OCHA Somalia – Humanitarian Access Update: 01 to 31 March 2011 MAIN ISSUES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 2. Restrictions on or interference with the passage of agencies, personnel and goods The security situation throughout Somalia remained volatile with fighting reported particularly Mogadishu, Belet Xaawo, Luuq, Ceel Waaq in Gedo region and Dhoobleey in Lower Juba region. The conflict continued to take a toll on civilians. •
02 March, Al Shabaab Administration in Dhoobleey, Lower Juba region, seized five trucks transporting humanitarian supplies on behalf of an INGO from Kenya to Banaadir Region. The reason for the seizure of the trucks and their shipment is unknown. One of the trucks was released and the remaining four are in the custody of Al Shabaab Administration. •
29 March, unknown gunmen attacked a truck carrying food aid from Badhan town, Puntland, to Hadaftimo village, Sanaag region. The gunmen looted the food aid meant for drought‐affected population in Hadaftimo village. No harm was caused to the driver and the passengers. •
17 March, unknown gunmen carjacked a truck carrying food aid at Godad village, Qardho district, Puntland. The vehicle and the food was later recovered. The reason for the hijack is unknown. Approximately 25,000 people were displaced in March, throughout Somalia. Approximately 6,300 were reported to have fled Mogadishu and 6,400 were reported to have moved to areas within the city1. KEY CONSTRAINTS ON ACCESS OCHA Somalia and its partners monitor the following categories of access‐related issues2: 1. Military operations and ongoing activities impeding humanitarian operations Throughout March, the security situation in south Somalia remained tense because of continued, and at times, intense fighting between TFG/AMISOM and Al Shabaab forces in Mogadishu and pro TFG and Al Shabaab forces in Gedo and Lower Juba regions. Acts of piracy off the Somalia coast continued during the reporting period. In March 2011, a total of six successful and 43 attempted hijackings were reported3. However, none of the vessels were reported to be carrying humanitarian supplies. Fighting between TFG/AMISOM forces and insurgents remains a major concern for the civilian population and humanitarian actors in Mogadishu; while in Belet Xaawo, Luuq, Ceel Waaq in Gedo region, and Dhoobleey in Lower Juba region fighting occurred between pro TFG and Al Shabaab forces. The ongoing hostilities and consequent restrictions on the movement of humanitarian personnel continue to hamper access to people in need. PIRACY INCIDENTS Interference in the implementation of humanitarian activities •
30 March, Al Shabaab Administration in Belet Weyne, Hiraan region, issued a five‐day ultimatum to two local NGOs to vacate their offices because the building they were using belonged to the State. The ultimatum expired on 04 April 2011 prior to which the two NGOs complied with the order. 1
UNHCR sources The figures quoted are collected from various sources and represent OCHA’s most reliable estimates. However, under‐reporting and validation of events are chronic challenges; therefore, these figures should only be as considered indicative. 2
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www.unosat.org & www.icc‐ccs.org 1 OCHA Somalia, P.O. Box 28832, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya http://ochaonline.un.org/somalia March 2011 following discussion between the UN and Puntland authorities. 4. Violence against humanitarian personnel and facilities Approximately 210 security incidents occurred in March 2011. Out of these, 11 incidents involved humanitarian personnel and facilities. •
31 March, Al Shabaab forces entered several local NGOs and an INGO compound in Marka town, Lower Shabelle region. Al Shabaab forces took away assets from some the NGOs, which yet have been returned. The motive behind Al Shabaab’s move is unknown. •
31 March, armed men at an illegal check‐point at Seddex Xiglo area, Mudug region, central Somalia, robbed two UN national staff of their personal belongings. The staff were later safely escorted back to Gaalkacyo town by members of the local community in Seddex Xiglo area. No humanitarian aid worker was killed or abducted in March 2011. •
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06 March, unknown attackers hurled a hand grenade at a UNSOMA compound in Medina district of Mogadishu. No casualties or damage to the compound was reported. The motive of the attack is unknown. 08 March, Al Shabaab forces in Marka town, Lower Shebelle region, conducted security operations targeting humanitarian compounds. Al Shabaab was reportedly searching for weapons. Staff was neither harmed nor were any of the compounds entered damaged. SECURITY INCIDENTS4 SECURITY INCIDENTS IN 2011
12 March, Al Shabaab forces arrested an NGO staff alongside other civilians in Ceel Boob village, Luuq district, Gedo region. The men were arrested for allegedly spying for the TFG. The aid worker was moved to Baidoa, Bay region, where he reportedly remains in detention. 250
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13 March, an unidentified attacker threw a hand grenade into an INGO compound in Madina district, Mogadishu. The grenade exploded without causing any casualties or damage to the compound. The reason for the attack is unknown. 100
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19 March, unidentified attackers threw two hand grenades against an INGO compound in Medina district, Mogadishu. One of the grenades fell inside the compound and slightly injured two guards. The motive of the attack has not been established. As a result of this incident, on 29 March, the INGO suspended its operations. •
