OCHA Situation Report
Somalia
2 February 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Main Developments

According to the now completed FAO/FSAU post-Deyr 2006/07 assessment, 
many parts of Somalia ? mainly in the north and central regions ? are 
experiencing an improvement in livelihoods and food security in spite of 
recent conflict and flooding. The rains, although exacerbating floods, 
resulted in exceptionally good crop production in some areas and a 
continuation of pastoral recovery due to widespread water and pasture 
availability. According to FAO/FSAU, around 1 million people (including 
400,000 IDPs) are now in Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis or 
Humanitarian Emergency, mostly in Gedo and Middle and Lower Juba. This 
represents a drop from the August 2006 overall figure of 1.8 million 
(which also included 400,000 IDPs). Of the 1 million, approximately 
230,000 people are in Humanitarian Emergency (down from 425,000 in 
August 2006) and 360,000 in Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis (down from 
880,000 in August). Hiran, Bay and Bakool are ? apart from some pockets 
? now out of Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis, as are the north and 
central regions of Somalia. However, the riverine areas of the Jubas and 
Gedo remain in Humanitarian Emergency, while the riverine areas of Hiran 
have seen a deterioration in livelihood and food security. Despite the 
overall improvement, the humanitarian situation in Somalia is critical 
and precarious. The need for immediate assistance remains, as does the 
need to address the chronic problems that underpin the situation.

Security in Mogadishu has remained unpredictable over the past week. Two 
police stations (Wardhigley and Hawlwadag) were attacked by unidentified 
gunmen on 27 January and civilian injuries reported. At least two 
civilians were killed and five wounded in a gunfight between unknown 
gunmen and Somali policemen in North Mogadishu. Hospitals in Mogadishu 
have reported that they are seeing people with gun shot wounds on a 
daily basis. Medina Hospital, in the South of Mogadishu, is said to have 
admitted at least 34 gunshot victims within a 48-hour period. Two mortar 
bombs fired by unknown assailants hit the Medina neighbourhood in 
northern Mogadishu. Meanwhile, prices of weapons in Mogadishu markets 
have soared, reportedly due to residents' perception of rising 
insecurity.

Displacement

Localized clan conflict has continued to cause displacement in various 
parts of south/central Somalia. Seventy-six families moved from Biyo 
Cado (Jowhar district, Middle Shabelle) to Jowhar town due to fighting 
during the third week of January that resulted in at least 5 dead and 20 
wounded. Approximately 400 people have reportedly been displaced by 
fighting in Jiiro (Afmadow district, Lower Juba) and have fled to Billis 
Qoqani and Xaayo (Middle Juba).

There are unverified reports of 900 households having moved from coastal 
areas in Badhadhe (Lower Juba) to the border town of Kulbio. These 
people reportedly tried to enter Kenya via Kiunga, but were turned back 
by the Kenyan authorities. Another 500 families from areas surrounding 
Kulbio are said to have shifted to Kulbio town, possibly waiting for the 
border to open in order to seek refuge in Kenya. Verification of these 
reports is difficult due to lack of access to the region.

It has only recently been reported that on 7 January, 1,900 IDPs fled 
Beletweyne and moved to Buhodle district of Somaliland. This is the 
first report of large movements of conflict-related IDPs going to 
Somaliland.

More reports have been received of conflict-displaced IDPs returning to 
their places of origin. At the end of January, 638 IDPs returned to 
Sakow, while 300 IDPs returned to their homes at Daynunay (Bay), an area 
which saw intense fighting during the recent conflict. The IDPs who 
returned to Daynunay have reported that dead bodies from the recent 
conflict have not yet been disposed of. The same is being reported from 
Idale (Bay), the scene of fighting before Christmas, where there is fear 
of disease due to the presence of these bodies.

Access

Despite ongoing discussions with the Government of Kenya, the situation 
is unchanged along the Kenya-Somali border with regard to overland 
cross-border movement of humanitarian staff and goods. Three-thousand mt 
of food remain stuck at the border, along with other humanitarian 
assistance. Meanwhile, because of the closure, children living in border 
areas who have for years been attending school in Kenya have been unable 
to continue their schooling. The border closure could also begin to 
seriously impact livelihoods in south/central Somalia, as commercial and 
livestock trade will be affected.

Beletweyne airstrip is now open for passengers and cargo. Luuq airstrip 
in Gedo is now accessible with special permission only, as is Dolo on 
the Somali/Ethiopian border.

The TFG has reportedly removed most of the checkpoints on the Mogadishu 
? Merka ? Brava road. In Mogadishu, the road from Martini hospital past 
the port towards the police academy is now closed at night.

Reports detailing response activities by cluster (Who does What Where) 
are available on the OCHA website at 
http://ochaonline2.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=5066

For further information, contact:

Molly McCloskey +254 (0) 727 659 100 or Rita Maingi +254 (0) 722 334 671 
mccloskeym@un.org, maingir@un.org

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