and 17 regions, far reaching around 1.75 million IDPs. Gaps • There is restricted humanitarian access in some parts of south and central Somalia.

• Forced evictions inhibit the ability of partners to improve living conditions in sites.

• Low levels of community participation inhibit the cluster’s ability to For more information, contact: [email protected] improve beneﬁciary targeting to include marginalized populations.

Somalia: Humanitarian Dashboard - March 2018 (issued on 24 April 2018) EDUCATION Ensure emergency and crisis-aﬀected children have access to safe and protective learning environments, and are engaged in life-saving learning.

2.4For more million information, contact: people [email protected] in need

32% 44% 37% of target reached 381,556 of target reached 142,258 of target reached 253,725 Jan - Mar Children targeted Jan-Dec Jan - Mar Children targeted Jan-Dec Jan - Mar Children targeted Jan-Dec

123,055261,987 62,009 94,928

67,177 55,878 33,841 28,168 51,846 43,082

Children reached as261,987 of Mar Children reached as of Mar Children reached as of Mar

Number of children and youth accessing safe learning Number of children with access to emergency Number of children beneﬁtting from emergency opportunities in emergency-aﬀected learning environments school feeding teaching and learning materials

Number of children and youth accessing safe and protected learning opportunities in emergency-aﬀected learning environments Needs 12 schools, with 3,013 students and 64 teachers were aﬀected by forced eviction in KM13. Three schools and one CFS, together with their furniture and learning materials were destroyed, and an additional four schools were used as shelter by the evicted persons. Response The four schools which were destroyed were relocated, and reconstruction was completed in the new settlements. Learning resumed in mid-January 2018. In addition, the four schools which were being used as shelter by the displaced persons were vacated and learning resumed. Gaps Of the destroyed schools, two schools (with an enrolment of 300 children) are yet to be re-built, and this mounts pressure on the already-operational schools in the new settlements. For more information, contact: [email protected] FOOD SECURITY Improved immediate access to food for people in emergency and crisis and provide emergency livestock assets protection support. 5.4 million people in need For more information, contact: [email protected]

61% 5% 5% of target reached 2.8 million of target reached Jan - Mar 2.9 million of target reached 1.4 million People targeted in Mar People targeted from People targeted in Mar Jan - Dec 1.7 million 76,468 People reached in Mar 132,412 People reached in Mar People reached as of Mar Number of people in acute food insecurity, ‘crisis’ and Number of affected people supported through livelihoods Number of people assisted with conditional cash transfer ‘emergency’ phases of IPC (3 and 4) having sustained access inputs, livestock asset protection and trainings per season related activities to food and safety net support Number of people reached with improved access to food Needs Immediate access to food for populations affected by drought, conflict (displacement) and disease, to avert famine and improve the food security situation in Somalia.

Response FSC partners have collectively assisted 1,675,876 people out of 2, 781, 604 targeted in various IASN type of assistance (accounting 60 percent of the target). This shows a reduction 250,000 beneficiaries (13%) as compared to last month. The continuous downward trend of IASN assistance is the concern for the cluster particularly in regions such as Woqooyi Galbeed, Sool, Sanaag, Mudug and Galgaduud classified as Gaps emergency (phase 4) of IPC according FSNAU. In these regions, less The continued downward trend of IASN response is the main concern for than 50% beneficiaries received assistance compared to target. the cluster, with some regions in IPC Phase 4 receiving less than 50 per cent of their targeted assistance. For more information, contact: : [email protected]

Somalia: Humanitarian Dashboard - March 2018 (issued on 24 April 2018) HEALTH Targeting vulnerable people for improved health care, with a focus on life-saving services including timely and adequate response to disease outbreaks and epidemics.

4.3 million people targeted in 2018 For more information, contact: [email protected] 358,333 4,300,000 Needs Target in Mar Target Jan - Dec • 626 AWD/cholera cases were reported in March. Since the beginning of the year, a total of 1,732 cases of AWD/cholera have reported with 16 deaths, a Case Fatility Rate (CFR) of 0.9%. 74% 18% of target reached of target reached • The number of suspected measles cases reported in the last three months stands at 78. The in Mar261,987 Jan - Mar trend however is ﬂat, with a similar number of cases reported each week. Response 265,988 762,217 • Health Cluster partners have completed a nationwide measles immunization campaign. Over 109,070 156,918 312,552 449,665 3.6 million children were immunized against measles.

