OCHA Situation Report
Somalia
21 March 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

OVERVIEW OF HUMANITARIAN ACCESS IN SOMALIA

Humanitarian access in Somalia remains critical to the country's most 
vulnerable populations in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and 
protection (estimated at 2.1 million) - and particularly the large 
number who reside in south/central region who are extremely food 
insecure or internally displaced. Unfortunately the drought conditions 
currently being experienced in southern Somalia in early 2006 have 
created resource-based conflict - particularly over land and water - and 
such disputes have already been reported in some regions of 
south/central during Jan and Feb 2006. On the other hand, in Gedo 
region, experiencing dire drought conditions, clan conflict appears to 
have subsided and the community is encouraging access for humanitarian 
aid - but the situation remains extremely volatile and fluid. In recent 
years lack of sustained humanitarian access and restricted operating 
space in south/central have been major factors affecting human survival 
(as well aslimiting operational capacity of aid organizations) in the 
region.

In 2005, the operating environment for humanitarian relief operations 
remained varied. Some areas including Somaliland and Puntland 
experienced political development, economic recovery and relative 
stability with humanitarian access in general unhindered, although 
frequent reports indicate that some aid workers have been targeted in 
Puntland. Other areas in south/central remained dangerous and unstable 
with attempts to provide assistance and protection to the most 
vulnerable groups mostly ad hoc and event driven. Responses in 
south/central were often delayed as the humanitarian community struggled 
to negotiate access with local authorities. Access was further 
complicated by flooding and poor road infrastructure.

Since the outbreak of civil war in 1991 and the massive humanitarian 
operation launched in its wake, aid in Somalia has been highly 
politicised. Trends show there have been moves to divert, block and 
attempt to control, directly or indirectly, the delivery of humanitarian 
assistance and protection in order to strengthen the power bases of 
faction leaders, usually along clan lines. As a result the provision of 
aid can be as much a source of conflict, as well as a source of relief; 
the outcome being that its delivery has not always been possible or has 
been interrupted due to the fact that the safety and security of 
humanitarian relief workers cannot be assured. Faction or freelance 
militia with an interest in a geographical area either 1)prevent aid 
from reaching opposing or minority clans; 2)prevent the rehabilitation 
of and access to natural resources such as water and land required for 
survival; 3)influence agencies to hire staff and provide contracts for 
goods and services that favour their own kin or allies.

A series of serious security incidents in October/November 2005 
including the murder of a Somali National working for UNDSS in 
Kismayo;piracy of ships carrying humanitarian relief off the south coast 
and a recent wave of assassinations in Mogadishu worsened access in 
south/central. This has implications for the delivery of aid to the most 
vulnerable populations identified as being in Humanitarian Emergency, 
Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis or displaced. . On March 1 2006, during 
a UNICEF/OCHA visit to Lower Juba to consult with partners on the ground 
and identify quick impact priority interventions to be undertaken, the 
mission was ambushed in Afmadow by armed militia and a UNICEF 
international staff detained. Direct negotiations with the TFG and local 
authorities were immediately commenced to seek the staff member's quick 
and safe release - which after intense consultations occurred 30 hours 
later. The mission to Lower Juba 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 organisations.

Between March and November 2005 more than twenty boats were hijacked off 
the Somali coast and the trend does not appear to be decreasing. Kenyan 
vessel owners are becoming very reluctant to use the southern Somali 
waters and are asking for armed escort to deliver World Food Programmes 
(WFP) commodities or UN relief. The temporary halt of sea transport is 
also impacting on the availability of fuel in south Somalia, directly 
affecting the humanitarian flights into the area. The southern Somali 
coastline is one of the most dangerous in the world and WFP's operations 
in southern Somalia have felt the consequences. The Agency has looked 
into alternative transport routes, including overland from Kenya and via 
Djibouti to reach those in desperate need of food assistance.

The situation has been further complicated by reports indicating that 
extremist groups pose an increased threat to humanitarian workers. This 
has led to the need to improve security standards and is likely to 
impact on humanitarian operating space. Mines are still being laid in 
southern Somalia, and the ongoing insecurity in the region has hindered 
a comprehensive plan to deal with them.

Since late 2005, OCHA has been leading the UN's initiative to maximize 
access opportunities in south/central where authorities have shown 
commitment to engaging (assisting with access) with humanitarian 
organizations. In mid-January 2006 the Humanitarian Coordinator for 
Somalia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Prime Minister in 
which the TFG committed itself to cooperating with the UN to enhance 
unhindered access and to assist in the dissemination of the MOU's 
principles at the local level. UN agencies have also produced a 
statement for local authorities and communities to adhere to basic 
humanitarian principles and which is being disseminated. The TFG has 
also created a Technical Committee which among other things will look 
into access issues. Where it proves difficult to access vulnerable 
groups in south/central in 2006 the humanitarian community will also be 
looking to work closely with local Somali partners and empower them to 
carry out the implementation and monitoring of humanitarian activities.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -