OCHA Situation Report
Somalia
31 August 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Main Developments

WFP this week launched an appeal for US$ 22 million to secure food for 
around 1.2 million people (this is a revision from WFP's original 
projection of 1 million people until the end of 2007). The appeal 
followed FSAU's Post Gu assessment, which reports on the humanitarian 
emergency situation in the Shabelle regions. The 1.2 million people to 
be assisted by WFP include those who have fled Mogadishu since April, 
recent returnees to Mogadishu and other vulnerable populations in the 
South of Somalia.

Following reports of rainfall in the Ethiopian Highlands, the Shabelle 
river burst its banks about 27km from Jowhar town in Middle Shabelle 
region. According to the Flood Working Group (FWG) an estimated 1,300 
hectares of land was affected. Some of the areas affected were as a 
result of manmade breakages (to take advantage of the upcoming Deyr 
rains) and includes pasture, grazing and some off season crops at 
various stages of development. It is reported that farmers were able to 
recover most of their produce while no displacement of civilians has 
been reported. The opening of the Chinese canal in combination with the 
Bulo Ahmed and man-made breakages reduced river levels averting more 
damage to crops and villages. Currently there is no major threat, the 
damage is minimal and monitoring of upper catchments rainfall and river 
levels will continue.

Violence in Mogadishu intensified this week with daily street battles, 
roadside bombs and grenade attacks by anti-government elements targeting 
Ethiopian/TFG forces resulting to unknown number of civilian casualties. 
Clashes once again hit Bakara market on 27 August, with at least four 
people killed and eight others wounded following a series of explosions. 
Business halted for about three days at the market, seriously hampering 
livelihood activities. Meanwhile, public transport and movement of 
people along the 30km road from Mogadishu to Afgoye was suspended for 
half a day on 30 August following reports that there were explosives 
planted along the road. Authorities reportedly removed the explosives 
and re-opened the road.

In Baidoa on 27 August, two grenades exploded at Manchester Hotel, a 
premises frequented by government officials as well as the humanitarian 
community. No casualties were reported, but parts of the buildings in 
the compound were damaged. No arrests have been made.

Returns and Displacements

Nearly 18,000 people have fled ongoing insecurity and sporadic violence 
in Mogadishu in August, bringing the total to over 50,000 since June. 
According to the UNHCR Population Tracking Movement (PMT) initiative, 
displacement was particularly reported from Haliwaa and Yaaqshiid 
districts, both sites of recent confrontations between Ethiopian/TFG 
troops and insurgents. Media reports say many civilians, especially 
women and children, have fled from these areas. In addition to IDPs 
fleeing insecurity and violence in Mogadishu, PMT reports indicate that 
over 6,000 residents and IDPs have been evicted from their homes in 
government and public buildings since June.

Access and Response

Following last week's (20 August) inter-agency planning workshop on 
coordinated response to new IDPs (those displaced since February 2007), 
a mapping exercise was carried out along the Mogadishu/Afgoye road. The 
mapping revealed that there are about 50 settlements with an estimated 
13,376 households (80,256 people). The map has been adopted by aid 
organizations as a guide to response in the area.

Food relief activities are continuing. WFP's social support projects, 
such as selective feeding programmes, emergency school feeding, 
food-for-work, food-for-assets, and food-for-training initiatives 
continue. The following table illustrates WFP and partners' response 
under these programmes in Bay region.

|----------------------+---------+-------------+----------|
|    Location/Date     | Partner |Beneficiaries|  Metric  |
|                      |         |             |   Tons   |
|----------------------+---------+-------------+----------|
|Baidoa TB Centre -    | WVI     |180 families |18.8 tons |
|29/8/2007             |         |             |          |
|----------------------+---------+-------------+----------|
|Burhakaba TB Centre - | WVI     |24 families  |2.5 tons  |
|30/8/07               |         |             |          |
|----------------------+---------+-------------+----------|
|Qhansaxdere SFP -     | SRCS    |389 families |39.4 tons |
|29/8/2007             |         |             |          |
|----------------------+---------+-------------+----------|
|Berdale SFP -         | SRCS    |460 families |46.5 tons |
|29/8/2007             |         |             |          |
|----------------------+---------+-------------+----------|



In response to the IDP situation, various regional approaches are being 
planned and carried out by UN agencies, NGOs and local partners to 
address small scale priority assistance and protection needs. In 
Mogadishu, neighborhood/district level interventions through local 
communities are ongoing, targeting the most vulnerable (including IDPs) 
through cash for work programmes, UXO clearance, small grants for basic 
service provision (prioritized by the community). The same will be 
replicated in Galgadud, Bay and Shabelle regions.

MSF Swiss this week opened feeding centers and outpatient clinics in 
Hawo Abdi settlements on the outskirts of west Mogadishu and in Afgoye 
town (Lower Shabelle). The two facilities will focus on children 
suffering from malnutrition and those affected by other diseases, such 
as diarrhea and skin diseases, resulting from use of contaminated water.

For further information, contact: Rita Maingi at +254 734 800 120 - 
maingir@un.org


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