Consultations in Mar Consultations Jan - Mar Number of consultations

Number of consulations Gaps Health Cluster funding shortfalls continue to hamper the delivery of life-saving health services to the most vulnerable people, including children and IDPs, in Somalia.

For more information, contact: [email protected] LOGISTICS

174MT Needs Tonnage transported in Mar A number of key operational areas remain only accessible by air while others are completely inaccessible. Regular and sustained access to the most aﬀected areas represents a challenge due 140MT by air to conﬂict, insecurity and deteriorated infrastructure. 34MT by sea

Tonnage transported Response • Two WFP cargo planes, each with a capacity of 5.5MT, are positioned in Mogadishu, ready to facilitate the airlift of supplies across the country. A third aircraft is also on standby.

• The cluster is providing over 19,000cbm of storage capacity in seven locations across Somalia.

• Two Temperature Control Units are being built at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadihsu. Partner agencies will be able to safely store items which require a temperature below 25°C there. Gaps Due to ongoing security constraints, mainly aﬀecting south central Somalia, and the deteriorating infrastructure, ground-level transport has been increasingly hampered, leaving the humanitarian sector with limited options to deliver life-saving cargo by road to displaced people across the country.

For more information, contact: [email protected] and [email protected]

Somalia: Humanitarian Dashboard - March 2018 (issued on 24 April 2018) NUTRITION Improved nutrition status and access to nutrition services for emergency aﬀected populations through predictable, timely, eﬀective and at scale response thereby enhancing resilience.

people in need For1.4 more information,million contact: [email protected] 16,311 39,562 Needs People targeted in Mar People targeted Jan - Mar In March, the Nutrition Cluster continued to scale-up interventions across the country, reacting to the continued impact of drought in Somalia. The cluster had targeted 16,311 new admissions 31% 140% of severely malnourished children to the therapeutic feeding program. of target reached of target reached 261,987 in Mar Jan - Mar Response • With 20 per cent of SAM partners reporting 5,805 children have been newly admitted 5,058 55,291 to SAM programmes. This represents 35 per cent of the targeted ﬁgure, and 6 per cent of total People reached in Mar People reached nutrition admissions in March. Jan - Mar Number of children 6-59 months, treated for Severe Acute • So far in 2018, 98,117 caregivers have received individual training on optimal infant and Malnutrition (SAM) young child nutrition. These caregivers are responsible for pregnant/lactating mothers, and children between the ages of 0-2. Number of children under ﬁve years treated for severe malnutrition per month Gaps • Inaccessibility continues to hinder humanitarian assistance, particularly in the south-west of the country.

• Nutrition sites that were closed in December, as a result of the funding gap, remain closed, with no foreseeable change of reopening unless resources are made available.

For more information, contact: [email protected] PROTECTION Provide effective and quality protection services to women, men, girls, and boys affected by conflict and emergencies, and strengthen protection policy.

3.6 million people in need 150,000 1,800,000 Needs People targeted in Mar People targeted Displacement remains a serious concern in Somalia, especially in parts of the south. The main Jan - Dec causes of displacement include conflict (ca. 6,600 individuals moved towards Mogadishu in 33% 9% of target reached of target reached March alone), GBV (ongoing assessments aim to identify the most at-risk sites), child in Mar Jan 261,987- Mar recruitment, forced evictions, and unexploded hazards. Conflict dynamics influence the civilian population’s ability and strategies to cope with the drought. 49,026 167,273 Response 20,317 28,709 65,225 102,048 In March 2018, the cluster as a whole reached a total of 49,026 individuals, which translates to People reached in Mar People reached 9.3% of the annual target. 50,950 individuals, which translates to 6.6% of the annual target. This Jan - Mar figure was reached by numerous sub-clusters: Child Protection (8,530), GBV (16,117), Explosive Number of individuals affected by violence directly Hazards (23,081) and General Protection (1,298). provided with protection assistance Number of people or individuals affected by violence, coercion, and abuse directly provided with responsive services and/or other protection assistance Gaps • Remoteness, ad-hoc checkpoints and general inaccessibility make it difficult to reach vulnerable areas controlled by non-state actors. • IDTR and GBV services for families, children and survivors of rape are limited – countrywide, referral pathways need to be extended.

