East and Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes Region - External Update #1: Las Caanood Situation - Emergency Response in Somalia and Ethiopia (15 March 2023)

Background

Violence in in the Somali city of Las Caanood in early February has triggered a mass displacement of civilians, including across the border into Ethiopia. Since the first week of February 2023, an estimated 285,000 people have been uprooted from their homes, including approximately 185,000 internally displaced and nearly 100,000 as refugees in Ethiopia. These recent clashes and the resultant displacements are compounding the already fragile humanitarian situation in the region which is grappling with the worst drought in 40 years.

In a statement issued on 7 February, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called upon Somali authorities to ensure an independent, effective, and impartial investigation. The UN and international partners in Somalia have also condemned the violence and called for the resolution of political tensions through dialogue, as well as unhindered humanitarian access to urgently address the needs of the displaced people.

UNHCR is working with the Ethiopian Government’s Refugee and Returnees Service (RRS) to coordinate the humanitarian response for the new arrivals. The journey to the location where they have settled takes about two (2) days via difficult roads from Jijiga, the nearest UNHCR office. There is very little existing infrastructure on the ground. With limited options, many newly arrived families have resorted to sheltering in schools and other public buildings while others have no choice but to sleep outside. Many urgently need food and nutritional support, water and sanitation facilities, as well as specialized support for people with specific needs.

In early March, the Director General of RRS and the UNHCR Representative in Ethiopia visited the area to assess the situation, speak with the refugees and host communities and inform the response to the immediate needs. The refugees told them that food, water, shelter and emergency healthcare were among their most urgent needs, while also calling for peace efforts, which would allow them to go back home.