OCHA Situation Report
Somalia
26 February 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Main Developments

Insecurity continues in Mogadishu. The airport was shelled again last 
week (22 February), as was Villa Somalia, while in what may be 
politically motivated killings, on 21 February unidentified gunmen shot 
dead the government-appointed district commissioner of Yaqshid district 
of Mogadishu and the deputy district commissioner of Wadajir district. 
Targeted attacks against TFG/Ethiopian troops take place almost nightly, 
following which Ethiopian troops retaliate by firing upon the locations 
from which the attacks were launched. Civilians are often caught in the 
crossfire, particularly IDPs living in settlements close to military or 
government buildings. In an effort to protect themselves and their 
neighbourhoods, elders in some Mogadishu neighbourhoods have begun to 
form vigilante squads. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of people ? some of 
them already IDPs ? are reported to be fleeing Mogadishu (see 
Displacement below).

ICRC reported on 25 February that since the beginning of the year, more 
than 430 war-wounded have been admitted to two of Mogadishu's three 
hospitals. In February alone, Keysaney hospital, run by the Somali Red 
Crescent Society, and Medina hospital have admitted more than 200 
wounded, including at least 30 women and 24 children. The exact death 
toll, estimated at several dozen, remains unconfirmed.

The first case of piracy in nine months was reported on 25 February, 
when a WFP-contracted ship was hijacked as it was returning from 
Puntland to Mombasa. The ship had just delivered 900 mt of food to 
Puntland and was empty when attacked. It is not yet confirmed whether 
any of the 12 crew members aboard (from Sri Lanka and Kenya) were 
injured in the attack but they are reportedly still being held by the 
hijackers.

Clan fighting that has been taking place in Daror, Ethiopia (near the 
border with northwest Somalia) over the last two weeks has resulted in 
dozens of deaths and a number of wounded. The conflict is creating 
tension in Somaliland as the two sub-clans involved live in the Hargeisa 
area, and there are fears that the fighting may spill over into 
Hargeisa. Mediators from the Somaliland parliament and clan elders are 
said to be attempting to negotiate a settlement between the two clans. 
The fighting is reportedly related to a dispute over grazing land and 
political representation of Daror in local administration, but recent 
revenge killings in which 5 people died led to build-up of clan militia 
and helped to spark the fighting.

Displacement

Field and media reports have continued over the last several days of 
increasing numbers of people fleeing conflict and insecurity in 
Mogadishu. As of 26 February, it is estimated that at least 10,000 
people have fled the violence in Mogadishu, with at least 4,500 of these 
having gone to Marka and Afgoye (Lower Shabelle) and at least 2,000 to 
Baidoa (Bay). The rest have moved to Hargeisa (Somaliland), Bossaso and 
Galkayo (Puntland), and Belet Hawa (Gedo). Some people who were already 
IDPs within Mogadishu are said to be moving between settlements in the 
city, depending on which areas are perceived to be less vulnerable to 
attack. Other IDPs, such as those moving to Baidoa, are returning to 
their original place of origin. Last week, Ethiopian troops reportedly 
evicted IDPs who were occupying the former Digfir hospital in Mogadishu. 
Between 120-300 IDP families are said to have been displaced by the 
move.

Access and Response

Despite a lack of clarity on the Kenya-Somali border issue, 40 
WFP-contracted trucks that crossed into Somalia on 13 February to 
distribute food in Gedo are now crossing back into Kenya at El Wak for 
reloading, with no problems reported.

While exact numbers of IDPs having so far arrived in south Galkayo from 
Mogadishu are still being confirmed, the influx is said to be growing 
and is expected to increase in the coming weeks. UNICEF is preparing to 
respond to the needs of the most recently arrived IDPs through the 
provision of NFIs (blankets, jerry cans, plastic sheets). Movement into 
Galkayo from Mogadishu and elsewhere will be monitored daily in the 
coming weeks (with cooperation between LNGOs, UNHCR and OCHA) and 
response stepped up as needed. Meanwhile, as part of the ongoing 
response to the existing IDP population in Galkayo, 3,000 families in 
the south are this week scheduled to receive NFIs provided by UNICEF and 
UNHCR and distributed by Islamic Relief.

On 22 February, a serious fire broke out on the east bank of Bardera 
town (Gedo), apparently a kitchen fire that spread rapidly to 
neighbouring houses due to high winds and the congestion of the area. 
Two children are said to have died. An undetermined number of houses 
were destroyed, but local authorities and agencies in the area have 
estimated that 675 families/4,050 individuals have been displaced, and a 
multiagency response targeting these families is underway. UNICEF, 
acting as coordinating agency, sent 500 temporary family tents on 24 
February and, with partner SRCS, is sending water and sanitation 
material tomorrow to ensure supply of clean water. UNICEF will also 
support local authorities to ensure rapid resumption of the school that 
is now hosting some of the affected families. WFP will provide a 
two-month family ration (6 persons per family) of approximately 167 MT 
to 675 HH. MSF-S has sent a doctor and a logistician, together with 
medical kits to treat burning and asphyxia, while NCA has committed to 
deliver 1,400 IDP kits for distribution by LNGO SADO. Each kit is 
comprised of blankets, cooking utensils, ITNs, soap, plastic sheeting, 
jerry can and other items. LNGO HIRDA is also distributing relief.

Following concerns over a rising number of deaths around Baidoa, an 
inter-agency rapid assessment mission visited the area on 20-21 
February. The preliminary findings of the mission indicate that malaria 
is the most common disease affecting those individuals/families visited. 
The team recommended, among other things, that due to a lack of health 
services in the villages visited, anti-malarial treatment should be 
administered in all the affected areas and ITNs distributed in 
preparation for the upcoming Gu rains in April.

Despite unrest in south/central Somalia, the polio vaccination campaign 
? supported by WHO and UNICEF with partners ? is continuing, targeting 
Benadir region and Lower Shabelle during the last week. Meanwhile, two 
three-day seminars on HIV/AIDS awareness were conducted in Mogadishu in 
mid-February, through collaboration between local NGOs, UNICEF and the 
Global Fund. Nearly 100 health workers and youth group participants took 
part in the HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention training.

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 or Amanda di Lorenzo at +254 (20) 375 4150-5
  mccloskeym@un.org, dilorenzoa@un.org

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