Issue # 20 21 -28 May 2010
Key Overall Developments
Puntland Storm and Floods update
A storm which hit parts of the Puntland coastline on 21 May, accompanied by heavy rains that caused floods, left a trail of
destruction mostly affecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and poor communities in Bossaso town as most shelters
are susceptible to environmental hazards. A rapid assessment was conducted by Puntland authorities, the United Nations
and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on 23 May, establishing that nearly 2,100 households (approximately
12,000 people) were affected by the floods loosing their shelter and livelihoods. The most urgent needs were identified as
shelter material, food aid and latrine rehabilitation as most of the existing ones were flooded raising concerns of waterborne
diseases outbreak.
Belet Weyne, Hiraan
Following heavy rains in Belet Weyne, during the reporting week, the Shabelle River which passes through the town broke
its banks and flooded parts of the town. Many area residents, (an estimated 900 households), were evacuated to higher
grounds in Ceeljaale, an area 5km east of the town. On 26 May, a coordination meeting was organised by OCHA and
identified shelter, food and medical care as the most urgent needs of those affected.
Islamist groups lifts ban on humanitarian activities in Hiraan
On 23 May, Hizbul Islam ordered all humanitarian organizations operating in Hiraan region to stop operations and close
down offices in 24 hours, accusing them of doing nothing to assist people in need. However, following a coordination
meeting on flood response in the area, the Islamist group allowed the organisations to resume operations.
Incidents involving journalists
On 25 May, Hizbul Islam arrested three journalists in Afgooye, Lower Shabelle, for unclear reasons. According to media
sources, the three were released the following day. Last week, a radio station based in Boondheere district in Mogadishu
was looted forcing it to go off air. The National Union of Somali Journalists says attacks on the press have increased
recently.
Conflict and Displacement
Mogadishu
During the week, almost daily fighting continued in Mogadishu between insurgents and the Transitional Federal
Government (TFG) forces affecting civilian neighbourhoods in northern Mogadishu. On 22-23 May, at least 30 people
were killed and more than 50 others were wounded with major displacements reported from several districts. WHO
reports that between 20 March and 24 May, 1,025 casualties including 262 children under five were reported from the two
main hospitals in Mogadishu.
UNHCR says an estimated 17,100 have been displaced from Mogadishu since 1 April, with 10,200 having moved to
relatively calmer parts of the city while 6,900 have moved out of Mogadishu. UNHCR notes that the last two weeks (13-27
May) have registered a significant number of displacements with 14,300 (84 percent) having been displaced from
Mogadishu alone.
On 21 May, UNHCR issued an urgent appeal to governments worldwide not to forcibly return Somalis seeking refuge
back to the country, citing a deteriorating situation in Somalia. Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, the UNHCR
spokesperson said inconsistencies in the way that countries are dealing with people fleeing Somalia were allowing returns
to happen and putting lives at risk. "Today, we are appealing to all states to uphold their international obligations with
regard to non-refoulement," she said. "In recent months there have been incidents of returns . . . These have included a
further reported deportation of over 100 Somalis from Saudi Arabia to Mogadishu in mid May."
Ethiopian soldiers clash with locals in Buuhoodle, Togdheer
On 21 May, reports indicate that fighting erupted between Ethiopian soldiers and Buuhoodle locals when the former
refused access to Somali trucks entering Ethiopia. At least 17 people were killed in the skirmishes while more than 20
others were wounded with unconfirmed numbers of people fleeing the area.
Clashes in Sool & Sanaag regions
There was fighting between Somaliland forces and a clan militia group called Sool, Sanaag, Cayn (SSC) in Widhwidth
town, 65 km north of Buuhoodle, triggering displacement of an estimated 2,000 people. Heavy rains have been reported
in the area hampering mobility for both the IDPs and humanitarian agencies.
Response
Water Sanitation & Hygiene
In response to the damage caused by the storm in Puntland, and in collaboration with the local council, UNICEF and
partners supported garbage collection, started the rehabilitation of 12 damaged latrines, hygiene promotion activities
through the provision of soap and water chlorination.
Shelter and Non-Food Items
UNHCR distributed 3,000 blankets, 2,000 plastic sheets to those affected by the storm in Bossaso.
Food Aid
In Somaliland, WFP and partners distributed 570 metric tons of assorted food commodities to 53,910 beneficiaries under
general food distribution (GFD) in Sool and Togdheer regions. In Central Somalia, 164,250 beneficiaries received 2,425
metric tons of assorted food commodities under GFD in Cadaado, Guri Ceel and Dhuusamarreeb districts for the month of
May. In Puntland, 12 metric tons of food was distributed to 4,212 beneficiaries under the blanket supplementary feeding
programme in Gaalkacyo district. Some 200 IDP households affected by the recent floods in Gardo district received 14
metric tons of assorted food commodities under the immediate response option of the sub office.
Food aid partners also distributed food to 10,500 people affected by the floods and 4,000 urban poor in Bossaso.
Health
WHO provided one basic health kit and 3,500 courses of erythromycin syrup to partners to respond to the outbreak of
suspected whooping cough in Hiraan. Partners have also intensified vaccination activities for the disease.
WHO in collaboration with health partner COSV conducted a one-day technical training for 70 traditional birth attendants
and community health workers from seven districts of Lower Shabelle region. The training provided guidelines on risk
signs to the mother and child during delivery and the referral of delivery complications. The guidelines which were
translated in Somali were distributed.
