By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Halima Hassan, 42, a mother of five, fled her home in Hodan district of the Somali capital in 2007 after intense fighting between insurgents and government forces. Now, home is a makeshift shelter in a camp for the internally displaced within the Elsha biyaha area, 20km south of Mogadishu.
The UN refugee agency reports the number of civilian casualties is rising because of the latest upsurge in fighting in the troubled South Central region of Somalia. The UNHCR says the renewed fighting is sparking a new wave of displacement.
Local humanitarian organizations in Somalia say within Somalia during September alone, 17,000 people were displaced including 11,000 from the capital. This figure does not include the 145 people that have been killed and another 285 who were injured in heavy clashes in Kismayo, Beled Weyne and the capital, Mogadishu just in September.
Hassan is one of at least 900,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) struggling to survive under extremely desperate conditions in Mogadishu-Afgoye corridor. Her family used to receive monthly food rations comprising 75kg of sorghum, 10kg of beans, 10kg of porridge and 3l of cooking oil from aid agencies, but this has been cut in half due to lack of funds and insecurity.
Halima Hassan told IRIN in an interview Wednesday, “I sometimes find myself wondering how God decided to put us in this country; I know I should not but sometimes I find myself wishing I was not Somali. I am losing hope. I don’t know whether or not the situation will ever get better. Every day, I keep wondering where our next meal will come from. I struggle to make sure my children have at least one meal a day. I will do anything so my children don’t go hungry as I am the only one they can depend on. They [the warring sides] are merciless. They fire heavy weapons indiscriminately, where is their kindness? They don’t think about the weak and the mothers struggling with orphaned children. There is no peace and no food to speak of; I don’t how long we can live like this. It is very hard to explain to anyone who is not here what is happening to us. Wars end but ours seems endless. In Somalia, every new dawn brings its own problems. We can’t endure any longer what is going on here. It is better to be in a grave than living here.”
Roberta Russo, spokesperson for UNHCR Somalia, said “The main problem of humanitarian agencies is the lack of access to the needy population due to the highly insecure environment. 8 Human Rights officers have been killed this year alone.” “It is important to note that funding is also a considerable constraint on humanitarian programming throughout Somalia. The Consolidated Appeal Process is funded at only 54 percent of the estimated needs. Some sectors have received as little as 10 percent of the resources they require for adequate programming,” said the agency.
Asha Sha’ur, a senior member of civil society, said “The lucky ones may get a plastic sheeting to cover it”, despite the fact that some of the IDPs pay rent to the owners of the land. Sha’ur, who visited the camps on 28 September said, “These people are living in the most miserable conditions. It is heart-breaking. I honestly don’t know how else to describe it.” Sha’ur said the displaced had no access to clean water and sanitation conditions were bad. “Thousands of families are left with no latrines.” Sha’ur said the displaced were getting a “fraction of what they need. This is intolerable.” “No more excuses” Humanitarian agencies have to find creative ways of reaching the needy, Sha’ur said, adding: “I don’t think they can hide behind insecurity any longer.”
For more information, please see:
All Africa – Halima Hassan, “It is Better to Be in a Grave Than Living Here” – 15 October 2009
VOAnews – Civilian Casualties Mount in Somalia – 2 October 2009
Inside Somalia – Insecurity “no excuse” to neglect IDPs – 1 October 2009
