Bay/Bakool
Bay and Bakool are neighboring administrative regions in South Central Somalia. Baidoa district is economically the most important district of Bay region. Baidoa or Baydhaba, as it is locally known is the capital of the Bay region; a strategic town in south-central Somalia situated approximately 250 kilometers west of Mogadishu and 240 km southeast of the Ethiopian border. The town is divided into four quarters, namely Isha, Berdaale, Horseed and, Hawl Wadaag. Each quarter is further divided into six sections. The city is traditionally one of the most important economic centers in southern Somalia, conducting significant trade in local and imported cereals, livestock and non-food items.
The combined effects of drought and on-going crisis in Baidoa have had a harmful impact on economic stability and livelihoods, leading to a chronic humanitarian situation and major displacements of population in this region. In 2006, Baidoa became Somalia’s provisional capital before Al-Shabaab took control of the city for three years. This was between 2009 to February 2012 when the group was driven out from Baidoa by TFG forces heavily backed by the Ethiopian army.
Conversely, Bakool consists of five districts: Tayeeglow, Rab dhure, Xudur, Waajid, Ceel Barde.
Bay and Bakool are characterized by evictions, floods, fire outbreaks and conflicts. Prolonged conflicts and droughts have severely affected the lives of many residents in these regions in the past five years. Massive displacements have therefore taken place in most of the villages and districts. Currently, the military operations led by the Somali Government troops in alliance with AMISOM troops against Al-shabaab is still going on in these regions. All districts of Bakool are now liberated and under the control of SNAF/AMISOM forces but still under siege.
The Shelter Cluster mapping infrastructure exercise that was conducted in December 2014 reported that there were 62 IDP settlements in Baidoa. The presence of returned IDP’s, previously displaced in Mogadishu and originally from rural villages of Baidoa as well as refugees spontaneously returned from Dollo Ado, is reported in the IDP settlements. Berdale/Tosweyne, Diinsor, Qansaxdhere, Awdinle, Danbal, Seydhelow among other areas has generated IDPs to Baidoa. Currently none of the displaced people are considering the option of returning to their villages.
Three years under Al Shabaab control has reduced humanitarian presence and program implementations in Baidoa and other neighboring regions further exacerbating the dire situation of the vulnerable IDPs. Due to limited resources and lack of up to date information for immediate response to the pressing needs, many agencies have made efforts through conducting self-assessment and trend tracking to fill such gaps. However, these efforts have been limited to address the actual needs or magnitude of targeted disaster affected IDPs.
More than 3,000 IDP returnee families have been supported with NFIs and emergency shelter support in these regions since 2012. During the pilot phase of support to refugees returning from Kenya, NFIs and emergency shelters were provided to returnee families. Permanent shelters were also provided to most vulnerable returnees and receiving community members.
A majority of the IDPs in these regions live in shanty buuls without plastic sheeting and lockable doors. In general, the shelters used are in bad condition and are not resistant to rain water and sunlight. Some IDPs are forced to move their belongings to the nearest CGI houses belonging to the neighboring host communities whenever it rains. There is an urgent need for NFIs distributions and improved shelters (which meet the basic needs of security, protection from weather elements and privacy / dignity) in these regions.
Overview