Somalia Humanitarian Update Highlights Nov 04-Jan 05 Political: The newly formed Somalia Transitional Federal Government has embarked on the task of identifying a suitable seat of Government inside the country. In Puntland, General Mohamud Muse Hersi (Adde) was elected president on 8th January 2005 defeating acting president Abdi Hashi. Pg 2 Inside this issue: Tsunami Response Somalia was the only African country adversely affected by the tsunami that devastated many Political Update 2 parts of South East Asia on 26th December 2004. More than 150 people died and 54,000 others were affected. Story and pictures: Pg 3 & 4 Tsunami 3 Security and Access: Response Access in the South Central Zone remains difficult because of clan clashes in various parts of Human Rights 4 the region. Hargeisa airport has closed for 45 days for repairs. Pg 6 Mission Mission: Drought 4 The Independent Expert on Human rights visits Somalia Pg 5 interventions Access and 5 USG/ERC speaks out on Somalia’s forgotten emergency Security he UN Under Secretary Gen- IDPs 6 eral and Emergency Relief Co- IDD Mission T ordinator, Mr Jan Egeland, completed a very successful three days mission in Somalia where he decried the high levels of malnutri- tion and under-five mortality rates. Enumerating the humanitarian needs in Somali, the USG said that one in every 10 Somalis are living in dis- placement or as refugees. One in every 10 Somalis needs international assistance. Altogether 1.4 million people out of 7 to 8 million people are in desperate need of assistance. Mortality rates in Somalia The scale of suffering in Somalia, which is being largely ignored by were similar to those of Darfur and the donor community, is a "moral outrage", Jan Egeland said on in some cases higher yet Somalia, he return from Somalia. noted, received a tenth of the assis- tance that went into Darfur, Sudan, with two very limited resources. Furthermore, humani- thirds of beneficiaries. tarian aid actors reached many of those in UN Office for the Mr Egeland said Somalia needs sus- need but there are thousands of people who co-ordination of tained interest and investment by the interna- do not receive assistance for various reasons. Humanitarian tional community to move forward the The USG called on international do- Affairs achievements attained in the peace process in nors and Somalis to help end the spiral of (UN-OCHA) neighbouring Kenya. He commended the UN hopelessness and let 2005 be the turning SOMALIA and NGOs for working under difficult condi- point in the history of the war ravaged coun- tions to save lives against all odds and with Continued on page 2 Relocation plan advances as PL gets a new leader he newly formed Somalia Transitional expected to accomplish these tasks in 60 days. Political Update T Federal Government has embarked on However some analysts say they require more the task of identifying a suitable seat of Gov- time than that allocated in order to achieve the ernment inside the country. New cabinet set objectives. Reports indicate that the TFG re- committees have been formed to find a suit- ceived US$ 5,000,000 from the international com- able relocation site. The Somalia Government munity to fund the relocation exercise. has been working from neighbouring Kenya Part of the relocation involves creation of since its formation last year following more a harmonization committee consisting of 9 mem- than two years of peace talks. The two com- bers, selected from the various committees and mittees, Reconciliation and Administration, chaired by the Prime Minister. This committee will and Security and Fundraising, have recom- consolidate reports from the regional missions. mended reconnaissance missions to five loca- This strategy will help to array concerns of antici- Adde is perceived tions in Somalia. pated competition among clans owing to the as a peace maker The missions composed of ministers importance attached to the location of the seat of who did not take and legislators will visit five regions as follows: Government. Its decision is expected to be en- part in the overall Areas Galgadud, Beletwein, Middle Shabelle, dorsed because it will be reached through con- conflict that en- Benadir and Lower Shabelle; Lower and Mid- sensus. gulfed Somalia dle Juba regions; Gedo region; Bay and Ba- In Puntland, General Mohamud Muse since the ouster of kool; and the area under Puntland Authority. Hersi (Adde) was elected president on 8th January President Said Somaliland was excluded on this exercise. 2005. He defeated the acting president, Mr Mo- Barre in 1991. The terms of reference for the com- hamed Abdi Hashi, who had been tipped to win. mittees also include reconciliation in case of Adde is perceived as a peace maker who did not any unresolved conflicts in each respective take part in the overall conflict that engulfed So- region, encampment of militias outside the malia since the ouster of President Said Barre in towns, establishing administration structures 1991. He is widely credited for his courageous for any of the regions that do not have a and critical role in bringing about reconciliation functioning authority. The committees are continued on page 5 USG/ERC speaks out on Somalia’s forgotten emergency Continued from page 1 community to provide resources and armed per- try. He called for immediate action saying sonnel. the emergency in Somalia had been forgot- The USG officiated at the Somalia 2005 ten and neglected for too long. CAP local launch in Nairobi and addressed a press In addition, Mr Egeland said the conference to advocate for support for humani- newly formed Federal Transitional Govern- tarian aid for Somalia. ment must embark on a process of recon- ciliation and cooperation among the Somalis and should not wait for the international UN Office for the co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs | Participants follow proceedings at the CAP 2005 launch officiated by Mr Jan Egeland, UN Under Secretary Gen- eral and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the Grand Regency Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. (UN-OCHA) SOMALIA Page 2 Aid reaches Somalia tsunami affected omalia was the only African country ad- households in the three districts while UNHCR TSUNAMI RESPONSE S versely affected by the tsunami that devas- will distribute shelter and household items to tated many parts of South East Asia on 26th De- an estimated 25,000 beneficiaries. cember 2004. The stretch between Hafun (Bari MSF Holland delivered ORS and anti- region) and Garacad (Mudug region), about 650 biotics to local health staff in Jerriban district km was affected with differing degrees of devas- on 30th December 2004 to 1st January 2005. tation. It is estimated that 150 people died; in The items can cater for approximately 680 addition, others were injured. The tsunami families in case the number of people suffer- caused extensive damage to shelters, houses and ing from diarrhoea diseases goes up. WHO has water sources as well as fishing equipment and distributed emergency kits in villages in Ha- boats. fun, Iskusban district and is currently visiting This disaster further impoverished a settlements between Bender Beyla and Eyl to community that was affected by a series of suc- distribute more kits. In addition, UNICEF is cessive natural disasters including a four year assisting 1,250 affected households in Bender drought that decimated livestock in this area Beyla, Iskusban and Jerriban by providing where pastoralism is the economic mainstay. In measles vaccinations, health renewable kits, early November, more than half of the surviving folic acid, Vitamin A, and cholera kits. CARE is livestock were killed by extremely cold weather also involved in health and sanitation relief forcing some pastoralists to turn to fishing as an services and targets 900 families in Mareeye alternative livelihood. Others who could not af- and Dhanaane villages in Eyl. This disaster fur- ford to buy fishing gear became internally dis- UNICEF is trucking clean drinking wa- ther impoverished placed and joined urban settlements as a source ter from wells for distribution in the affected a community that of casual labour or became beggars. areas. In addition, it is rehabilitating shallow was affected by a Initial assessment in Puntland, showed wells and chlorinating wells to stem the series of succes- that at least 18,000 households were directly af- spread of waterborne diseases. On sanitation, sive natural disas- fected and in need of urgent humanitarian assis- UNICEF is facilitating the digging of latrines ters . tance. Aid agencies moved pre-positioned stock because most of the latrines were inundated to meet the emerging needs such as drinking with sea water. These efforts target 1,250 water, food, medicine and shelter. The response households in the Hafun, Bender Beyla and in Somalia was initiated simultaneously with ae- Jerriban districts. At the same time, UNICEF is rial and ground assessments to determine af- implementing an ‘Education and Psycho- fected areas and arising emergency needs. Social Care’ Programme whose aim is to sup- In the meantime, a Flash Appeal for So- port the resumption of learning opportunities malia, in which agencies have requested US$10 through provision of education and related million to meet emergency needs of the affected support to affected children affected in Hafun population was launched along with East Asia town and Island. In Jerriban district, an ongo- appeals by the Secretary General on 6th January. ing project, by a local NGO SOFA and funded Delivering assistance to the needy con- by NOVIB, will conduct civic education and tinues to be a challenge due to the remoteness community mobilization. of the affected areas and poor communication The Humanitarian Response Group and road infrastructure. Apart from the poor in- (HRG) of the Somalia Aid Coordination Body frastructure, insecurity remains a serious impedi- (SACB) recommended an in-depth impact ment.