OCHA Situation Report
Somalia
22 June 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Main Developments

Insecurity and violence in Mogadishu continued, with grenade attacks, 
assassinations and roadside bombs resulting in troop and civilian 
deaths, including children. The TFG has continued with house-to-house 
weapons searches and arrests, and movement within the city is said to be 
severely restricted and dangerous. The violence, which has escalated 
since the 13 June postponement of the National Reconciliation 
Conference, is restricting livelihood activities in the city and the 
ability of aid agencies to operate. The TFG's announcement on 19 June 
that it is offering amnesty to former members of the ICU (except those 
the government deems linked to terrorist groups) has of yet had no 
apparent effect on security in Mogadishu. In an effort to stem the 
violence, the TFG announced a 7pm curfew, effective today, 22 June.

An atmosphere of fear has intensified within the population of 
Mogadishu. Intimidation is obstructing the implementation of 
humanitarian activities. On 18 June, four staff members of a Somali NGO 
- including the Director - were arrested. Though the four were released 
on 20 June, the Director was re-arrested the following day and 
interrogated before being released again.

Unrest continued in other parts of South/Central, spreading last week to 
Baidoa, former seat of the TFG. Two grenade attacks in Baidoa - 
targeting a cinema (14 June) and a government-run bank (17 June) - 
resulted in six deaths, including one child, and several injured. A 9pm 
curfew has since been imposed on the town. Tensions are high in Kismayo 
as residents anticipate an outbreak of fighting between TFG troops and 
local militia who have been in control of the key port city. Recent clan 
fighting in Kismayo over a land dispute has already resulted in an 
estimated 52 deaths in Berhano settlement. Meanwhile, there have been 
reports from protection partners of arbitrary arrests by Kenyan police 
near the Kenyan border in Kulbiyo, Dobley and Amumua. This follows the 
discovery last week near Mandera of the bodies of two Kenyan policemen 
who disappeared 9 June while patrolling the border.

Returns and Displacement

As of 20 June, the Protection Movement Tracking (PMT) initiative is 
estimating that over 2,600 people have fled insecurity and violence in 
Mogadishu during the month of June, particularly from the Tawfik 
neighborhood and near the stadium. Meanwhile, nearly 117,000 IDPs are 
reported to have returned to Mogadishu as of 20 June (out of an 
estimated 400,000 who fled the insecurity between February and April). 
The vast majority of these returnees are coming from areas close to 
Mogadishu, namely Lower Shabelle (66,000, mostly from Afgoye and Merka) 
and Middle Shabelle (36,000, mostly from Balad and Jowhar). Movement 
back to the capital continues to be inhibited by various factors, 
including the deteriorating security situation and uncertainty over the 
government's future use of public buildings in which many Mogadishu IDPs 
had been living. Additionally, it has been reported that tensions in 
Kismayo due to the anticipated fighting between TFG forces and local 
militia are preventing IDPs currently in Dobley and Afmadow from 
returning to Mogadishu.

Access and Response

The import and in-country movement of relief supplies within 
South/Central continues to be obstructed by numerous issues. In recent 
weeks, the closure of the Kenyan border by the Kenyan authorities has 
once again impacted on cross-border movement of supplies. Around 290 
trucks carrying food (8,500 metric tons) and non-food commodities for 
around 140,000 beneficiaries in Gedo and Bay regions are presently stuck 
at the border. Meanwhile, regarding movement within Somalia, UN Agencies 
and NGOs are continuing to seek clarification from the TFG regarding tax 
exemption procedures and cargo clearance at entry points, particularly 
ports. Additionally, information collected from 238 
roadblocks/checkpoints in South/Central indicates that humanitarian 
convoys are being delayed for 2-3 days on average. Passage fees are 
reported to range from $20 to $500 per truck at checkpoints and 
roadblocks.

The Government of Japan announced on 18 June that it is fully funding a 
US$4 million UN programme to support IDPs through the UN Trust Fund for 
Human Security. The programme will be jointly implemented by five 
agencies (UNHCR, FAO, UNICEF, UNHABITAT and UNDP, in collaboration with 
Danish Refugee Council) and will target 11,000 people living in 
protracted displacement in Bossaso (Puntland). The two-year project will 
support prevention of physical violence and fire outbreaks in IDP 
settlements, investment in basic social services and infrastructure in 
existing settlements, and longer term resettlement and reintegration 
solutions for IDPs. All partners will work closely with Puntland and 
local authorities and surrounding communities.

For further information, contact:

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

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