OCHA Situation Report
Somalia
Report for August 2004
1 September 2004


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights
Politics:

The Nomination and swearing in of members of the Transitional Federal 
Parliament of the Somalia Republic is nearly complete. Only one sub sub 
clan is yet to provide the names of three nominees. The Speaker and 
President will be selected by the MPs by 15th September.

Security:

South Central Zone is on high alert over an anticipated attack by General 
Morgan. Latest reports indicate that he has moved from his military base 
in Ceel Barde and was last seen near Xudur. It was reported that he has 
been building up ammunition and fuel stocks in readiness to launch an 
attack on Kismayo seaport currently under Juba Valley Alliance control.

Food Security:

The UN Humanitarian co-ordinator has appealed for more funding to support 
drought affected population in Somalia. In addition, the Food Security 
Analysi Unit has produced a preliminary report that indicates that drought 
conditions are worsening and spreading in Southern Puntland, central 
regions and parts of South Somalia.

Protection:

OCHA and the Norwegian Refugees Council conducted two workshops on the 
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement in Somaliland and Puntland.

OCHA Somalia sets out CAP 2005 strategic goals

Participants at the UN-OCHA Consolidated Appeals Process Workshop in 
Nairobi on 17th and 18th August agreed to focus on three strategic goals 
for CAP 2005: prioritise humanitarian action that aim to save lives and 
assist vulnerable communities at risk to become more resilient to crises; 
enhance protection of and respect for the human rights and dignity of all 
persons in Somalia; and support existing and emerging governance 
structures to facilitate related humanitarian activities.

The workshop also decided to retain a link between humanitarian action and 
recovery/transition issues until national strategic planning tools are 
developed.

The workshop was attended by representatives from all UN agencies 
operational in Somalia, the International Federation of the Red Cross and 
Red Crescent and International Committee of the Red Cross. The European 
Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), USAID/OFDA, Sweden, Italy, 
Germany, Finland, Netherlands and Norway represented donor countries at 
the meeting.

The participants examined various challenges that impeded realisation of 
the goals set in 2004. Lack of adequate funding: so far 29% of requested 
funds have been realised. Security and lack of access to the vulnerable; 
inadequate marketing and understanding of the CAP were also identified. It 
was observed that these challenges were likely to continue into 2005 
especially due to the infiltration of extremists groups in Mogadishu and 
their ability to operate in many parts of the country.

The group said humanitarian assistance in Somalia would be better targeted 
if the vulnerable were properly identified and documented; closer and 
constructive relations were fostered between the aid community, local 
authorities and communities.

Donors present re-affirmed their commitment and support for the CAP 
despite funding some humanitarian activities outside the CAP framework. It 
was noted that most of the projects funded within the CAP addressed 
humanitarian needs.

The CAP planning process has come at a time when more than 600,000 people 
are facing a humanitarian emergency and livelihood crisis. The number of 
people affected by the drought has trebled since the CAP 2004 revision in 
February 2004. (See separate story on food security). Other vulnerable 
populations include Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Returnees, 
Refugees and ex-combatants.

Devastating drought deepens in Somalia


FOOD SECURITY

The FSAU-led assessment surveyed food security, nutrition, and livelihood 
security throughout Somalia. Seventeen UN agencies, NGOs, and Somali 
authorities participated in the field work

Preliminary post-Gu food security assessment indicate that drought 
conditions have deepened in Somaliacovering areas in the South, Central, 
and Northern regions. The Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) of FAO 
estimates that a total of 616,300 people are in need of urgent assistance, 
with 261,000 in a state of Humanitarian emergency and 355,300 facing a 
severe livelihood crisis.

The FSAU-led assessment surveyed food security, nutrition, and livelihood 
security throughout Somalia. Seventeen UN agencies, NGOs, and Somali 
authorities participated in the field work that lasted over two weeks. The 
assessment confirmed previous early warnings of severe food insecurity in 
country.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator issued a press release calling for more 
humanitarian assistance to the drought-affected regions to save lives and 
stem destitution as pastoralists continue to lose livestock. The HC 
visited the drought-affected regions of Soma-liland and Puntland and held 
meetings with humanitarian agencies and the local authorities and 
discussed extent of humanitarian assistance to the affected population.

The HC also called on agencies to initiate programmes that will assist 
communities to rebuild their lives, given that many families will be 
unable to return to the pastoral livelihood due to extreme rates of 
livestock loss.

Both Somaliland and Puntland authorities have declared drought emergency 
in the Sool/Sanag area.

