OCHA Situation Report
Somalia
Report for February 2006
14 March 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This report was written in cooperation with the UN Agencies in Somalia

HIGHLIGHTS

An early warning issued by FAO/FSAU and FEWS NET reports that parts of 
southern Somalia are at high risk of a Famine/Humanitarian Catastrophe 
from July to December 2006 and that in a worse case scenario, the number 
of people in need of critical assistance will increase from 1.7 million 
to 1.8 million (not including up to 400,000 IDPs) country-wide. 
According to the Seventeenth Climate Outlook Forum for the Greater Horn 
of Africa, the 2006 Gu (long) rains will likely be near to below normal 
in Somalia and the cross border areas with Kenya and Ethiopia. While the 
increase of people in need of assistance may not appear alarming, what 
needs to be emphasized is a major shift in severity of the situation, 
with an over 40% increase in the number of people facing a state of 
Humanitarian Emergency or Famine.

Such developments have direct and significant implications for response, 
and will be considered in the present revision of the 2006 Somalia CAP, 
expected to be launched on 21 March 2006. Even if the Gu rains are 
normal to above normal, there will still be need for concerted and 
sustained humanitarian assistance to address livelihood recovery so 
badly impacted by the present drought. As stressed before, improvement 
in conditions hinges on the appropriateness, timeliness, adequacy of 
emergency response and on international support. The 2006 Appeal is 
presently 13% covered according to information received by donors and 
partners and recorded by the OCHA Geneva Financial Tracking System.

In drought affected southern Somalia, humanitarian access to meet the 
needs of affected populations remains of prime concern. While February 
saw some improvements in regions like Bay, Bakool and Gedo, the 
detainment of a UN international staff member in Lower Juba attests to 
the very fluid nature of the operational environment of the most 
affected regions. Advocacy efforts on access and protection carried on 
in February with the dissemination of an "Open Letter" to Somali leaders 
urging all actors to work towards an environment conducive to free and 
unhindered passage of assistance and protection of aid personnel. 
Advocacy on these same principles also commenced at the local level to 
garner grass root support.

The newly appointed Special Humanitarian Envoy for the Horn of Africa, 
Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik, paid a first two-day visit to the region 
between 21-23 February, during which he met with the Somalia 
Inter-Agency Standing Committee to acquire an advance understanding of 
the situation in the country. In receiving updates from various sectors 
on the drought response, the need for adequate and timely funding by 
donors, and securing humanitarian access and protection were the two 
concerns repeatedly highlighted. The Special Envoy took note of both 
points as well as the importance of water and infrastructure building 
given the recurrence of drought in Somalia.

While Somalia had successfully put an end to polio transmission in 
October 2002, in the past seven months, 194 cases of wild polio have 
been confirmed. Somalia now poses one of the greatest threats to the 
global eradication of polio. Of the 194 cases, 159 are from Mogadishu; 
25 from Lower Shabelle; four from Middle Shabelle; three from Bay; one 
from Gedo; and two from Sool. Danger of spread and re-infection thus now 
persists in countries such as Yemen and Ethiopia, as well as polio-free 
Kenya.

Smuggling of Ethiopian migrants and Somali nationals from ports in 
Puntland to Yemen and the Gulf States continues to pose a serious 
humanitarian concern. Between 1 January and 28 February, 61 boats 
arrived from Bossaso to the Yemeni coast, which could amount to as many 
as 7,000 people. Aid partners have started a regional and international 
advocacy campaign but more efforts will be required to work with the 
local authorities to address and find more durable solutions to the 
issue.

ACCESS and SECURITY

In Gedo region, subsequent to a meeting between UN officials and 
community leaders from Luuq district to discuss threats against UN 
personnel received last month, and a security assessment in Luuq and 
Garbaharey, the two districts are again open for UN air and ground 
operations (Luuq only open to national UN staff). A concern expressed by 
the elders in Luuq had been the exclusion of certain sub-clans from 
receiving aid, which the elders were reassured aid partners were 
carefully avoiding. This renewed access into Gedo is hoped to enhance 
delivery of response to one of the worse drought hit regions in southern 
Somalia. This said, an increasing number of checkpoints are reportedly 
appearing along major roads in Gedo - between Belet-Hawa and Luuq, and 
Belet-Hawa and Garbaharey - in some locations doubling since January. 
Young pastoralists who have lost all assets due to the onset of the 
drought are reportedly resorting to such activities as a means of 
gaining some income through exaction of money from travelers.

In Mogadishu, intense fighting erupted on 17 February between militia 
allied with Mogadishu faction leaders and the Islamic Courts, following 
the announcement of a newly created "Alliance for restoration of peace 
and counter of terrorism" by a faction leader. The clashes resulted in 
the death of around 60 people and over 200 casualties, as well as the 
temporary displacement of thousands of people. Calm returned as elders 
mediated between the two sides yet the situation remains unsettled. The 
conflict which started as a dispute over control of El Ma'an port could 
turn into an overall conflict between fundamentalist/extremist militants 
and moderates. Such a turn of events would carry grave implications for 
access and the humanitarian situation of vulnerable groups in the 
capital. Despite this insecure environment, UN activities continued 
during the month through presence of national staff.

During a UNICEF/OCHA visit to Lower Juba to consult with partners on the 
ground and identify quick impact droughtrelated priority interventions, 
on 1 March the mission was ambushed in Afmadow by armed militia and a 
UNICEF international staff detained. Thanks to direct negotiations with 
the TFG and local authorities, the staff member was safely released 30 
hours later. In the past, travel to Afmadow was decided on a 
case-by-case basis and the situation remains unchanged. Still, the 
incident is highly denounced for its violation of the safety of aid 
personnel, and very unfortunate as the mission would have enabled 
progress in the drought response in the region. Lower Juba is one of the 
worse affected regions yet also one with the smallest presence of aid 
organizations. Response is thus limited.

Sea piracy is still an issue of concern as demonstrated by the hijacking 
of yet another vessel off the Mogadishu coastline on 26 February when 
pirates armed with guns in two speedboats boarded a wooden dhow and took 
the 25 crew hostage. Piracy impacts on supply pipelines of both 
commercial and aid commodities and remains a concern as shipping 
companies are still hesitant to sail off the Somali coastline. During 
the month, WFP brought into Somalia 2,237 metric tons (MT) overland 
through El Wak Kenya into Wajid and Gedo districts, and 8,570.5 MT by 
sea through the ports of Kismayo and Merka.

Against this backdrop, advocacy efforts on access and protection 
persevered during the month. On 17 February the Office of the 
Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia widely disseminated an "Open 
Letter" to all Somali leaders urging all actors to work towards creating 
an environment conducive to free and safe passage of humanitarian 
assistance. Concurrently, the dissemination of the 'Statement of 
Commitment' on access and protection to local authorities and 
communities was commenced by OCHA to garner grass root support and 
adherence to basic principles of unhindered humanitarian space and 
operation. WFP's advocacy and sensitization campaigns in preparation of 
relief distributions were also completed in Lower and Middle Juba, Bay, 
and Bakool where elders, community members, local and regional 
administrations voiced their commitment to providing support to aid 
agencies. WFP will soon start these campaigns in Gedo where relief 
distribution is planned to commence shortly.

Developments in Bay and Bakool could also bode well for humanitarian 
access. On 11 and 12 February, preceding the Baidoa Parliamentary 
Session on 26 February, a reconciliation meeting between Digil and 
Mirifle sub-clans in Wajid resulted in a Nine-Point Agreement, known as 
Wajid Accord. Among the points are the unification of the sub-clan 
militia, the relocation of all militia outside Baidoa town, the 
formation of a temporary court, and the establishment of a unified 
administration for the regions. The Agreement is being implemented 
through a series of committees and community elders have stressed that 
its essence is to facilitate humanitarian access to communities in need 
in the two regions affected by the drought. A parallel peace initiative 
in Idale town (Baidoa district, Bay region) between the Huber and Yantar 
sub-clans to cement the peace agreement reached in mid-2005 could also 
positively impact on humanitarian access in the region.

In early February, the Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Mohamed 
stirred several reactions and demonstrations throughout Somalia. In 
Bossaso, a violent demonstration on 6 February resulted in the death of 
one demonstrator and four other injuries. Later in the month, still in 
Puntland, tension resulting from a President awaited cabinet reshuffle 
resulted in a shoot-out on 27 February when militia loyal to the 
Minister of Planning surrounded the Parliament and faced presidential 
bodyguards. UN international staff based in Garowe was temporarily 
relocated to Bossaso, while clan elders met to find a solution to the 
disagreement over the reinstatement or not of removed Ministers. At the 
time of drafting, the situation remained unchanged and was being closely 
monitored.

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