OCHA Situation Report
Somalia
16 February 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Main Developments

Violence in Mogadishu continued over the last week. There have been 
several mortar and rocket attacks, with the main targets being Villa 
Somalia, the seaport and airport, two police stations in Medina district 
and Kaah Hotel (the venue for the recently convened National 
Reconciliation workshop). Also of major concern is the increasing number 
of check points operated by private militias in residential areas of 
Mogadishu. There are reported to be around 15 such check points now, at 
which civilians are subjected to violence, extortion and intimidation. 
There are similar reports coming from the Mogadishu-Johwar and 
Mogadishu-Brava roads. Meanwhile, gunmen in Mogadishu are reportedly 
being hired for US$2 a day as vigilantes to help quell the unrest that 
has killed at least 25 people in the last two weeks.

Numerous reports indicate that the security situation in Lower Shabelle 
is deteriorating, with particularly serious consequences for women. 
There were reportedly five women raped by armed militia while travelling 
in Baraawe district. TFG police and military forces are apparently not 
yet present in Baraawe and militias have stepped into the power vacuum.

A bomb exploded on 11 February in the port city of Kismayo (Lower Juba), 
where a large crowd was attending a rally in support of the proposed 
African Union peacekeeping mission to Somalia. The bomb killed four 
people and wounded several others. Among the injured was the recently 
appointed Somali military Defense Minister Adbi Mohamed, who was 
addressing the crowd.

Displacement

Reports indicated that there is now a steady flow of IDPs leaving 
Mogadishu in order to escape the insecurity and violence, particularly 
from IDP settlements located near TFG and Ethiopian military bases, the 
port and Digfer hospital. About 650 families have reportedly set up 
temporary shelters at Xaawo-cabdi (on the road to Afgooye), while 
another approximately 175 IDPs have moved from Mogadishu to Baidoa.

An estimated 300 people have reportedly fled Buulo Yarow in Merka 
district (Lower Shabelle) for Warta Bulo-Bisharo to escape livestock 
thieves.

Approximately 120 IDPs fled Burgabo Island, near Ras Kambooni, for 
Kismayo IDP settlements. It is not clear whether they left for 
clan-related reasons or because of a continuation of general insecurity 
in the area.

UNHCR is reporting that at least 30 migrants drowned during a 14 
February crossing from Somalia to Yemen when the boat smuggling them 
capsized off the Yemeni coast, though the death toll may be 
significantly higher. Three other boats dropped some 120 people offshore 
the same day. The smugglers have changed tactics and are now arriving at 
different points along the Yemeni coast, making it harder for Yemeni 
coastal patrols to catch them and for humanitarian agencies to register 
and assist them. After a slow-down in smuggling in the first half of 
January, the numbers are again rising. Within the last month, there have 
been over 1,600 arrivals to Yemen from Somalia aboard some 20 boats.

Access and Response

Following the directive from the Kenyan government allowing humanitarian 
cross-border movement, on 9 February two WFP-contracted trucks with Jet 
A1 fuel destined for Wajid for use in humanitarian flights within 
Somalia crossed the border at Mandera. In addition, on 13 February, 40 
WFP-contracted trucks carrying food relief crossed the border into 
Somalia from Kenya at El Wak and have since arrived at Bardhere district 
in Gedo. The consignment had been waiting at the border for 5 weeks due 
to the GoK border closure. The trucks are expected to return to El Wak 
next week in order to load more food for distribution within Somalia. In 
spite of this recent movement, the situation with regard to future 
border crossings is unclear, especially at Mandera where, despite 
assurances over the weekend from local authorities in Mandera that cargo 
would be able to cross this week, contractors were subsequently informed 
that no movement of either people or humanitarian cargo could take place 
between Somalia and Kenya. Currently, CARE has food waiting to cross at 
Mandera, while a number of other agencies have non-food items waiting 
there.

Security clearance has been given for UN international staff to travel 
to Buale for up to three days per mission. Day missions to Jamame from 
Buale are possible.

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
Amanda di Lorenzo +254 (0) 734 210 102
mccloskeym@un.org, dilorenzoa@un.org

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