Somalia Humanitarian UNITED NATIONS NATION UNIES Overview Vol. 1 Issue 3 - March 2008 Main Developments International and local NGOs working in Somalia again raised the alarm about the deteriorating humanitarian in the country and request the international community and all parties to the confl ict to urgently focus their attention on the catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Drought and water shortage is spreading. Response is ongoing but not adequate to meet the enormous humanitarian needs. Insecurity and access issues continue to hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Threats and kidnapping of aid workers is now a concern in all parts of Somalia and seriously restricting the presence of expatriates in the country. In March, more than 100 Somalis died while trying to cross the Gulf of Aden on their way to Yemen. Somalia is declared polio-free by WHO. The Somalia Humanitarian Overview, a monthly analysis of the humanitarian situation and trends produced by OCHA Somalia. Nearly 44 international and local NGOs Security Council and its members to clearly For questions or comments, please contact: Dawn working in Somalia issued a joint statement support eff orts to increase human rights Blalock, OCHA Public Information Offi cer (bla- [email protected]) or Muna Mohamed, OCHA Reports highlighting the deteriorating humanitarian monitoring and ensure accountability. In Offi cer ([email protected]). situation in the country. The same particular, the organization is advocating organisations issued a similar statement in for the establishment of an international by all parties. Amnesty International called October 2007 and are now warning, that commission of inquiry. Amnesty International on UN Security Council members to urgently, just four months later, the crisis engulfi ng issued a similar statement saying that serious consistently and directly confront the inter- Somalia has deteriorated dramatically abuses of human rights and violations of linked human rights and humanitarian crisis. while access to people in need continues to international humanitarian law remain largely decrease. The organisations are calling on undocumented, unpunished, and ignored by Also in March the UN Secretary-General the international community and all parties the international community and committed presented his quarterly report to UN Security to the confl ict to fulfi l their responsibility to protect civilians, ensure humanitarian access, address the environment of impunity and fi nd a political solution to the current crisis. In an interview with Voice of America radio, the Prime Minister of Somalia, Nur Adde Hassan Hussein, said he fully agrees with the agencies’ assessment that urgent action is needed to avoid a catastrophe. He reiterated the TFG’s promise to the international community made fi ve months ago to appoint a focal point for humanitarian issues and to put in place mechanisms to address the access issues. Several advocacy groups and organizations issued statements and reports on Somalia at Upgrading of IDP Settlement in Bossasso, Puntland. Six UN agencies and one NGO are supporting the Arria Formula meeting with UN Security IDPs in Bossaso town with improved shelter - see full story on back page - Credit: UN-HABITAT Council. Human Rights Watch called on the Somalia Humanitarian Overview March 2008 Council members on the situation in Somalia. distributed a two-month ration of 4,289 MT The Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) The report is proposing the strategic and to 38,085 households in Galgaduud and managed by OCHA has approved nearly $1.3 coordinated planning of security, political South Mudug. The second distribution in million for emergency interventions (mainly and programmatic areas (humanitarian, these regions is planned for the beginning water and sanitation) during the month of recovery and development) as a basis for of April. In March CARE distributed food aid March. Funds from the HRF can be made a comprehensive UN strategy for peace in Hiraan to about 11,000 households while available to NGOs and UN agencies with the and stability in Somalia. Four scenarios identifi ed by the report could lead to the possible deployment of additional future troops in Somalia. Two scenarios include international troops, but only if certain conditions are met. One scenario includes a stabilization force of about 8,000 troops and police with a phased withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Mogadishu. Another could see political reconciliation involving power- sharing among political parties and a peace agreement, including the deployment of more than 28,000 UN peacekeeping troops. The UN Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah told the Security Council that recent encouraging political developments by Somalia’s Transitional Government - including a reconciliation strategy involving local peacemaking and A camel left in the bush in Galkaayo area, March 2008. In Somalia when camels are dying it is a clear sign talks with the opposition - must be matched of severe drought. Credit: UN-OCHA by progress in improving