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

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HORN OF AFRICA
IRIN-HOA Weekly Round-Up 448
27 September - 3 October 2008


CONTENTS:

SOMALIA: Fighting forces 18,500 to flee Mogadishu
SUDAN: IDPs out of reach as violence hinders agencies
ERITREA: Food shortages feared as rains fail
SUDAN: Southern town celebrates end of demining


ALSO SEE:

GLOBAL: "Hot topic" - special journal issue on climate and migration 
reviewed
[Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80646]

AFRICA: Call to ban cluster bombs
[Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80655]


SOMALIA: Fighting forces 18,500 to flee Mogadishu

Fighting between insurgents and Somali government forces backed by 
Ethiopian troops and AU peacekeepers has sparked another exodus of 
civilians from Mogadishu, a local human rights group said.

"From 20 September, our figures show that 18,500 people have fled their 
homes due to the fighting and shelling," Ali Sheikh Yassin, acting 
chairman of the Mogadishu-based Elman Human Rights Organisation, told 
IRIN.

The displacement, he added, was fuelled by continued shelling in the 
city in fighting that has been described as the worst in recent months.

[Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80643]


SUDAN: IDPs out of reach as violence hinders agencies

Weeks after fighting between government and rebel forces in North 
Darfur, aid workers have yet to reach thousands of displaced civilians 
who sought refuge in nearby mountains and forests.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which sent a team 
to areas north and west of Disa and Birmaza, found that the majority of 
those displaced had gone to villages where they had access to some food 
and shelter.

"But there are some who are in the middle of nowhere - not a village, 
not a well, not a field, nothing," Giuliano Vascotto, head of the ICRC 
in North Darfur, told IRIN. "This is the worrying minority."

[Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80703

Also see: Darfur rebels deny signing peace agreement

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80726]


ERITREA: Food shortages feared as rains fail

A combination of poor rains, decreased food production and the knock-on 
effects of increased global prices would adversely affect vulnerable 
groups in Eritrea this year, aid agencies warned.

"Spikes in acute malnutrition among children are being seen in parts of 
Eritrea," the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said.

"Increased numbers of Eritrean immigrants reaching the Afar region of 
Ethiopia are in a very poor nutritional condition," the UN Office for 
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

[Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80435]


SUDAN: Southern town celebrates end of demining

In July 2008, Kapoeta became the first town in Southern Sudan where all 
exit routes were fully cleared of mines. Demining work started in June 
2005 and covered 283,000 sqkm.

"Landmines [will] be a problem for Southern Sudan for many years to 
come," David Gressly, the regional coordinator for the UN Mission in 
Sudan, said adding that the UN would resume demining following the rainy 
season in October after being suspended in June. Residents of Kapoeta, 
however, will not be waiting for the deminers any more.

According to local officials, landmines have continued to hold back 
Southern Sudan's potential, especially in places like Kapoeta, despite 
the end of Sudan's 21-year civil war in January 2005.

[Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80636]


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