Assessment Mission to Labi Sagaale, Somaliland 21 February 2012
Introduction
In December 2011, a local NGO alerted OCHA about new displacements in Labi Sagaale village, a border town with Ethiopia south of Hargeisa (see Annex 1: Map ). According to the NGO, 500 families had migrated from the Ethiopian side of the border and needed humanitarian assistance. OCHA conveyed this information to the Inter-Cluster Working Group and the Protection Working Group, and sought to corroborate the information.
The Protection Cluster organized an assessment mission for Tuesday 21 February, and shared a rapid assessment tool with member agencies (see Annex 2: Rapid Assessment Questionnaire ).
Objective The rapid assessment was primarily a go and see mission, to verify the displacement situation and obtain first-hand knowledge of any humanitarian needs.
The mission was completed in one day. See Annex 1 for the route and an overlay of Labi Sagaale village. From Hargeisa to Labi Sagaale took approximately four and one-quarter hours via Salaxle, with the return trip via Bali Shire, Qorijabley, and Sharmake slightly less than four hours. Upon arrival in Labi Sagaale, the assessment team conducted an introductory focus group discussion with the host community elders / community committee in the village school, followed by separate focus group discussions in the nearby new settlement with three groups from among the new arrivals. One group was comprised of primarily women, a second group comprised of youth, and a third group mixed of adult women and men.
Explanatory Note: those referred to as new arrivals are not referred to as IDPs in this report. They reported that they were originally from Somaliland but migrated to the Ethiopian side at varying times. Some have resided on the Ethiopian side for more than 10 years. Therefore, they may be more appropriately considered as returnees.
Host Community Elders / Community Committee
The assessment team met with six members of the host community committee. An additional 40 people (all male and comprised of other host community members, adults and children) were also present. According to the elders, the total population of Labi Sagaale is 2,500 households on the Somaliland side of the border, while the total population on both sides of the border is approximately 4,000 households. Clearly, this number of households means the village comprises a large area of land on either side of the main village, as the main village itself is very small.
The elders opened by giving a brief background to Labi Sagaale, stating that the school where we were meeting was built locally (i.e. not by an aid organization), and that WFP provides school feeding. The school was in very poor condition, with little furniture and collapsed ceilings in most classrooms.
The elders also highlighted that the village has no Mother Child Healthcare (MCH) or Health Post (HP), and cited this as the most pressing need of the host community. Assessment Mission to Labi Sagaale, Somaliland 21 February 2012
Labi Sagaale has approximately 660 berkads , though an Conflict in the Somali zone of Ethiopia is estimated 150 are currently functional. In the past berkad long standing, but more recently, conflict rehabilitation has been done by NGOs, though not at present. was exacerbated by the assassination of Labi Sagaale has water at the moment, and estimates the four men from the Isaaq clan by ONLF functional berkads can provide water for a further two militia groups, who are engaged in months. Within the village, water is sold at 5,000 SLSH per ongoing fighting against Ethiopian permiel (100 liters), but the host community is providing water at no charge to the new arrivals. government forces. As retaliation, members of the Isaaq clan pastoralist According to the elders, the biggest problem facing the village community killed a number of Ogaden is drought. The last rain that could be recalled was late clan members, and a confrontation with September / October. Note: visibly, the entire area is the government army subsequently extremely dry, verified by the FSNAU post-Deyr assessment erupted. The Ethiopian government forces findings which highlight this area as currently suffering from ordered both parties to stop their below normal pasture conditions. The second biggest problem hostilities. Elders were selected from the is a recent clamping down on security by Ethiopian authorities, Isaaq clan to discuss the issue with both on residents on the Ethiopian side of the border and on regional authorities, but 47 Isaaq men the border crossing itself – most food goods purchased on the were Imprisoned and are currently still in Ethiopian side of the border previously came from Somaliland, Jigjiga prison. Local authorities have and lorries with Somaliland plates passed freely to the considered them as criminal and outlaws, Ethiopian side. During the last several months, that has and security has been further tightened. stopped. (See right inset for more context on the conflict ). As told to OCHA by a local UN staff member… This conflict is the primary reason, according to the host community, why the estimated 300 households have come to Labi Sagaale during the last 5-6 months. The elders stated that those who have come do not wish to return, but wish to remain in Labi Sagaale. We asked if new arrivals had come with animals, and were told that those who had large herds had returned and lived outside the main village, while those congregated in the impromptu settlement had one 1-3 shoats on average (confirmed during the assessment team’s time in the settlement).
Given the size and poor condition of the school we asked if the new arrival children were attending school, and were told that they were only attending a Quranic school under a tree at the edge of the settlement. Following the meeting with the host community, the assessment team walked to the settlement, approximately 100 meters from the school (where the Quranic lessons were underway with approximately 10 children).
Focus Group Discussion with Women in the Settlement
Women in the settlement spoke of insecurity on the Ethiopian side as a reason for coming to Labi Sagaale. Cases of rape were cited, and men being arrested by Ethiopian authorities. Women also noted that during the preceding months, trucks that did cross into Ethiopia territory were stopped and had goods confiscated/looted. Women also cited general harassment on the other side, and several said their husbands had been arrested and were imprisoned in Jigjiga.