• Forced evictions are common, with many IDPs relying on non-binding oral tenure

For more information, contact: [email protected]

Somalia: Humanitarian Dashboard - March 2018 (issued on 24 April 2018) SHELTER Provide non-food items and emergency shelter for newly-displaced people. Improve shelter conditions in existing settlements.

3.8 millionpeople in need 1.5People million in targeted 37,500 450,000 25,000 300,000 25,000 300,000 People targeted in Mar People targeted Jan - Dec People targeted in Mar People targeted Jan - Dec People targeted in Mar People targeted Jan - Dec 113% 20% 92% 28% 2% 9% of target reached of target reached of target reached of target reached of target reached of target reached in Mar Jan - Mar261,987 in Mar Jan - Mar261,987 in Mar Jan - Mar261,987

42,369 91,244 23,109 83,279 600 27,124 0 42,369 23,025 68,219 0 23,109 31,980 51,269 0 600 11,487 15,637 People reached in Mar People reached Jan - Mar People reached in Mar People reached Jan - Mar People reached in Mar People reached Jan - Mar Number of people in need of emergency assistance Number of people in need of emergency assistance Number of protracted IDPs receiving non-food items receiving appropriate NFIs through in kind distribution, receiving relevant emergency shelters through in-kind through in-kind distribution, vouchers or cash mechanisms vouchers or cash mechanisms distribution, vouchers or cash mechanisms Number of people in need of emergency assistance Needs receiving appropriate NFIs through in-kind distribution, 2.1 million people are displaced throughout Somalia and lack basic services. Close to vouchers or cash mechanisms. half of all IDPs remain in need of emergency shelter and Non-Food Item (NFI) support. Response In March, the Shelter Cluster delivered the following provisions: emergency NFI support (42,969 persons); Emergency Shelter Kits (23,109 persons); Permanent Shelter support (18,000 persons); in addition, 489 people beneﬁted from plastic sheets provision, while another 978 have received blankets only. Gaps The resources available to the cluster have not been adequate to provide the most basic shelter to those who were displaced in 2017, let alone those newly displaced persons in this year. For more information, contact: [email protected] WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE Provide access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for people in emergencies

people in need For4.3 more information,million contact: [email protected] 100,000 1,200,000 83,333 1,000,000 291,667 3,500,000 People targeted People targeted People targeted People targeted in Mar People targeted in Mar People targeted in Mar Jan - Dec Jan - Dec Jan - Dec 201% 33% 34% 6% 23% 11% of target reached of target reached of target reached of target reached of target reached of target reached Jan - Mar Jan - Mar in Mar Jan - Mar in Mar 261,987 in Mar

205,620 396,394 28,229 55,772 67,225 390,753 92,530 113,090 178,379 218,015 12,703 15,526 25,455 30,317 33,614 33,611 190,370 200,383 People reached in Mar People reached Jan - Mar People reached in Mar People reached Jan - Mar People reached in Mar People reached Jan - Mar Number of individuals (men, women, boys and girls) with a Number of affected individuals assisted with access to Number of affected individuals (men, women, boys and reliable access to 15 liters of safe water per person per day appropriate emergency sanitation facilities girls) who have participated in hygiene promotion campaigns and received hygiene kits. Number of people provided with temporary supply of safe water Needs • Lack of access to safe water is a major problem, with many IDPs currently relying on a water voucher/trucking which is due to end in April. • Insufficient toilets, inaccessibility or full latrines have resulted in open defecation in certain areas of Somalia. The expected Gu rains will only exacerbate the increase in communicable diseases in these areas, especially AWD/cholera. Response In March, 205,600 beneficiaries were reached through sustained access to safe water, 181,100 beneficiaries were reached through temporary access to Gaps safe water, 28,200 beneficiaries were reached through safe sanitation Gaps still exists in linking emergency response efforts to early recovery access, and 67,200 beneficiaries through hygiene related actives. Over half WASH interventions, including the provision of sustainable solutions and of the reached population is through interventions started or funded in implementing disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures so as to prevent 2017. WASH-related disease outbreaks and to reduce vulnerability, increase the community capacity and minimize the impact of any future disasters. For more information, contact: [email protected] Creation date: 23/04/2018 Feedback: [email protected] www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.int FTS - Financial Tracking Service http://fts.unocha.org Sources: OCHA reports, UN agencies, Somalia clusters, OCHA FTS, 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan, Humanitarian Needs Overview, EUTM - SOMALIA 39 EUTM - SOMALIA 25/04/2018

Somalia EC officials meet in Nairobi to benchmark for 2020 polls

The Chairperson National Independent Electoral Commission of Somalia Halima Ismail Ibrahim (R) attending the workshop.