security and protecting victims of violence. ‘‘Today, too ICRC distributed food to 8,279 households in capacity to implement water, sanitation and much time is spent collecting numbers and Sool and North Mudug. Field reports indicate other emergency responses. statistics about the suff ering of the Somali that water and food aid provided is shared people’’, Ould-Abdallah said. ‘‘However, the with the livestock. There is an urgent need to The drought is also causing displacement. real battle to be won is to be close to and to upscale assistance, in particular in the central According to UNHCR and partners, nearly protect the victims of armed violence, abuse regions and Hiraan, but this is constrained by 6,000 people have been displaced due to of human rights, of drought and famine’’. the limited number of humanitarian agencies drought and water shortages in their areas operating in these areas. The estimated of origin (South Mudug, Middle and Lower Drought number of people in need of humanitarian Shebelle, Bay and Galgaduud). Drought and severe water shortage is assistance, including IDPs, in Hiraan, Mudug reported throughout the country. Forecasts and Galgaduud are over 500,000. Increasing food prices are further deteriorating for the upcoming Gu rains (April-June) are not food security in many parts of the country. encouraging as current climatic conditions Galgaduud region has traditionally been an Commodity prices are now hitting record indicate the likelihood of below normal area with limited humanitarian presence. highs in most markets in southern and central rainfall. The Gu rains are crucial to replenish In order to open the area for sustained Somalia due to the rapid devaluation of the water sources, regenerate pasture, and the humanitarian activities and response, an Somali Shilling, increased transportation costs production of crops harvested in August in inter-agency access mission was fi elded and confl ict-related disruption in trade and central and southern regions. If Gu rains fail to the region at the end of March to meet import activities. During the last two weeks or are delayed, additional assistance for the with community leaders to put in place in Mogadishu, the price of one drum of diesel drought-aff ected areas could be required a framework agreement between the fl uctuated between $150 to $220. Riots and until the end of the year. Humanitarian local community and the humanitarian demonstrations against the rising rate of agencies are currently preparing contingency community. This was positively received by infl ation have taken place in Mogadishu. plans for the worst-case scenario. the communities and elders who are keen to According to fi eld reports, security is no longer see the presence of humanitarian agencies in the main reason why people are fl eeing the Drought response is ongoing but still far the area. Though the situation in the region city. People are also leaving due to lack of from meeting needs in the aff ected areas. continues to be uncertain, the community food. The community kitchen programme International Committee of the Red Cross is has taken measures to increase security in the in Mogadishu implemented by SAACID NGO providing trucking water in South Mudug area, for example the road from Beletweyn to and supported by Word Food Programme and Galgaduud. Save the Children-UK has Adado previously reported some 40 check- and HRF is experiencing increasing demands. accelerated water and sanitation activities in points now has none. The programme is on an average providing Hiraan region. In February CARE International 50,000 cooked meals per day in ten districts. 2 Somalia Humanitarian Overview March 2008 There is now need to expand the programme March alone, at least three statements were As the Somalia Humanitarian Overview went to the remaining six districts of Mogadishu. made by high-level government offi cials to press, two expatriates who had been attacking humanitarian work. The Mayor abducted by armed militiamen around 15 Humanitarian Space & Security of Mogadishu again accused humanitarian kilometres south of Sakow town, Middle Juba, The security situation in Somalia continues agencies of ‘assisting terrorists’ in IDP camps. where still being held by the kidnappers. to deteriorate. Fighting between the TFG Comments such as these are not only false Bringing the number of kidnappings or supported by Ethiopian troops and anti- but also limit humanitarian space by creating attempted kidnappings to fi ve since the government elements is no longer restricted an environment of mistrust. On Friday 28 beginning of the year. to Mogadishu and surrounding areas, and is March residents in Mogadishu looted trucks expanding to other parts of the country. In carrying food aid to displaced people. They Population Movements Mogadishu, the worst fi ghting took place the targeted World Food Programme (WFP) Increasing numbers of Somali refugees weekend of 29-30 March in Bakara market contracted trucks and also blocked the main are now seeking asylum in neighbouring where more than 40 civilians were treated road before local police restored order.