OCHA Situation Report
Somalia
Monthly Analysis for October 2006
14 November 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

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

HIGHLIGHTS

The Deyr seasonal rains (October to December) began early this year in 
Somalia and with greater than normal intensity. Rainfall in some regions 
of the country has measured six times the average for this time of year 
and the river gauging stations in Luuq and Bardera in Gedo region 
recorded levels exceeding the 20 years return period. According to 
FEWSNET, most regions of Somalia received 3 to 4 times normal rainfall 
for the month of October. Due to a moderate El Nino, a longer than usual 
Deyr season is projected and the situation is expected to deteriorate, 
with more rains forecast and downriver water levels rising. So far, the 
flooding has resulted in the displacement of thousands of people, 
property damage and crop loss. Severe flooding in Beletweyne town, Hiran 
region, since the 10 November has resulted in the evacuation of the 
town. An estimated 50,000 people have been displaced, with an additional 
25,000 people in the surrounding area reportedly cut off. Overall, an 
estimated 75,000 people are in the area are need of immediate emergency 
assistance.

The flooding is of grave concern, particularly given security 
constraints, reduced staff presence on the ground, flooded roads and 
other obstacles to access that are contributing to the reduction of 
operational capacity for humanitarian actors. A ruling by the Kenyan 
government on 11 November required charter flights in and out of Somalia 
to obtain clearance seven days in advance of flying. Humanitarian 
partners are addressing the issue with the Kenyan authorities and it is 
anticipated that the issue will be resolved soon. Timely and immediate 
access is essential in order to be able to provide assistance in 
southern and central regions, where 1.1 million Somalis (out of 1.4 
million countrywide plus 400,000 IDPs) have already been identified in 
need of assistance until at least the end of 2006.

In spite of ongoing access constraints during the month of October, 
humanitarian agencies continued to mobilize resources and implement 
programmes through national staff on the ground and national partners. 
WFP has resumed general food distributions through national staff in 
South/Central Somalia (see Access and Security) and WHO and health 
partners continued to implement the measles catch-up campaign in the 
Central Zone (see Health). In response to the October flooding, food 
relief, shelter materials and tens of thousands of treated mosquito nets 
and sandbags were distributed by such agencies as WFP, UNICEF, WHO and a 
number of NGOs, including CARE and CONCERN.

Following the 25 September Presidential decree in Puntland banning human 
smuggling and the subsequent deportation of 1,370 Ethiopian migrants, 
some progress has been made in ensuring the provision of minimal 
protection guarantees for those Ethiopians remaining in detention. 
Subsequent to discussions with the authorities, an agreement was reached 
to establish a temporary 'transit and processing' centre in Bossaso for 
the migrants. The centre provides minimum basic facilities such as 
latrines, water, food, shelter and security with assistance provided by 
various partners, while those Ethiopians seeking asylum will undergo 
Refugee Status Determination in Bossaso with UNHCR. Long-term Ethiopian 
residents of Bossaso presently in the screening center will be issued 
with a document confirming their right to remain and reside in Bossaso. 
It is planned that the remaining Ethiopians in the centre will be 
assisted back to Ethiopia with IOM facilitation.

Meanwhile, high refugee flows from Somalia into Kenya continued during 
the reporting period, with the majority of displacement due to growing 
insecurity and escalating tensions, particularly in South/Central 
regions. Refugee flows into Yemen also continued to be high during the 
month.

ACCESS and SECURITY

In addition to existing access constraints following security-related 
incidents in September, flooding is now compounding access difficulties, 
as several seasonal roads have become impassable. While international 
staff returned to Puntland in early October following a security 
assessment, UN humanitarian activities in throughout South/Central 
continue through national staff on the ground.

