Intensified Fighting In Somali Capital

Intensified Fighting In Somali Capital Impedes Access To Those In Need – UN

Despite their eagerness to help those who have been affected and displaced by violence in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, United Nations agencies today said their efforts are thwarted by the worsening security situation.

“We have heard the appeal of Somali civil society to the humanitarian community for more help and we continue to respond, as far as we are able, with supplies and technical support,” said, Christian Balslev-Olesen, Somalia Representative for the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF.

“But our access is limited,” he added. “And so we reiterate our call to all parties involved in the conflict to do everything within their power to allow us to reach those who need our assistance the most.”

Since the end of last year, violence in the capital has increased since the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), backed by Ethiopian forces, dislodged the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from Mogadishu and much of the rest of the country.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that 213,000 people have fled fighting in the capital thus far, while UNICEF reports that hospitals are overflowing with casualties and health clinics are facing a rising number of cases of acute water diarrhoea.

“UNICEF warehouses in the capital containing relief supplies cannot be reached due to conflict in the area and the use of Mogadishu airport to bring in further supplies carries its own security risks,” Mr. Balslev-Olesen said.

UNHCR today said that it is rushing aid to thousands who have fled Somalia’s capital Mogadishu amid the recent outbreak of fighting.

The agency began distributing supplies yesterday to 40,000 displaced people who have fled Mogadishu since February and are currently residing in the small town of Afgooye, 30 kilometres west of the capital, UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva.

There was also an explosion yesterday on the main road linking Afgooye – which shelters one fifth of the 213,000 Somalis who are believed to have fled the capital – and Mogadishu, isolating the small town.

“There are concerns that with this vital road now cut off, aid agencies will have an even harder time trying to bring supplies from warehouses in Mogadishu for distribution to thousands of displaced people in Afgooye and surrounding areas,” Mr. Redmond said.

On its first day of distribution in Afgooye, UNHCR and its Somali non-governmental organization (NGO) partners reached 1,500 families or roughly 9,000 people, all of whom were living outdoors, either under trees or out in the open. By this morning, many had erected makeshift shelters with the plastic sheeting they received yesterday.

The agency hopes to reach an additional 500 families or 3,000 people living outdoors.

The coming rainy season makes providing shelter for families currently living under trees – who are exposed to the scorching sun, heavy rains and chilly nights – all the more critical. UNHCR is also delivering sleeping mats and mosquito nets to the displaced.

This weekend, distribution will continue from stocks that have been flown in from emergency stockpiles in Dubai, including blankets, more plastic sheeting, jerry cans and kitchen sets for almost 20,000 people.

“UNHCR plans to airlift more relief supplies from Dubai next week, and to distribute them in Afgooye,” Mr. Redmond said, adding that these additional supplies will cover 15,000 people.

On Wednesday, UNHCR sent two truckloads of much-needed relief and medical supplies for Dobley, a small town on the 18 kilometres from Somalia’s border with Kenya. The town is struggling to cope with the recent arrival of 4,000 displaced people as well as with an outbreak of diarrhoea which has killed six children.

By yesterday afternoon, supplies had been distributed at an isolation camp the community had set up on the town’s outskirts to curb the spread of the disease, and NGOs report that 50 people have been hospitalized in the makeshift hospital.

“Because of security concerns, the UN is unable to work in these parts of Somalia and is providing assistance through Somali NGOs,” Mr. Redmond noted.

ENDS

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