Somalia

Working environment

• Security remained a challenge in most of the South Central regions, with Al-Shabaab launching attacks mainly targeting the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the Somali National Army and areas frequented by government officials. The security situation in Somaliland deteriorated throughout 2015, and, as a consequence, the security level was elevated from medium to high in June 2015. Similarly, increased Al-Shabaab attacks and threats against UN personnel and premises have drastically limited staff movement, the provision of humanitarian aid and the implementation of protection and solutions projects. 
• In April 2015, UNHCR’s direct counterpart, the Somaliland Government Ministry of Interior, was replaced by the Ministry of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Reconstruction (RRR). On 26 October 2015, a number of Ministers and Vice-Ministers, including the Vice-Minister of RRR, resigned. This seriously affected earlier efforts to build the capacity of Somaliland authorities to provide protection to people of concern in Somaliland.
• Due to the crisis in Yemen, an increased number of people sought refuge in Somalia. By the end of December 2015, over 30,000 (88 per cent Somali nationals and 11 per cent Yemeni refugees) had arrived in Somalia.  
• Rains in October 2015 affected 145,000 people, of which 60,000 were temporarily displaced.  

Population trends 

• With over 1.1 million internally displaced people (IDPs), including more than 90 per cent in the South Central regions and close to 1 million Somali refugees in the region, Somalia continued to be one of the largest and most protracted displacement crises worldwide. 
• In 2015, Somalia was host to over 18,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. During the year, the refugee and asylum-seeker populations increased by 66 per cent and 8 per cent respectively, mainly due to the crisis in Yemen. Yemeni refugees represented almost 50 per cent of the total refugee population in Somalia.
• In 2015, more than 32,000 Somalis returned to Somalia voluntarily (26,500 from Yemen and 5,500 from Kenya).  

Achievements and impact

• In response to the needs of approximately 9,550 new arrivals from Yemen – including over 7,760 Somali nationals, 1640 Yemeni nationals and 110 Ethiopian nationals – two reception centres were established in Berbera, Somaliland, and support and assistance was provided to new arrivals.
• UNHCR provided support to the Somali Federal Government on the IDP Policy Framework and the amended Citizenship Law and Sexual Offences Bill, which was adopted by the Somaliland Parliament.
• The Puntland Strategic Plan 2016-2018 on local integration for IDPs was developed with UNHCR’s technical assistance. The Plan outlines the agreed regional priorities on local integration. 
• The UNHCR-led Somalia Return Consortium (SRC) organized a joint intention survey for IDPs in the Sarakutsa IDP settlement in Mogadishu. A total of 5,340 IDPs were subsequently supported to return to their places of origin in Bay and Middle Shabelle.
• More than 5,400 IDP households were provided with emergency assistance during El Niño rains and the armed conflict that affected Galkayo due to renewed clashes between Puntland and Galmudug States.
• Since the beginning of the voluntary repatriation operation of Somali refugees from Kenya in December 2014, 1,300 households (approximately 5,600 individuals) returned to Luuq, Baidoa and Kismayo, where they received core relief items and livelihood start-up grants. 

Unmet needs

• Internally displaced Somalis were in need of permanent shelters and increased livelihood opportunities.  
• Additional funding was required to support the sustainable reintegration of Somali returnees, and to strengthen partnerships between humanitarian and development agencies in order to enhance the local infrastructure capacity and to absorb the needs of returnees and host communities through national services.

Working environment

A tripartite agreement, signed by the Government of Kenya, the Federal Government of Somalia and UNHCR in November 2013, guides dialogue on the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees living in Kenya. Both Governments participated in the meeting of the High Commissioner’s Global Initiative on Somali Refugees in Addis Ababa earlier this year. The Somali Prime Minister then visited Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp in August. UNHCR is facilitating the ongoing dialogue throughout the region.

While a national legal framework for refugees and IDPs is being developed by the national authorities, the Office has working arrangements with various local administrations for the protection and assistance of people of concern. UNHCR has been supporting the Ministry of the Interior and Federalism in drafting a citizenship law since mid-2014.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somalia National Army launched two military offensives in 2014 to push armed insurgents out of the major cities in south-central Somalia. The ongoing military operation has led to an increase in the number of new internally displaced people (IDPs).

With hopes of greater stability in Somalia, some IDPs and refugees from neighbouring countries are spontaneously returning to their areas of origin. UNHCR has formed the Return Consortium, consisting of UN agencies and international NGOs in Somalia. The consortium promotes a standardized approach to assist returnees and seeks synergies to facilitate voluntary return, with the aim of safe and sustainable reintegration of returnees in Somalia.

Needs and strategies

UNHCR Somalia has started shifting the focus of its operations from traditional care and maintenance to a more active search for durable solutions and will continue its efforts for comprehensive solutions throughout 2015. The Office will carry out its mandate and implement its return strategy in cooperation with the Government and members of the Return Consortium. While it is acknowledged that this process will take some time to bear fruit, as the overall situation is not yet ripe for solutions, UNHCR will fully explore all existing or emerging opportunities.

Activities will focus on supporting the return of IDPs and refugees to their areas of origin, while also pursuing local integration where feasible. The Office will implement reintegration activities through community-based projects befitting both returnees and host communities, in coordination with development actors. Such coordinated action will help ensure sustainable return and mitigate the potential for secondary displacement.

For non-Somali refugees in the country, UNHCR will enhance access to self-reliance and livelihood activities, in order to avoid heavy dependency on UNHCR assistance. Basic services currently provided by UN agencies or NGOs will gradually be integrated within national structures to ensure sustainability of assistance and avoid different standards for refugees and host communities.