However, despite heavy rains, insecurity and reduced field staff having 
hampered food deliveries during October (about 47 trucks carrying WFP 
relief food remain stuck along the Wajid-Baidoa road 15km from Baidoa), 
WFP has now resumed general food distributions through national staff in 
South/Central Somalia. The resumption follows a two-month suspension 
during the Gu harvest season in August and September. WFP field staff 
also managed to undertake community mobilization and monitoring of 
relief food distributions in Middle and Lower Juba regions despite 
mounting tension in some parts of the South. A team of field monitors 
has been deployed to Food Distribution Points (FDPs) in Afmadow, Jamame, 
Buale, Kismayo and Jilib areas and relief food dispatches for 
distribution in these locations have now been increased. In Buale and 
Salagle, heightened security tension led to temporary suspension of food 
dispatches to a number of FDPs and temporary relocation of WFP 
monitoring teams from the areas. However, the field monitors are now 
returning to resume food distribution, following a security improvement.

Humanitarian response to recent flooding along both the Juba and 
Shabelle rivers has also been hampered by access difficulties. Linking 
flood early warning to response is proving difficult due in part to the 
limited presence of organizations on the ground, while the floods 
themselves are also impeding access. Several primary roads ? including 
those from Wajid to Baidoa, Kismayo to Mogadishu, and Kamsuma to Jilib 
and Kismayo ? have become impassable, while access to Jowhar and Marerey 
was severely restricted. Access on the east bank of the river in Buale 
town is also restricted and the bridge (constructed last year by World 
Vision) reportedly unusable. Boats are ferrying people and goods between 
the eastside villages. Marerey is also reportedly inaccessible by road 
and people have had to cross with small boats and on foot. Meanwhile, 
some of the broken dykes repaired by the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) with 
sand bags (eg, in Mashaqo) have again burst. Further flooding will 
exacerbate the vulnerability of populations already in need; thus, the 
necessity for humanitarian actors to seek alternative means of access to 
these populations is paramount.

In spite of access restrictions in South/Central, humanitarian 
activities carry on in the regions as well as in Mogadishu, where the 
measles vaccination campaign progresses (see Health section). 
Capacity-building activities by WHO targeting 30 health workers is also 
taking place in Mogadishu, as are workshops facilitated by UNESCO for 
340 primary school teachers. In an effort to enhance coordination and 
mobilization of humanitarian response in the capital, the UN team at 
Mogadishu level has appointed focal points for the respective 
sectors/clusters to coordinate with focal point counterparts in the ICU.

Meanwhile, with its expansion into Sakow on 25 October, the ICU now has 
full influence over Middle and Lower Juba. During the third week of 
October, tension escalated in the Juba regions when fighting occurred in 
Buale district between the ICU and militia loyal to former Juba Valley 
Alliance (JVA) Chairman. An unconfirmed number of JVA-allied militia 
were killed and wounded, as they were defeated by the ICU. Displacements 
were reported following the fighting although no reliable figures have 
been established. Those leaving the greater Juba Valley area reportedly 
headed to Kenya. Heightened tension, along with flooding in the region, 
has made it difficult for partners to access the area.

Given the likelihood that elevated tension could result in additional 
internal and cross-border displacement, contingency plans for Somalia 
continue to be updated. A regional contingency planning meeting was held 
in early November in order to enhance the preparedness of neighbouring 
countries.

PROTECTION

The majority of displacement during October was due to growing 
insecurity and escalating tensions, particularly in South/Central 
regions. High refugee flows from Somalia into Kenya continued. In 
October, approximately 6,897 Somalis crossed into Kenya to Dadaab 
refugee camps, mostly from Kismayo and Sakow (Lower Juba). This movement 
brings the number of new Somali arrivals into Dadaab to 32,181 since the 
beginning of year. Additionally, during the first two weeks of October, 
over 2,000 people reportedly moved to Dobley on the border, from Kismayo 
and Jilib (due to insecurity), intending to cross into Kenya. Movement 
also continued from Kismayo to Bardera (160 people) as people sought 
refuge with clan members due to fear of fighting for control over 
Kismayo. There has also been a growing influx of Somalis from Mogadishu, 
Bakool and Gedo crossing from Border Point 1 at Mandera into Kenya to 
Dadaab. Those coming from Mogadishu are citing fear of conflict as their 
reason for moving while those from Gedo and Bakool are seeking better 
livelihood opportunities. (see population movement tracking map).

As a coping mechanism, people mostly continued to move in groups and to 
areas where they can find social/clan support particularly those moving 
as a result of clan-conflict, fear and insecurity. For those who move 
due to livelihood concerns, many engage in begging, including children.

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