Officials from the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) of Somalia have convened in Nairobi for a brain storming session on the demarcations of electoral boundaries.

Officials from key ministries from the Federal Government of Somalia will also attend the three day-session organized by the Political Affairs Department of the African Union Commission and funded by the AU Mission in Somalia. The group will also be discussing institutional framework for electoral boundary demarcation, use of technology and impact of government and electoral systems, on boundary restrictions.

Mr Guy Cyrille Topiko, the acting head of the Democracy and Electoral Unit at the African Union Commission said on Monday that the African Union has the mandate to provide election support to election management bodies of member states.

“The electoral commission of Somalia is one of our priority institutions in terms of providing long term electoral assistance on the continent,” he said.

The African Union has expressed commitment to attain free, fair and transparent elections in countries in Africa.

The body is studying best practices from Kenya, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tunisia.

Somalia will be taking to the polls in 2020-2021, under the principle of one-man-one-vote.

EUTM - SOMALIA 40 EUTM - SOMALIA 25/04/2018

Ms Halima Ismail Ibrahim, the Chairperson of Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission, lauded African Union Commission to educate electoral stakeholders on the critical aspects of elections and electoral boundaries which she said were intertwined.

She also called for cooperation from all stakeholders ahead of the polls expected in two years’ time.

“If the Somalis are now choosing and selecting their electoral system, it is because of the trainings we have had,” she said.

The electoral body has also acknowledged the complexities of determining electoral boundaries and emphasised the importance of early engagements.

AMISOM Senior Political Affairs Officer, Haji Ssebirumbi Kisinziggo said the workshop was in response to a request for further training by the Somalia’s electoral body and pledged more support. http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Somalia-EC-officials-meet-Nairobi-benchmark- 2020-polls/688334-4520280-umpt7z/index.html

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Ethiopia: Protest continues in Shinille, Somali region

April 24, 2018 - A crisis smouldering in Ethiopia’s Eastern Somali region might have gotten more fuel from the formation of a new cabinet by the regional president, Abdi Illey. His security forces have reportedly detained over a hundred people in the last few days.

One person was injured as security forces shot at protesters in Shinille, Sigad said adding that 16 people were arrested and taken to Jijiga.

Abdi fired his deputy, Abdihakim Igal, sparking street protests in Shilille, his constituent and the base of his clan.

A former major with the Federal Police in the region, Ali Samire Sigad told ESAT that Abdi Illey has now appointed his relatives and in-laws to key positions in his administration.

Sigad, who closely follows the political developments in the region, said protests have now spread to other zones with demands for an end to the autocratic rule of Illey, whom critics say keeps close ties to the TPLF and is backed by army generals in the region.

According to Sigad, people in the Somali region have, in a number of occasions, filed formal complaints to the federal government over the imprisonment, torture, rape and maladministration in the region. They put the blame on Illey and his militia. https://ethsat.com/2018/04/ethiopia-protest-continues-in-shinille-somali-region/

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Somali women are selling sex in Indonesia to survive

Somali women sit at the Mosque of al- Barokah in Jakarta for safety at night.

Homeless mother- of-three, Nimo, fled to Indonesia from Somalia after Islamists killed her family, but with prostitution as the only way to survive, she tearily says her life in Jakarta is "much harder" than her war-torn homeland. Indonesia has traditionally been a transit nation for asylum seekers but in recent months the UNHCR has been meeting with refugees to tell them they'll probably never be resettled somewhere else. That means people such as Nimo face the prospect of spending much longer in the country than they first anticipated. And, for many women, it means working as they'd never imagined - in the sex trade.

Stahil and Safiya sit in a Jakarta street at night. There are 13,800 asylum seekers and refugees in Indonesia. Two- thirds are dependent on aid or live in government-run immigration detention centres, according to the UNHCR.

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Melbourne-based Human Rights Law Centre spokesman Daniel Webb says the suffering of refugees on our Australia's doorstep exposes the cruelty of the government's obsession with so-called deterrence.

"The people our government secretly turns back or frightens away don't just vanish off the face of the earth - they're being forced to suffer elsewhere," he tells AAP. Nimo, a 32-year-old Somalian refugee, was forced into hiding after the local refugee community discovered she was working as a prostitute.

Nimo, a Somalian refugee, says her life in Jakarta is "much harder" than her war-torn homeland.

Some in the conservative Muslim neighbourhood threatened her harm for betraying Islam's teachings. The homeless mother says she's ashamed of the work and is often beaten by men.

"I would like to stop but I have no options," Nimo tells AAP. "If I don't there will be no food for my family." Nimo has fallen through the aid safety net. Some two-thirds of the 13,800 asylum seekers and refugees in Indonesia are dependent on aid or live in government-run immigration detention centres, according to the UN Refugee Agency. They're not allowed to work or access social security.

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Many sleep in the streets near Jakarta's already-full immigration detention centre or queue - day after day - at the UNHCR office seeking help.

Others drift from one boarding house to the next begging for food. Some sleep on the steps of a local mosque.

"I could never have imagined this life before," Nimo says. "There is no hope. I have children and I am a prostitute. This is a really bad life. It's much harder than Somalia."

Nimo fled Somalia with her children after Islamists stoned her younger sister to death and then turned their guns on the rest of her family. She was shot during one attack. Her 10-day journey through Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, and across the Malacca Strait, ended after a two- day bus ride to the Indonesian capital in 2015.

Her appeals for help from NGOs and the UNHCR have been refused. During a recent interview - to discuss her sex work - no assistance was offered. Instead, she was lectured about breaking local laws, and the health risks of prostitution. UNHCR Indonesia representative Thomas Vargas says recent humanitarian emergencies - such the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh - mean money earmarked for Indonesia is being redirected.

"When there are those types of flashpoints, that's where the limited funding the UNHCR has globally goes," he tells AAP. For refugees in Indonesia, aid is now even harder to come by.

"You have limited funding and you have to help the neediest. That's the harsh reality. It's a very tough situation," Vargas says. At night refugee women living on the street risk sexual violence. Refugee Suad, 27, lives in a tight network of laneways near Jakarta's central shopping district. The Somalian says men regularly try to force refugee women to go with them for sex. "When we sleep on the street, West African businessman come to this area. They threaten us and touch us and we are powerless to stop them," she tells AAP.

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"If you don't say yes they say they can beat you. But I say no, I'm a Muslim, I can't do it. I am hungry and I want money, but I can't do that." Fear of being labelled a prostitute or shunned causes many women to hide their abuse. Suad's family was killed by a bomb in Mogadishu. She says she was abducted, raped and held captive by militants.

After she escaped a local mosque raised the money needed to pay people smugglers. Suad says in Somalia rape victims are often accused of being prostitutes and are sent away so as not to shame their family or community. But now, out of desperation, she's now considering going with men.

"When you don't have food, when you don't have shelter, life becomes very hard and that is the only option," she says. Mr Vargas says "survival sex" is common among refugees who don't receive aid or have family to protect them. "When you are not able to make a living you resort, unfortunately, to these types of survival techniques and that's a risk refugees have here," he admits. Asylum seekers and refugees across the archipelago are protesting their treatment.

But the fact is the UNHCR deals with 65.6 million refugees and forcibly displaced people globally. The crisis is unlike any seen since World War II, according to Mr Vargas. It's stretched aid budgets and led to tougher immigration policies in key resettlement nations.

US President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration and Australia's policy of refusing refugees from Indonesia if they arrived after mid-2014 are clear examples, he says. It's created "unpredictability in the (resettlement) system" and left refugees stranded.

Immigration policies based on deterrence and criminalisation - rather than protection and human rights - came under the spotlight at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in March.

UN special rapporteur Nils Melzer says government policies - rather than criminal activity, corruption and dangerous travel - are the major cause of abuses inflicted on refugees. https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/somali-women-are-selling-sex-in-indonesia-to- survive.1554859/

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Somaliland senator suspended for attending ceremony in Puntland

April 24, 2018

FILE: Somaliland Upper House session.

A senator in Somaliland has been suspended from the House after attending the coronation of a Sultan in Puntland region.

The Upper House (Guurti) said Tuesday it was suspending Senator Sultan Ismael Sultan for ‘violation of the House Standing Orders. “He (Sultan Ismael Sultan Abdirahman) has been suspended from work for violating the Standing Orders of the Guurti,” deputy speaker Sa’id Ali Jama told reporters. The suspension of the senators comes days after another elder, Boqor Buurmadow was arrested and released for attending the same ceremony. The leaders who included Puntland President Abdiweli Gaas attended the coronation of Beeldaaaje Mohamed Beeldaaje Ismael, the 19th Sultan of the Ali Salehman sub clan in Armo, Bari region in Puntland. Somaliland authorities have in the recent past launched a crack-down on activists including the sentencing of poetess and activist Naema Qorane to three years imprisonment for ‘bringing the state in contempt’ through social media posts.