The FSAU report says the Northeast region is experiencing a profound 
environmental crisis that is having dramatic effects on livelihoods due to 
degraded rangelands and massive livestock deaths (cumulative death rates 
are roughly 60% for shoats and 80% for camels). Many pastoralists have 
already dropped out of their livelihood and have become destitute. A four 
years drought that has not been experienced since 1974 has precipitated 
the environmental crisis, which is the culmination of a number of factors. 
The analysis was discussed at an Humanitarian Response Group (HRG) meeting 
convened by UN-OCHA. The meeting called for urgent short- term emergency 
interventions and longer-term strategic planning to save lives, break 
dependency cycle and restore livelihoods.

The Central regions are experiencing yet another year of below normal 
rainfall, which, in combination with ongoing civil insecurity, has lead to 
severe food insecurity.

Agricultural areas in the South are experiencing one of the three worst 
cereal production years since 1995, with total cereal production of 75% of 
the post war average. Chronically food insecure areas of Gedo and Juba 
Valley are facing severe conditions this year, with malnutrition rates in 
Juba Valley 19.5%, Bakol region is experiencing an acute crisis this year.

In the Juba Valley, some Humanitarian assistance projects are being used 
to alleviate the situation. Most of the activities focus on improvement of 
small-scale irrigation facilities.  World Concern is planning to start 
distributing 30 manual water pumps in western riverside villages of Jilib. 
In addition, World Concern has procured 11,500 fishing kits through a 
project funded by OCHA's Humanitarian Response Fund for distribution in 
the Juba Riverine through a local NGO, Afrec.

The ICRC has started distributing small water pump engines in Jilib and 
will do the same for Jamame. World Vision has indicated plans to 
distribute 50 small-scale water pump engines in Bu'ale health, education 
and agriculture projects in the area. Bu'ale was adversely affected by 
clan clashes in the last two years that led to deaths and displacement.

Humanitarian access impeded by insecurity


ACCESS

Aid agencies temporarily halted operations inWest-Belet Weyne and 
evacuated their staff to Nairobi following clashes between two Galjel sub 
clans; Afi and Abtisame. The confrontation resulted in the death of 13 
people and injuries to several others.  A majority of the causalities were 
civilians including women and children deliberately targeted by the 
militia. The confrontations displaced about 100 families prompting 
UNSECOORD to advise operational UN agencies and NGOs to evacute their 
staff for safety reasons. For the first time since tension broke out 
between the two sub clans, hand granades were used on 3rd and 5th August 
in west Belet Weyne increasing civialian displacements.

The two sub clans have been fighting since the beginning of this year. 
Insecurity has also exacerbated reprisal killings and low level 
confrontations continued for almost two weeks adversely affecting poor 
peoples' coping strategies in view of the harsh climatic conditions and 
decrease of manual labour opportunities as a result of the fighting. 
Levels of ordinary crimes were noted to have increased. After the spate of 
killings and lawlessness in the first week of August, no more killings 
were reported in the last week of August and some agencies have returned 
to Belet Weyne.

The security situation on the roads of Lower Juba and Lower Shabelle 
remains unstable. Freelance militia continue to maintain a high number of 
roadblocks limiting access to the area and increasing transport costs for 
food commodities.  An out-of season maturing of maize has increased access 
to food and residents are no longer depending on wild fruits.

The Lower Juba Riverine was identified as an area with high malnutrition 
rates and classified by FSAU as a humanitarian emergency zone. Insecurity 
has increased in Lower Shabelle especially on the road between Barawe and 
Bulo Mareer despite the Lower Shabelle administration use of its troops to 
control the roads.

Anticipated attack causes anxiety in S-C Zone


SECURITY

One such report indicates that a plane from Galkayo with medical supplies 
and some spare parts landed in Xudur airstrip on 19th August.

The process of the formation of a governmentin Somalia raises new concerns 
about the opposition that it may encounter on the ground that may spark 
off further violence in the country.

In the South-Central Zone, reports of a possible impending attack on the 
Juba Valley Alliance (JVA)-controlled Kismayo seaport by General Morgan 
has raised anxiety among Juba Valley and neighbouring Gedo residents.

It is unclear what route the General would use in his bid to reclaim 
control of the seaport. Reports indicate that he is stocking up ammunition 
and fuel supplies in his military base in Ceel Barde town in Bakool region 
where he lives since he was ousted from Kismayo by the JVA in 2001. One 
such report indicates that a plane from Galkayo with military supplies and 
some spare parts landed in Xuddur airstrip on 19th August. The goods were 
taken by road to Ceel Barde. However, the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) 
leadership blocked further landings at the airport after the Transitional 
National Government voiced concern.

Some RRA leaders have opposed General Morgan's intention to use Bay and 
Bakool regions as a military route. Morgan is said to have received a 
fully-loaded fuel truck from Mogadishu. In case of General Morgan's 
militia attack, it is expected that the JVA and TNG forces, along with 
some clans and sub-clans would jointly fight back in a military response.

This could lead to a larger-scale violence that might eventually spread to 
other areas of Somalia and put the latest achievement of the 
reconciliation and government formation process in jeopardy.

