Main Developments

Fighting continued to cause suffering and displacement in Mogadishu and other regions in Somalia. An additional 24,000 people fled the conflict and unrest in the past week, bringing the total number of displaced since the last weekend of October to 114,000. There are now an estimated 850,000 IDPs in Somalia, made up of some 450,000 people displaced in 2007 because of conflict and insecurity consuming Mogadishu since February, in addition to the estimated 400,000 protracted IDPs displaced prior to 2007 by Somalia's long-standing conflict.

The latest influx comes at a time when Somalia is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in years and coping mechanisms of the population are stretched to the limit. Insecurity in Mogadishu continued relentlessly during the reporting week, further complicating movement for humanitarian workers as well as civilians within the city. Despite the declaration from local authorities last week that security operations would cease, violence and armed confrontation persisted between Ethiopian forces (which have reportedly been heavily reinforced) and anti-government elements.

As the weekly sitrep went to press, more fighting in Mogadishu reportedly resulted in tens of civilians killed in indiscriminate shelling and shooting randomly at crowds. Various media outlets aired reports killings and pictures of dead bodies being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu, trailed by crowds of people. These gross violations of humanitarian law as well as barbaric and inhuman acts have triggered new panic and movements of population.

Given the unprecedented severity of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and immense difficulties in reaching populations in need of assistance due to the prevailing insecurity, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator led a delegation of international community representatives to Baidoa to meet with Members of Parliament on 8 November. Numerous questions were raised by the Somali MPs on the numbers of IDPs, transparency of the humanitarian situation and scope of the crisis. The delegates emphasised the following points:

- On the gravity of the current crisis, insisting that without desperately needed massive intervention 10,000 severely malnourished children in Lower Shabelle were at risk of death;

- On the impartial nature of the humanitarian response, emphasising that assistance was non- discriminatory and that all people in need deserve equal attention;

- On the need to engage and to get the support of all authorities to reach the people and that alleviating of human suffering should be the common goal of all the Somalis;

- On the need to coordinate with authorities including local ones through better information sharing.

Meanwhile, earlier in the week, a rapid assessment of the needs of IDPs along a 15-kilometre stretch of the road from Mogadishu to Afgooye confirmed 15 makeshift settlements have mushroomed along the road, bringing the total to about 70 settlements. Since the beginning of 2007, about 180,000 people have moved to Lower Shabelle from Mogadishu of which 150,000 are in IDP settlements along the Mogadishu/Afgooye road. This figure includes about 60,000 people who arrived in the past ten days and are living in extremely harsh conditions. The huge population is taxing the resources of neighboring villages, which are also experiencing difficulties similar to those of the IDPs.

The reinforcement of emergency response in the Afgooye corridor continues. Oxfam Novib, working through local Somali partners, started an additional emergency water and sanitation operation on 3 November. Two million litres of water are being delivered to 59 settlements on a daily basis: a near ten-fold increase from the previous weeks when 240,960 litres per day were being distributed to 16 settlements (about 2,008 households). Another international NGO Danish Refugee Council is providing 640,000 litres per day in 52 settlements. A security assessment also took place this week and will allow for more UN personnel to go into the area on support missions.

On 31 October, a fire burned down about 800 IDP huts in the "Coca Cola settlement" in Mogadishu's Hodan district. The cause of the fire was not immediately established. The NGO Concern and Norwegian Refugee Council assisted 580 affected households with non-food items including plastic sheeting and blankets. Some families started to rebuild at the same site while some left for other areas.

Conflict in Somaliland and Puntland

In the northern region of Sool where recent fighting between Somaliland and Puntland has resulted in large-scale displacement, the latest preliminary assessments indicate that there are about 30,000 displaced people who are vulnerable and in need of humanitarian assistance. Local NGOs and some UN staff that traveled to Laas Caanood report that at least 60% of the population, mainly women and children have left, while some men remained behind to take care of property. Depending on water accessibility and the host community's capacity to provide assistance, IDPs have moved as far as Erigavo and Burao in Somaliland (about 450km and about 200km away respectively), and to Garowe and Bossaso in Puntland (120km, and more than 500 km away respectively). According to NGOs in the area, the IDPs fall into three main categories:

- IDPs with resources who have been able to travel to major towns and can now access social services;

- IDPs who have sought shelter with immediate families and clan relatives in other parts of Sool and neighbouring regions;

- Vulnerable IDPs (approximately 30,000) who have moved to drought-affected parts of Sool and have sought shelter with already vulnerable hosts. This group may also include a number of relatively recent IDPs from Mogadishu who had fled to Laas Caanood, as well as IDPs from minority groups who cannot access any clan protection.

Consultations have taken place with UN and NGO partners in Puntland and Somaliland, identifying the following needs and response priorities:

Health: Since UNICEF re-supplied 30 health posts and six maternal and child health centers in Sool during the month of October, local health facilities have adequate stocks of basic supplies to meet the additional needs of IDPs. The health situation will be monitored by the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) in partnership with UNICEF.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): SRCS is currently carrying out an assessment of water and sanitation needs in areas hosting IDPs and will share its recommendations on the need for water trucking, water bladders and emergency tanks, and chlorination. UNICEF has committed to supporting SRCS to increase the availability of safe water and sanitation for IDPs.

Shelter and Non-Food Items: Family relief kits which include mosquito nets and plastic sheeting will be provided to SRCS for distribution to the most vulnerable IDPs. UNICEF has 3,000 kits available in Hargeisa and Bossaso, and ICRC has recently confirmed that it will provide SRCS with an additional 4,500 NFI kits.

Food Aid: Food has been urgently requested and WFP is conducting a rapid food security assessment in areas hosting IDPs.

For Further Information, contact: Rita Maingi on +254 734 800 120 – maingir@un.org

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