OCHA Situation Report
Somalia - Internally Displaced People (IDPS) Fact Sheet
21 March 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

OVERVIEW OF THE IDP SITUATION IN SOMALIA

Following the collapse of the Somali government in 1991, civilian 
populations became the target of serious violations of International 
Humanitarian and Human Rights Law including extortion, looting of 
property, physical attacks, rape and other serious abuses. This 
environment coupled with the collapse of government services caused 
massive population movements. Over one million Somalis fled the country 
and became refugees mostly in neighboring countries, while displacement 
inside Somalia was the only option left for those who did not have the 
means to travel abroad. Since then, conflict related displacement within 
Somalia has continued and forced people to leave their lands- several 
times, particularly in the regions of Gedo, Sool/Sanaag, Galgadud and 
Bay/Bakool. Moreover, multi-displacements themselves have also resulted 
in situations of conflict fuelling tensions over resources as people 
seek out new areas to find safe shelter, far from their original homes 
and family roots.

During 2005, one of the most complex humanitarian challenges in Somalia 
has been ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance to and the 
protection of an estimated 370,000-400,000 of those who remain 
internally displaced and extremely vulnerable, as a result of either 
conflict or natural disaster. Access difficulties (due to civil unrest) 
limited these activities, particularly in south/central, where a large 
number of the most vulnerable population reside.

Consolidating a functional government and restoring peace and security 
especially in south/central currently controlled by warlords and 
freelance militias will take time. As long as insecurity prevails, IDPs 
face an uncertain future. However, assistance to IDPs in existing 
pockets of security is possible and there is a growing partnership 
between the local authorities and humanitarian community to seek 
solutions for the plight of displaced groups.

In addition to conflict, over the years, natural disasters such as 
drought and flooding have pushed people to move from their areas of 
origin in Somalia causing thousands of households to lose their 
livelihoods. At the end of 2004, the tsunami struck the coastal areas of 
north east Somalia which led to fishing communities losing their fishing 
boats, equipment as well as their fragile shelters and forcibly moved 
people temporarily inland. During early 2004, at the peak of the drought 
in parts of the northern regions, the Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) 
Somalia recorded unusual population movements towards urban centres, as 
many nomadic pastoralists struggled to survive after many seasons of 
inadequate rainfall.

Conflict and natural disasters are both events that encourage people to 
move to urban areas in the hope of finding access to basic social 
services and improved livelihood opportunities. However, IDPs often lack 
the necessary skills to access meaningful sources of income in these 
urban settings.

In early 2006 the UN and NGOs established a Protection Monitoring 
Network to monitor human rights abuses, population movements and 
initiate protection activities for the displaced and other vulnerable 
groups. The depletion of resources (water and pasture) in many areas has 
led many Pastoralists and agro pastoralists to move either with their 
livestock to areas where water and food is available or to abandon their 
home area altogether. Livelihoods are increasingly becoming disrupted 
and stressed. Some local authorities are reporting an increase of 
primarily women and children on a daily basis at IDP/returnee 
settlements but tracking of movement can be difficult, particularly in 
areas where aid partners are not present due to insecurity.

The newly established Protection and Monitoring Network seeks to 
advocate with local and national authorities and community leaders to 
respect the rights of populations internally and internationally 
displaced as a consequence of the drought. The Protection and Monitoring 
Network also seeks to support fund-raising activities amongst donors for 
emergency drought relief including protection activities - in particular 
for the continuation of population tracking, protection monitoring, 
advocacy and protection response.

Over the last ten years and encouraged by stability in certain areas of 
the country such as Somaliland and Puntland, a large number of refugees 
originating from northern regions have returned (700,000 to Somaliland 
and 400,000 to Puntland), putting enormous pressure and stretching 
basicsocial services to their limits. The scarcity of reintegration 
opportunities, particularly in establishing livelihoods has led many 
returnees to join IDPs and the urban poor in their locations or 
settlements, under deplorable living conditions and with no safety or 
security. (An estimated 350,000 Somalis remain in exile and 250,000 of 
this number are still living in the region).

Often IDPs remain displaced long even after the violence that caused 
their original displacement has abated. This can be due to deadlocks in 
peace talks or difficulties in repossessing properties or land. While 
remaining in situations of protracted displacement, many IDPs and other 
vulnerable populations face discrimination, restrictions on their 
freedom of movement and political rights, difficulties accessing basic 
social services as well as limited income earning opportunities. 
Unresolved displacement crises remain festering sources of instability.

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