U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa

Tel: +254 2 622147
Fax: +254 2 622129
e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org


HORN OF AFRICA
IRIN-HOA Weekly Round-Up 405
27 October - 2 November 2007


CONTENTS:

SOMALIA: Malnutrition increases as humanitarian emergency worsens in
   the Shabelles
SOMALIA: Mogadishu violence frustrating aid response
SOMALIA: Acting PM confirmed as uneasy calm returns to capital
SUDAN: Hybrid force for Darfur sets up base
SUDAN: Unity paramount, say delegates to Darfur talks
SUDAN: Unarmed Darfur groups demand role at peace talks

See Also:

HORN OF AFRICA: The pastoralist way of life - a fragile future for 
millions of children at: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75051

SUDAN: A who's who of the Darfur groups in Sirte at:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75095


SOMALIA: Malnutrition increases as humanitarian emergency worsens in the 
Shabelles

About 10,000 children are severely malnourished and at risk of death in 
the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions of Somalia as food prices 
experienced a sharp increase and the ongoing conflict hindered access to 
those affected, early warning agencies said.

The rapidly worsening humanitarian situation was due to the cumulative 
effects of conflict, insecurity and civilian displacement affecting over 
600,000 people, the Food Security Analysis Unit for Somalia (FAO/FSAU) 
and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) said in a joint 
statement issued on 31 October.

[Full report at: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75099]


SOMALIA: Mogadishu violence frustrating aid response

The worsening state of security in the Somali capital of Mogadishu has 
hindered the work of aid agencies trying to tackle "an unfolding 
humanitarian catastrophe" in the Horn of Africa country, a group of 
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) said.

"International and national NGOs cannot respond effectively to the 
crisis because access and security are deteriorating dramatically at a 
time when needs are increasing," 40 NGOs said in a statement issued on 
30 October.

[Full report at: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75074]


SOMALIA: Acting PM confirmed as uneasy calm returns to capital

Professor Salim Aliyow Ibirow has been appointed acting prime minister 
of Somalia by President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, a senior official said.

Presidential policy adviser Abdirisaq Adan Hassan told IRIN that the 
confirmation was made on 30 October - a day after the resignation of Ali 
Mohamed Gedi, who quit the leadership of the country's transitional 
federal government (TFG) after an ongoing power struggle with the 
president.

[Full report at: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75055]


SUDAN: Hybrid force for Darfur sets up base

The African Union (AU)/UN hybrid mission in Darfur (UNAMID), which is 
set to replace the AU's African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) has inaugurated 
its operational base in the town of El Fasher.

UNAMID, established by the Security Council in July 2007, will 
eventually comprise 19,555 military and 6,432 police personnel, making 
it one of the largest UN peacekeeping missions in history. [Full at 
report at: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75077]


SUDAN: Unity paramount, say delegates to Darfur talks

Delegates attending the Darfur peace talks in Libya - apparently 
undaunted by the no-show of several key rebel groups - have called for a 
peaceful end to the suffering of civilians and a political agreement 
that strengthens the communities living in the war-ravaged region.

"We are looking for unity, not fragmentation," Abusaid El Hassan, one of 
four speakers for the Sudanese government delegation said during a 
plenary session on 28 October.

[Full report at: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75059]


SUDAN: Unarmed Darfur groups demand role at peace talks

Civil society representatives from Darfur have called for a greater role 
in ongoing peace efforts and uniting the parties to the conflict in the 
western Sudanese region as talks continued on 29 October in the Libyan 
town of Sirte.

"We are happy to be here as representatives of civil society although 
our status is still uncertain," Safaa Al-Aagib Adam, the 
secretary-general and gender advisor of the Community Development 
Association, told IRIN.

[Full report at: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75028]


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