OCHA Situation Report
Somalia
16 March 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Main Developments

Security incidents have continued in Mogadishu since the arrival of the 
first AMISOM troops in the city in early March. A transport plane 
carrying humanitarian cargo for AU forces was attacked by 
rocket-propelled grenade on 12 March as it landed at Mogadishu airport. 
On 13 March, mortars were fired at the presidential palace soon after 
the president's return to the capital. The attack came a day after the 
TFG Parliament voted to move to Mogadishu from its interim seat in 
Baidoa. The planned move was linked to the TFG's announcement that it 
will secure and stabilise Mogadishu within 30 days. (The plan includes 
up to 4,000 Somali militia moving to the capital to shore up security.) 
Also on 13 March, two people were killed and four wounded when the car 
of Mogadishu's deputy mayor exploded. The deputy mayor was among the 
injured.

In the last week, Ethiopians troops have reportedly withdrawn from 
Kismayo (and surrounding districts), including the airstrip they had 
occupied as a military base since December 2006. Reports say close to 
3,000 troops have moved to Lafoole area ? 20km from Mogadishu and close 
to Afgoye. On 12 March, Ethiopian troops encountered an ambush between 
Merka and Mogadishu; 16 troops were killed and 20 others injured in the 
explosions.

On 15 March, Isse Abdi Isse ? Chairman of Somali human rights NGO KISIMA 
? was assassinated in Mogadishu. Isse Abdi Isse had been actively 
involved in the humanitarian cause in Somalia in terms of social 
relations, human rights, IDPs and vocational training for youth. The 
motive for the killing and perpetrator are not yet known, but the 
Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) for Somalia has requested the TFG to open 
an investigation into the matter. The past weeks have witnessed a 
worrying increase in attacks on civil society organizations active in 
human rights work, as well as journalists.

Displacement

According to UNHCR, over 40,000 people left Mogadishu in February. 
Nearly 20,000 went to Lower Shabelle, mainly to the areas of Ceelasha, 
Xaawo Cabdi, and Lafoole ? all located on the road between Mogadishu and 
Afgoye ? as well as Qoryooley town. Another 8,500 moved to Bay region, 
primarily to Baidoa and surrounding villages, while 900 moved to Gedo. 
(Many people in the latter two groups were IDPs in Mogadishu returning 
to their areas of origin.) Approximately 4,500 have moved to Middle 
Shabelle, primarily Jowhar town and Balad district. An estimated 3,000 
have gone to Hiran region, mainly Beletweyne. Partners in Galgadud and 
South Mudug report around 1,650 new households from Mogadishu having 
arrived, while 841 people have moved from Mogadishu to North Galkayo in 
the last month; another 338 have settled in South Galkayo.

Fires affected IDP settlements in Galkayo and Mogadishu during the last 
several days. On 8 March, a fire in Garsoor in north Galkayo destroyed 
an estimated 90% of the IDP site and left hundreds homeless (UNHCR 
confirmed 225 affected households), though no deaths resulted. The fire 
is believed to have been set intentionally by people who were not part 
of the NFI distribution that took place in January. Investigations are 
being conducted by local police. On 14 March, a second fire occurred in 
the same site in Garsoor, in which an IDP hut was burnt down and three 
people died, including a pregnant woman and a child. This fire was 
intentionally set. Agencies, local authorities, clan elders and the 
local IDP committee are in discussions on how best to provide assistance 
in future without triggering similar backlashes.

Meanwhile, in Mogadishu, a fire at an IDP settlement in Laba Dhagah 
neighbourhood of Mogadishu left hundreds of people homeless on 11 March. 
It is not yet clear what caused the fire and there were no reported 
deaths. The previous week (4 March) another fire had broken out in 
Guulwadayasha IDP site, with an estimated 100-120 shelters destroyed. 
Access to this site is extremely limited at present due to the fact that 
it has been the scene of ongoing clashes between TFG/Ethiopians troops 
and factional groups.

Access and Response

Further to the difficulties over the past month in securing flights into 
Merka (Lower Shabelle), Jowhar (Middle Shabelle) and K50 (Benadir) due 
to a lack of local security arrangements and assurances from the TFG, a 
letter has been sent by the HC to the TFG. The letter requests access to 
K50, which would enable humanitarian actors to reach IDPs in Afgoye, 
Merka and elsewhere in Lower Shabelle. Following the departure of 
Ethiopian troops from Kismayo and surrounding areas, the letter also 
requests the TFG's assistance in securing humanitarian flights to Buale, 
Jamame and Kismayo in Middle and Lower Juba regions. Communities in 
these locations have been underserved since the flooding and conflict of 
late 2006.

During the last week, border crossing of humanitarian supplies and staff 
are reported to be proceeding without incident or delay at El Wak, 
Mandera and Liboi. However, within Somalia, the number of roadblocks is 
said to have increased dramatically, particularly on the road from 
Mogadishu to Lower and Middle Juba. The Mogadishu-Beletweyne road 
remains risky due to sporadic ambushes. On the other hand, checkpoints 
are decreasing on the Mogadishu-Baidoa road due to the continued 
presence of government vehicles/convoys.

Somaliland authorities have issued a ban on all flights between 
Somaliland and Somalia (including Puntland), effective 17 March, citing 
fears of a cholera outbreak in Somalia. Operational flights will be 
affected as a result. Passengers from Nairobi to Hargeisa and Puntland 
may fly to and via Hargeisa, though (contrary to normal practice) no 
passengers will be picked up in Wajid. Agreements to cover for 
emergencies have been made with EC and UN flight services, while 
agencies are advocating with the Somaliland authorities for the lifting 
of the ban.

Further to the fire on 22 February in Bardere (Gedo) that destroyed 
approximately 675 huts and left the occupants homeless, humanitarian 
agencies responded with emergency assistance including family relief 
kits, jerry cans, tents and cash. WFP began a one-off food distribution 
on 15 March. However, field reports indicate that those affected are 
living in very bad conditions, camping in desolate and burnt open spaces 
among debris, and are in need of clean water, medical assistance, and 
shelter to protect them from the heat and the upcoming Gu rains.

Between 1 January and 10 March, the number of Acute Watery Diarrhea 
(AWD) cases registered in South/Central was 5,542, with 252 deaths. Case 
fatality is decreasing in most regions. However, Mogadishu remains an 
area of serious concern, due to difficulties accessing affected 
populations. Since 1 January, 1,205 cases have been reported in 
Mogadishu, with 21 deaths. Currently, three CTCs are operational in the 
city and another two will be operating imminently. WHO, UNICEF, 
ICRC/SRCS, MSF and partners such as NGOs WOCA and Farjano have been 
responding throughout South/Central with diarrheal disease kits, hygiene 
promotion activities, shallow well rehabilitation and chlorination of 
water sources. Puntland is also experiencing an increase in cases of 
AWD, with 504 cases and 19 deaths reported between 26 February and 14 
March.

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:

Amanda di Lorenzo or Molly McCloskey at +254 734 210 102,
+254 727 659 100
dilorenzoa@un.org, mccloskeym@un.org

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