Mohamed Kayse Mohamoud, an author was last week handed an 18 month jail time for social media posts which according to the charge sheet indicated the author referred to Somaliland President Muse Bihi as ‘local’. http://goobjoog.com/english/somaliland-senator-suspended-for-attending-ceremony-in- puntland/

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Somaliland:Minister of Justice Lays Foundation Stone for a New Juvenile Correctional Center

04/24/2018 - Somalilandsun: The minister of Justice Mr.Abdiqani Mohammud Ateye has laid a foundation stone for a new juvenile detention center in Berbera town. The center will be constructed at Mija-caseye hamlet. The minister confirmed that his ministry had survey the site of the juvenile center after identifying a suitable place he contacted the minister of water development to supply the center with water.

Also present at the function was the minister of water development Mr.Suleiman Yusuf Ali Koore who also initiated a new well for the juvenile center.

The justice minister said “This could not be possible without the input of H.E the president of the republic Musa Bihi who had requested us to expedite the project. I also thank the water minister because without his intervention this project could not have been a success.”

This information was supplied by Somaliland News Agency (SOLNA) reporter based at Berbera.

The minister of water development said “It’s the government responsibility to take care of the welfare of Somaliland children. I take this precious opportunity with my colleague at the justice ministry to lay the foundation of the future of our children which lies in our hands.” http://www.somalilandsun.com/2018/04/24/somalilandminister-of-justice-lays-foundation- stone-for-a-new-juvenile-correctional-center/

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The Republic Of Somaliland Does Have Fuel & Minerals stated the Minister of Energy & Minerals H.E Jama Hajji Mohamoud Egal

Posted April 24, 2018 - Delegates from the Somaliland Ministry Of Energy & Minerals including the Minister of Energy & Minerals H.E Jama Hajji Mohamoud Egal and accompanying officials paid a visit to the University Of Hargeisa.

The visit entailed a thorough presentation of the findings of the voyage and the researched conducted by the Ministry Of Energy And Minerals to locate fuel and mineral sources in the Republic Of Somaliland to which the esteemed minster stated that YES! In fact the Republic Of Somaliland does have abundant mineral and fuel resources, he also stated that the extraction of those natural resources will be initiated in the year 2019.

The minister urged the students and attendees of the event to create awareness activities that are geared towards the inhabitants of the areas in which the extraction of resources will take place to not have preconceived notions that their lands will be taken away however that the extraction of these natural resources will beneficial to them as the citizens of this country and this country as a whole.

The presentation was followed by a lively question and answer session between the minister and the students of the College Of Applied & Natural Science and the College Of Engineering http://www.uoh-edu.net/the-republic-of-somaliland-does-have-fuel-minerals-stated-the- minister-of-energy-minerals-h-e-jama-hajji-mohamoud-egal/

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Jailed Somaliland Poet Given A Full Pardon By President

Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia - 2018/04/24

A Somaliland poet arrested for a poem that called for the unification of the country and neighbouring Somalia has since been released.

Nacima Abwaan was accosted at the Hargeisa Egal International Airport upon her arrival from Mogadishu, where she performed the poem and sentenced to three years in prison. Prosecutors claim she expressed opinions on social media that undermined the semi-autonomous state’s claim to full independence. However, according to reports, Somaliland’s President Muse Bihi gave Nacima a full pardon.

Political and Youth Activist Khadar Mariano told Radio Islam that Abwaan was apparently arrested for saying things, which could have sparked violence in the country. “She was arrested for treason, apparently she said things which could have sparked violence in the peaceful Somaliland and for that reason she has been jailed for three years.”

