UNHCR ready to assist newly displaced in Mogadishu

UNHCR Briefing Notes, 29 May 2012

In Somalia, UNHCR and our partners stand ready to assist displaced people from Afgooye as they arrive in Mogadishu. Since 22 May, some 14,000 people have been displaced from Afgooye as a result of military activity in the area which started a week ago. The humanitarian community has a contingency plan for 20,000 households (120,000 people) in place but so far just over 10,000 people have reached Mogadishu. As was the situation during the previous wave of displacement from Afgooye in February, the first to move were often people with financial means to hire or rent transport and therefore may not be among the most vulnerable in need of humanitarian assistance. The remainder of the displaced has arrived in Lower Shabelle and Lower Juba. However, those people now on the move are using whatever transport they can afford and is available, namely donkey carts, mini buses, lorries and trucks, in order to get to Mogadishu. There are reports that heightened security checks on the way into Mogadishu are posing difficulties for these internally displaced people. Further reports from our staff and partners on the ground indicate that those who have reached Mogadishu are staying among host communities with relatives and clan members. Some are arriving in the more established IDP settlements where services are already being provided. UNHCR and partners are ready to deliver shelter and other emergency assistance items (plastic sheeting, blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets and jerricans) to the IDPs. The movement of people has slowed down since its peak on 23 May when almost 5,000 displacements were recorded. Over 3,500 displacements were reported the following day and almost 2,500 on the 25th and a further 2,000 on the 26th. The road into Mogadishu remains open and we anticipate that movement will continue into the Somali capital as people seek out humanitarian assistance, but not to the same extent as witnessed last week.