An attack of the magnitude which General Morgan is suspected to be 
mounting may have far-reaching implications on the population of the 
southern and central Somalia. The major humanitarian crisis may arise 
first of all in the Juba Valley area, which has already been adversely 
affected by drought and parts of it have been classified under 
humanitarian emergency in the preliminary findings of the recently 
conducted annual post-Gu assessment by the Food Security Analysis Unit 
(FSAU) of FAO.

The violence in Juba Valley may cause major displacement of already 
vulnerable population, many of them belonging to marginalized minority 
groups. These potential IDPs are likely to flee to Kismayo and join the 
already overcrowded IDP camps in the town. This would put additional 
strain on the impoverished local population as well as on international 
community which is operational in the Middle and Lower Juba regions.

Somali Transitional Assembly Members sworn-in

Almost all members of the Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali 
Republic have been sworn-in in Nairobi on 22nd August as part of initial 
steps towards formation of a government. The selection of MPs was slowed 
down by clan and intra-clan failure to agree on their representation in 
terms of allocated slots as well as representatives.

The first batch of 194 MPs were sworn in on 22 August at the United 
Nations Headquarters in Nairobi. An additional 63 were sworn in later. So 
far only three slots remain undistributed. The MPs were selected through a 
quota system to represent the four major clans and a conglomeration of 
smaller clans that form the "fifth" clan.

Each of the four clans was allocated 61 seats, and 31 slots for the fifth 
clan. A speaker and two deputies will be elected from among the MPs in 
order to preside over the election of a president, who will in turn 
appoint a prime minister to form a government.

The new Parliament will have only 22 women which is below the 12% agreed 
on in the charter.  It is not clear whether the Conference will consider a 
proposal to increase the number of parliamentary seats by an additional 31 
to be used to overcome the current problem of under-representation of 
special groups including women. Only 16 women were sworn in on 22nd 
August.

So far, the lead mediator has warned of legal complications that could 
delay the process further if some of the participants contest the creation 
of additional seats.

IGAD Facilitation Committee congratulated the selected MPs and implored 
them to put aside their individual differences and focus on fulfilling 
their mandate. At the same time, the arbitration committee was requested 
to speed up and conclude the pending disputes arising from the selection 
process and adhere to the terms of the Transitional Federal Charter. 
Elsewhere, the Transition National Government (TNG) President Abdikassim 
Salad Hassan scoffed at attempts by the Transition National Assembly (TNA) 
to remove him from power. The President said the TNA did not have quorum 
because most of the MPs were in Nairobi or a mandate to remove him from 
power. The TNA nominated Mr Abdinor Darman in his place.

President Abdikassim has declared support for the peace process and its 
outcome. He has said that he will hand over to whoever is selected as a 
result of this process.

Workshops on IDPs Guiding Principles successful

The situation was tense in IDP camps near Belet Xaawo in Gedo for much of 
August following the murder of one man on 9th August. The murder caused 
panic and resulted in the movement of all adult males from the camps. 
Those left behind are more vulnerable and could be easy targets for the 
militia the in the absence. Other vital assistance to the IDPs is still 
missing, particularly food, shelter, water and sanitation. 
CARE-International has embarked on a one-month food ration distribution 
districts in northern Gedo.

UN-OCHA and the Netherlands Refugees Council conducted two IDPs workshops 
in Bossaso (Puntland) and Hargeisa (Somaliland). In addition to acquiring 
a profound knowledge on the Guiding Principles, the participants 
identified the main challenges that IDPs face such as lack of proper 
shelter, poor access to water, health care and education as well as 
discrimination.

In Bossaso, the participants raised concerns on security, citing examples 
of past and recent cases of theft and gender-based violence in some of the 
camps. To start addressing these concerns the participants agreed to 
establish a working group on IDPs, which will develop a comprehensive plan 
of action, and to immediately take steps to improve security in the 
concerned IDP camps.  The first IDP working group will take place sometime 
in September.

In Hargeisa, the participants proposed that the Somaliland authorities 
adopt the Guiding Principles as law, that the suggested registration 
process should also examine the needs of IDPs and that the current working 
group related to the IDP registration should be expanded to address IDPs 
issues in a comprehensive manner.

Participants for both workshops were drawn from authorities, local and 
international NGOs, UN agencies and IDPs.


OFFICE MOVE:

OCHA Somalia will move offices from Centenary House from 6th September, 
2004 to 7th Floor, Kalson Towers, Crescent Road, off Parklands Road. 
Address: P.O. Box 28832, 00200, Nairobi Kenya. New telephone numbers: 
254-20-3754150-5; Fax 254-20-3754156

This update is prepared by the UN Office for the Coordination of 
Humanitarian Affairs, Somalia. For more information and comments contact: 
lilian.nduta@undp.org

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