Mariano says Abwaan is a unionist and quite active on social media. “Now the government of Somaliland is saying that her posts on social media could do harm to the peaceful harmony in Somaliland.” In a second case the same court sentenced Mohamed Kayse Mohamoud, a 31-year-old author, to 18 months in prison on charges of “offending the honour of the president.” Analysts say the imprisonment of Abwaan and Mahamoud are contrary to the constitution of Somaliland. http://www.radioislam.org.za/a/index.php/latest-news/23478-jailed-somaliland-poet-given- a-full-pardon-by-president.html

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Meet the women fighting cheetah smuggling in Somaliland

April 24, 2018 - By: Megan Iacobini de Fazio

In a large, empty-looking house on a hill in Hargeisa, Somaliland, Nejuu is preparing dinner for her “babies.” The veterinary student cuts up a kilo of red meat and places chunks of it on a plate. “Careful! They’re going to go crazy when they see it,” Nejuu says as she opens the kitchen door and walks out into the large yard. A second later, two young cheetahs emerge from the shadows and shoot towards her at breakneck speed, halting and skidding when they reach her, then quickly regaining their balance and jumping up on her, their front paws reaching for the meat. “Down, VP, down! Dobbie, down!” she shouts, laughing as she tries not to let the two animals knock her over. Large cats like cheetahs and lions are sometimes kept as pets in some parts of the world — but that’s actually what Nejuu and a small bunch of committed individuals are trying to stop. Both of Nejuu’s “babies,” as she affectionately calls them, are young male cheetahs that were rescued from people who kept them in their homes. “They don’t know how to keep these animals. They don’t give them the right food or enough water,” Nejuu says as she strokes VP’s crooked front legs. “His legs are like this because malnutrition caused metabolic bone disease, which deformed his legs.” When Nejuu’s team rescued him, he could barely walk. Now he’s able to leap and bound around the yard, chasing Dobbie. After they’re snatched from the wild in Ethiopia and Kenya, many cheetahs end up in Somaliland — and eventually in the hands of smugglers. During the journey, many cubs die; a few end up in the hands of rich businessmen and politicians in Somaliland. But countless others are smuggled to the coast, where they are loaded onto small wooden boats and taken to Yemen. Eventually, the ones that survive end up in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, where they are sold for thousands of

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“We are trying to discuss a strategy to curb the trade, but it will be an uphill battle,” says Patricia. “We want a rescue centre, but before that happens we need to increase awareness among government and law enforcement people, the police, and the environmental people.” Additional species of animals — gazelles, birds of prey, and caracals, for example — are also trafficked through the country, and sometimes end up in Nejuu’s care. Somaliland’s ineffective institutions and law enforcement mean that Nejuu and her team usually have to operate on very small budgets and with little assistance. But things are looking up: The current Minister of Environment, Shukri Haji Ismail, has taken the matter to heart and has vowed to stop the wildlife trade. In the first months of 2018, she contacted leaders from the police, the judiciary, and the border patrol to announce that her Ministry was leading an anti-wildlife-trafficking campaign, and to ask for their collaboration. In February, several traffickers were arrested after being found with a car full of live tortoises headed to Mogadishu. The traffickers were handed lengthy sentences, a first in the country’s history. Minister Shukri hopes that cheetah smugglers will be next.

“When you see with your own eyes that a small baby has been taken from its mother and it’s not treated well, and that so many die for no reason, just for money… that really hurts,” she says. With the Ministry on board, Nejuu’s team is hopeful. More awareness of the problem, coupled with more frequent confiscations and longer sentences for smugglers can help deter people from trading and buying cheetahs. In the meantime, the government has given them a piece of land a few hours away from Hargeisa, where they are building large enclosures for rescued animals. One is already home to dozens of gazelles, and the other will soon be Dobbie and VP’s expansive, natural new home. http://www.somalimedia.co.uk/meet-the-women-fighting-cheetah-smuggling-in- somaliland/

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Spain eyes EU piracy mission HQ as Brexit sell off continues

ROTA, Spain – Spain looks set to take charge of the European Union's anti-piracy operation off Somalia despite a challenge from Italy, as EU countries continue to pick over the spoils left by Britain's departure from the bloc next year.

With Brexit due in just 11 months, Spain wants to host the prestigious headquarters for EUNAVFOR Atalanta at its southern port of Rota in a joint effort that would see France assume responsibility for a parallel civilian maritime surveillance facility.

Italy entered the running late and its candidacy appears dwarfed by those from two of Europe's historic naval powers.

Time is running out for a decision to be made, and EU countries are concerned that a potentially embarrassing vote might be required to break the deadlock. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/04/24/spain-eyes-eu-piracy-mission-hq-as-brexit-sell- off-continues.html

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https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/world/africa/igad-summit-kicks-off-in-kampala

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