According to the women, the current settlement has a large number of elderly and a number of mentally disabled. No humanitarian assistance has been received, but due to close clan relations with the host community, they are being supported with water and food. They cited the most pressing needs
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Assessment Mission to Labi Sagaale, Somaliland 21 February 2012 as food and shelter. The women also cited the lack of a MCH/HP. During the discussion, women shared that a settlement committee had been formed, comprised of three men and three women.
The group also shared some of their points of origin, i.e. where they had been living for several years prior to coming to Labi Sagaale. The names of the villages cited include Daroor, Aar Joog, Kaam Mohamed, and Kaam Abdi Yusuf (a Google earth search indicated that Daroor is in Degehabur Zone of the Ogaden, 65km away from the border Copy and paste the following link into a web browser : http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=216601875484590712790.0004b98e5282d8356ec17&msa=0& ll=8.21149,44.703369&spn=2.962738,5.410767
Focus Group Discussion with Youth in the Settlement
Much of the information the Youth shared is similar to above, particularly regarding context surrounding displacement. The youth expressed the most pressing needs as food, shelter, health care, hygiene and sanitation, education, and employment. They also requested restocking, citing the few animals in the settlement. The youth also stated that cutting wood for charcoal production is the only source of income, so some of the males are engaged in this during the day.
The youth also said that in addition to men being arrested, many of the youth had been forcibly recruited into the Ethiopian forces to fight against the ONLF.
Focus Group Discussion with Mixed Adults in the Settlement
According to this group, the most urgent needs in the settlement are food, shelter, and health assistance. When asked why new arrivals chose Labi Sagaale (as there are many border towns), availability of water was noted. The group noted that people now feel safe that they are on the Somaliland side of the border. This group also noted the large number of elderly, and also said that many of those who came to Labi Sagaale left family members behind.
Other Observations and Recommendations
Since most of the new arrivals have been in Labi Sagaale for 4-6 months, we asked how they were obtaining food. While some income is being generated by cutting wood for charcoal, both the host community and the new arrivals stated that children from both groups were getting some food from the school. WFP school feeding is being used to feed both students and new arrivals children. It was also noted by several respondents that the host community of Labi Sagaale had provided assistance in terms of water and food, and it was noted there were close clan relations.
The assessment team did not notice visible malnutrition, but given how often food was cited as the primary need, the food provided by the host community is likely meager and straining and already vulnerable community.
• Food for Work could be a viable short term activity to improve living conditions in the settlement (although latrines were not cited as a need, there were noticeably none in the area)
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Assessment Mission to Labi Sagaale, Somaliland 21 February 2012
• A one-off package of Non-Food Item support would benefit new arrivals, as many observably did not carry much – soap was cited as a specific need a group of women, but cookware, utensils, jerry cans, and plastic sheeting are also needed.
All respondents, host community and new arrivals, said there was no intention of return, but new arrivals wished to stay and settle in Labi Sagaale. While the water situation is currently not dire, the increased population who wish to remain may place a strain on existing berkads.
• Food for Work should also be considered as a method for further berkad rehabilitation, given the increased water needs of the area due to new arrivals who intend to settle.
• The Ministry of Health should establish a MCH/HP in Labi Sagaale, with support from UNICEF and WFP. WFP should continue to provide school feeding.
Protection: while both the host community and the new arrivals said security in Labi Sagaale was good, and no protection concerns were raised in the new settlement, many protection concerns were noted on the other side, and were in large part the cause of displacement.
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Assessment Mission to Labi Sagaale, Somaliland 21 February 2012
Annex 1
Map of the trip route and points recorded en route
See following map for close up of Labi Sagaale.
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Assessment Mission to Labi Sagaale, Somaliland 21 February 2012
Labi Sagaale village – the new settlement is in the upper left hand corner.
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Assessment Mission to Labi Sagaale, Somaliland 21 February 2012
Annex 2 Assessment Questionnaire
Draft Check-List Rapid Assessment to Labi Saagale
1. Name and location of the IDP settlement/village. 2. Distance from Hargeisa town: 3. District/region name: 4. Total population in the village: 5. Number of IDPs in the settlement: 6. Place of origin and approximate date of arrival to the settlement. 7. Why did you come (state reason)? 8. Where were you living in that last one year? 9. Why did you choose this village (state reason)? 10. Are you originated from this village/area? 11. Living conditions before the displacement. 12. Route and problems encountered en route. 13. How many unaccompanied minors, people with disabilities, elderly, ill or wounded, women at risk, forced recruitment, trauma, or with other specific needs. 14. Any family members left behind? 15. Basic diet, shelter, and sanitation practices? 16. Any security concern? Anyone arrested or kidnapped etc? 17. How are the relations with residents living in the surrounding area? 18. Future intentions? 19. How many people want to leave the settlement? To where? Why they cannot? 20. How many people want to stay in the settlement or integrate in the village? Why? 21. Where do community get resources to survive? 22. Any humanitarian assistance provided? 23. Do you have any community structure (s) i.e. Community committee? 24. most urgent needs 25. Any other concerns or needs?
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Assessment Mission to Labi Sagaale, Somaliland 21 February 2012
Annex 3 Photos
In addition to the photos below, a video from the assessment mission can be seen on the following URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMHLRYziIQY
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