19 March, unidentified elements hurled three hand grenades into an INGO compound in Bulo‐
neighborhood, Medina district, Hubey Mogadishu. One of the grenades fell inside the compound slightly injuring two guards. The motive for the attack is unknown. •
27 March, Al Shabaab Administration in Jowhar town, Middle Shabelle region arrested a local NGO staff for allegedly opening a MCH/OPD in Gambole village without the permission of the local administration. The aid worker was released on 28 March after a member of the local drought committee intervened. •
July-10 Aug-10 Sep-10 Oct-10 Nov-10 Dec-10 Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11
SOURCE: NSP
DIRECT HUMANITARIAN INCIDENTS BY MONTH & REGION5 4
NSP, March 2011. Examples of incidents included in the graphic are: improvised explosive devise attacks, kidnapping, assassination and piracy. Slight variations are due to the revision of incident’s definitions. 5
NSP, March 2011. Examples of incidents included in the graphic are: robbery, intimidation, assassination and abductions. 29 March, Puntland police confiscated a UN vehicle in Garowe town, without justifying their action. The vehicle was released on 30 March 2 OCHA Somalia, P.O. Box 28832, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya http://ochaonline.un.org/somalia March 2011 5. Attitude towards the humanitarian community There were no incidents targeting civil society and the media during the reporting period. Negative statements regarding the international community or aid workers were recorded during the reporting period. •
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INTERNATIONAL STAFF PRESENCE The following is the geographic breakdown of UN and NGO staff presence in Somalia in March 2011, with respectively 165 and 142 international staff throughout Somalia. 03 March, the TFG parliamentary committee for humanitarian affairs called on the TFG to expel a UN agency for not doing enough for the people of Somalia. The parliamentary committee chairman condemned the Agency for allegedly keeping humanitarian aid its stores in Mogadishu. No consequences were reported as a result of this statement. UN & NGO INTERNATIONAL STAFF 04 March, President Alin, Galmudug, south Gaalkacyo, sent an ultimatum to a UN agency to urgently assist the drought‐affected populations in the region, or if not done his administration will take an action against the Agency. President Alin stated that the Agency had humanitarian assistance in its stores but was reluctant to assist the needy people. It was later reported that the President was misquoted, as he did not intend his statement to be an ultimatum. ACCESS MAP To generate the Access Map, eight coefficients are analyzed to determine the degree of difficulty faced by humanitarian agencies working in Somalia. The analysis provided is to the district level, and reflects the barriers, if any, imposed on humanitarian agencies. It is not a reflection of the physical presence of humanitarian partners or the volume of humanitarian assistance provided in each district. 10 March, hundreds of people including women and children staged a demonstration in Bulo‐Hubey neighborhood, Medina district, Mogadishu to condemn the humanitarian aid community chanting that there was no assistance from them. The demonstrators called for the expulsion of a UN agency as it was not assisting them. No consequences were reported as a result of the demonstration. Mogadishu: Fighting occurred in Mogadishu during the reporting period. The Fighting remained a major security impediment limiting movement of humanitarian actors. Incidents involving attacks on humanitarian compounds and negative statement against humanitarian community were reported in various parts of Mogadishu. 17 March, the TFG MP, Mr. Mohamed Qanyare Afrah, condemned two UN agencies in the media. He said that these agencies were mismanaging aid assistance by purchasing luxuries cars for their international staff and by their refusal to recruit national Somali staff. He further stated that the UN does not want to relocate its offices to even safer areas in Somalia, including Garowe, Hargeysa and Mogadishu. South: Incidents involving humanitarian agencies including seizure of humanitarian trucks transporting aid assistance, attack on humanitarian compounds, arrest of an aid worker and looting of humanitarian assets were reported in several locations of southern Somalia. 28 March, Al Shabaab governor of Lower Shabelle region said that residents of Lower Shabelle region were not in need of any aid assistance from foreign aid agencies. He said, contrary to the time of warlords, his administration was allowing citizens to access the water of River Shabelle to cultivate their farms. Central: Incidents such as negative statement against aid agencies and the eviction of two LNGOs operating from an alleged government building in Belet Weyne town, Hiraan region were reported. Northeast: Incidents involving attack on humanitarian trucks, carjacking and robbing of aid workers were reported. There were no significant changes in humanitarian access. 6. Targeting civil society and media 3 OCHA Somalia, P.O. Box 28832, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya http://ochaonline.un.org/somalia March 2011 Northwest: No major incidents involving humanitarian agencies or staff were reported in northwest 4 OCHA Somalia, P.O. Box 28832, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya http://ochaonline.un.org/somalia March 2011 Somalia.
5 OCHA Somalia, P.O. Box 28832, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya http://ochaonline.un.org/somalia March 2011