Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – SOMALIA
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Main Developments
At least 256,000 people have been displaced from Mogadishu since the end of October due to ongoing conflict between Ethiopian/Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces and anti-government elements. Fighting continued throughout the week with heavy shelling in Yaaqshiid, Hawl Wadaag, Heliwa and Wardhiigleey displacing about 10,000 people in the reporting period. On 16 and 17 December, at least a dozen people were killed around Bakara market, including a woman and her three children, and approximately 50 were wounded and admitted to the two main hospitals. Security operations continue to hinder access to hospitals for the wounded and those involved in market activities. In Baidoa, a roadside bomb possibly targeting Ethiopian forces went off but missed the convoy. Following the incident, Ethiopian forces shelled indiscriminately in the area wounding at least seven people according to hospital sources in Baidoa.
As violence persisted, efforts to help the displaced continued. Two more ships carrying WFP food arrived in the Port of Marka on 17 December carrying 4,850 metric tons of food aid. A total of six ships have now docked at the port with a total of 11,550 metric tons meant for people in need all over Somalia. All the ships were escorted by the French navy because of the danger of piracy in the Somali waters. There have been no attacks since the escorts began. Meanwhile, food distributions completed in Middle Shabelle’s Balcad district with 7,640 beneficiaries. The wet feeding programme in Mogadishu continues with eight sites providing an average of 38,000 meals per day. Implementing partners say that 61% of those feeding at the centres are women, 25% children and 14% men. In Middle Shabelle and Hiraan regions, CARE Food for Work (FFW) activities continued paying 19,066 workers with 3,768 metric tons of Sorghum and lentils.
The NGO International Committee of the Red Cross distributed non-food items to IDPs in Daynile district in Mogadishu to 2,000 families, in Galgalato, Gubadley IDP settlements - 596 families, in Balad District: Ceelcade, Ceelcade port, Cisaley airstrip, Sheikh Abdulle - 960 families and Warsheikh (Eelmaan)- 650 families. In Lower Shabelle region about 6,700 IDP families also benefited from NFI distributions, and in Middle Shabelle 2,206 families benefited. In Bakool, 1,200 families displaced from fighting in El Berde also received NFIs and so did 800 families in Aato and 400 families in Lahelow.
UNICEF’s warehouse in Mogadishu was looted by unknown people on 17 December. Supplies in the warehouse, most of which were for water and sanitation activities, were valued at USD$1.6 million. However, 21 tents and education supplies were moved out of a previously inaccessible (due to insecurity) warehouse in Mogadishu and delivered to partners along the Afgooye road. An additional 19 tents will be delivered bringing the total to 40, allowing 6,000 children to resume schooling.
Puntland
More than 1,400 would-be migrants, mostly Somali and Ethiopians drowned off the coast of Yemen this year across the Gulf of Aden. According to UNHCR Yemen, nearly 200 people are believed to have died over the weekend when the vessel they were traveling in capsized after hitting a rock. Reports indicate that the sea has been rougher than usual hence most boats get delayed on the journey subjecting passengers to hunger and dehydration due to lack of water. Since January 2007, about 28,362 have arrived at the Yemen coast – 16,980 Somalis, 11,356 Ethiopians and 26 from other African nations.
Insecurity in Somalia was further highlighted when gunmen kidnapped a French journalist on 16 December in Bossaso Puntland. The journalist was working on a documentary on Mixed Migration. Negotiations for his releases are ongoing.
WFP and partners distributed food aid to 7,640 people who have been displaced by the recent conflict in the Sool region. ICRC distributed NFIs to 16,648 displaced families in Sool region.
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