SOMALIA DART SITUATION REPORT 20 -

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 001248 SIPDIS AIDAC USAID/DCHA FOR MHESS, WGARVELINK, LROGERS DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, GGOTTLIEB, AFERRARA, ACONVERY, KCHANNELL DCHA/FFP FOR WHAMMINK, JDWORKEN AFR/AFR/EA FOR JBORNS STATE FOR AF/E, AF/F AND PRM STATE/AF/E FOR NGARY STATE/F FOR ASISSON STATE/PRM FOR AWENDT, MMCKELVEY NSC FOR TSHORTLEY USUN FOR AMAHONEY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER GENEVA FOR NKYLOH USMISSION UN ROME FOR RNEWBERG SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PREL PREF SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA DART SITUATION REPORT 20 - DISPLACEMENT FROM MOGADISHU NAIROBI 00001248 001.2 OF 002 SUMMARY ¶1. By March 8, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had received reports of more than 40,000 people leaving Mogadishu over the past month. The majority are new internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing escalating insecurity in the capital, however, up to 10,000 of the IDPs were originally from Bay or Gedo regions and are now returning to their areas of origin. Approximately 20,000 of the newly displaced are currently gathered along the road from Mogadishu to Afgoye in Lower Shabelle Region. Relief agencies are working to identify additional needs and to coordinate assistance efforts for the IDPs and host communities. End summary. BACKGROUND ¶2. Deteriorating security in Mogadishu has led more than 40,000 people to leave the capital in the last month for areas in southern and central Somalia where they have clan support, according to reports received by UNHCR as of March 8. General insecurity, targeted attacks against Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Ethiopian, and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops, and retaliatory strikes against the suspected attackers have increased in recent weeks and are now occurring almost nightly, according to relief agencies on the ground. UNHCR has reported that civilians, and particularly IDPs, are often wounded or killed in the attacks as many housing settlements are located near military and other government facilities. SETTLEMENTS NEAR MOGADISHU ¶3. As many as 20,000 people have settled in several locations along the road from Mogadishu to Afgoye, and near Qoryooley town, in Lower Shabelle Region. Ceelasha, Xaawo Cabdi, and Lafoole towns have all reported large numbers of IDPs arriving since early February. UNHCR explains the high concentration of IDPs in the area by the proximity to Mogadishu and the �0A;relative availability of water and sanitation facilities. In addition, approximately 4,500 people have moved to nearby Jowhar town and Balcad District, north of Mogadishu in Middle Shabelle Region. DISPLACED IN BAY, GEDO, and HIRAN REGIONS ¶4. Of the 40,000 persons to leave Mogadishu in February and early March, up to 10,000 of these were originally displaced from Baidoa and nearby villages in Bay Region, and from several locations in Gedo Region. These IDPs are now returning to their places of origin following a worsening security environment in Mogadishu. ¶5. Approximately 3,000 individuals have arrived in Hiran Region since early February, with most settling in or near Belet Weyne town. Relief agencies in Galgadud and Mudug regions report the arrival of 1,650 households from Mogadishu, including approximately 1,200 new IDPs in Galkayo town. The remainder of the newly displaced are dispersed throughout Somalia. HUMANITARIAN NEEDS AND RESPONSE EFFORTS ¶6. In general, the vast majority of people uprooted NAIROBI 00001248 002.2 OF 002 from insecurity in Mogadishu have sought out areas inhabited by related clans, and many are receiving some assistance from relatives and clan members. However, UNHCR reports that resources and support mechanisms are already stretched thin in most areas, and humanitarian organizations are indicating that food, shelter, and health care are urgent needs among new IDPs. ¶7. The UN World Food Program (WFP) reported that assessments to determine the number, condition, and needs of IDPs in Afgoye, Lower Juba Region, Balad in Middle Juba Region, and Baidoa in Bay Region, are ongoing as of March 15. The USAID-funded NGO World Vision is scheduled to deliver a one-time food aid distribution provided by WFP for approximately 1,900 IDPs in Tieglo town, Bakol Region, following an assessment the week of March 5. ¶8. WFP noted that food aid for displaced populations throughout southern and central regions will likely be provided as one-off distributions based on the expectation that IDPs will return to places of origin, and to avoid creating a draw for additional population displacement. UNHCR has recognized the need for greater communication and coordination among relief agencies in identifying and meeting the needs of new IDPs. COMMENTS ¶9. Although the TFG has pledged to improve security in Mogadishu within 30 days following the upcoming deployment of recently trained security forces, mortar attacks and targeted killings of businessmen and TFG supporters have increased in recent weeks. The recently-arrived AMISOM troops have also met violent resistance. In light of such resistance, and the currently limited TFG capacity to prevent such attacks, the humanitarian community is concerned that additional displacement from Mogadishu will occur, and is bound to strain the resources of host communities throughout southern and central Somalia. The USG Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) based in Nairobi is working with partner agencies to identify emerging needs and coordinate appropriate response efforts. RANNEBERGER