Contact: For further information in English, contact: Rita Maingi on +254 734 800 120 – maingir@un.org In Somali,
contact Abdi Yussuf Noor on +254 732 391 040 – nooryussuf@un.org
Key Overall Developments
Puntland Storm and Floods update
A storm which hit parts of the Puntland coastline on 21 May, accompanied by heavy rains that caused floods, left a trail of
destruction mostly affecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and poor communities in Bossaso town as most shelters
are susceptible to environmental hazards. A rapid assessment was conducted by Puntland authorities, the United Nations
and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on 23 May, establishing that nearly 2,100 households (approximately
12,000 people) were affected by the floods loosing their shelter and livelihoods. The most urgent needs were identified as
shelter material, food aid and latrine rehabilitation as most of the existing ones were flooded raising concerns of waterborne
diseases outbreak.
Belet Weyne, Hiraan
Following heavy rains in Belet Weyne, during the reporting week, the Shabelle River which passes through the town broke
its banks and flooded parts of the town. Many area residents, (an estimated 900 households), were evacuated to higher
grounds in Ceeljaale, an area 5km east of the town. On 26 May, a coordination meeting was organised by OCHA and
identified shelter, food and medical care as the most urgent needs of those affected.
Islamist groups lifts ban on humanitarian activities in Hiraan
On 23 May, Hizbul Islam ordered all humanitarian organizations operating in Hiraan region to stop operations and close
down offices in 24 hours, accusing them of doing nothing to assist people in need. However, following a coordination
meeting on flood response in the area, the Islamist group allowed the organisations to resume operations.
Incidents involving journalists
On 25 May, Hizbul Islam arrested three journalists in Afgooye, Lower Shabelle, for unclear reasons. According to media
sources, the three were released the following day. Last week, a radio station based in Boondheere district in Mogadishu
was looted forcing it to go off air. The National Union of Somali Journalists says attacks on the press have increased
recently.
Conflict and Displacement
Mogadishu
During the week, almost daily fighting continued in Mogadishu between insurgents and the Transitional Federal
Government (TFG) forces affecting civilian neighbourhoods in northern Mogadishu. On 22-23 May, at least 30 people
were killed and more than 50 others were wounded with major displacements reported from several districts. WHO
reports that between 20 March and 24 May, 1,025 casualties including 262 children under five were reported from the two
main hospitals in Mogadishu.
UNHCR says an estimated 17,100 have been displaced from Mogadishu since 1 April, with 10,200 having moved to
relatively calmer parts of the city while 6,900 have moved out of Mogadishu. UNHCR notes that the last two weeks (13-27
May) have registered a significant number of displacements with 14,300 (84 percent) having been displaced from
Mogadishu alone.
On 21 May, UNHCR issued an urgent appeal to governments worldwide not to forcibly return Somalis seeking refuge
back to the country, citing a deteriorating situation in Somalia. Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, the UNHCR
spokesperson said inconsistencies in the way that countries are dealing with people fleeing Somalia were allowing returns
to happen and putting lives at risk. "Today, we are appealing to all states to uphold their international obligations with
regard to non-refoulement," she said. "In recent months there have been incidents of returns . . . These have included a
further reported deportation of over 100 Somalis from Saudi Arabia to Mogadishu in mid May."
Ethiopian soldiers clash with locals in Buuhoodle, Togdheer
On 21 May, reports indicate that fighting erupted between Ethiopian soldiers and Buuhoodle locals when the former
refused access to Somali trucks entering Ethiopia. At least 17 people were killed in the skirmishes while more than 20
others were wounded with unconfirmed numbers of people fleeing the area.
Clashes in Sool & Sanaag regions
There was fighting between Somaliland forces and a clan militia group called Sool, Sanaag, Cayn (SSC) in Widhwidth
town, 65 km north of Buuhoodle, triggering displacement of an estimated 2,000 people. Heavy rains have been reported
in the area hampering mobility for both the IDPs and humanitarian agencies.
Response
Water Sanitation & Hygiene
In response to the damage caused by the storm in Puntland, and in collaboration with the local council, UNICEF and
partners supported garbage collection, started the rehabilitation of 12 damaged latrines, hygiene promotion activities
through the provision of soap and water chlorination.
Shelter and Non-Food Items
UNHCR distributed 3,000 blankets, 2,000 plastic sheets to those affected by the storm in Bossaso.
Food Aid
In Somaliland, WFP and partners distributed 570 metric tons of assorted food commodities to 53,910 beneficiaries under
general food distribution (GFD) in Sool and Togdheer regions. In Central Somalia, 164,250 beneficiaries received 2,425
metric tons of assorted food commodities under GFD in Cadaado, Guri Ceel and Dhuusamarreeb districts for the month of
May. In Puntland, 12 metric tons of food was distributed to 4,212 beneficiaries under the blanket supplementary feeding
programme in Gaalkacyo district. Some 200 IDP households affected by the recent floods in Gardo district received 14
metric tons of assorted food commodities under the immediate response option of the sub office.
Food aid partners also distributed food to 10,500 people affected by the floods and 4,000 urban poor in Bossaso.
Health
WHO provided one basic health kit and 3,500 courses of erythromycin syrup to partners to respond to the outbreak of
suspected whooping cough in Hiraan. Partners have also intensified vaccination activities for the disease.
WHO in collaboration with health partner COSV conducted a one-day technical training for 70 traditional birth attendants
and community health workers from seven districts of Lower Shabelle region. The training provided guidelines on risk
signs to the mother and child during delivery and the referral of delivery complications. The guidelines which were
translated in Somali were distributed.
Contact: For further information in English, contact: Rita Maingi on +254 734 800 120 – maingir@un.org In Somali,
contact Abdi Yussuf Noor on +254 732 391 040 – nooryussuf@un.org
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