Somalia: Internally Displaced People (IDPS) fact sheet - Mar 2006

OVERVIEW OF THE IDP SITUATION IN SOMALIA
Following the collapse of the Somali government in 1991, civilian populations became the target of serious violations of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law including extortion, looting of property, physical attacks, rape and other serious abuses. This environment coupled with the collapse of government services caused massive population movements. Over one million Somalis fled the country and became refugees mostly in neighboring countries, while displacement inside Somalia was the only option left for those who did not have the means to travel abroad. Since then, conflict related displacement within Somalia has continued and forced people to leave their lands- several times, particularly in the regions of Gedo, Sool/Sanaag, Galgadud and Bay/Bakool. Moreover, multi-displacements themselves have also resulted in situations of conflict fuelling tensions over resources as people seek out new areas to find safe shelter, far from their original homes and family roots.

During 2005, one of the most complex humanitarian challenges in Somalia has been ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance to and the protection of an estimated 370,000-400,000 of those who remain internally displaced and extremely vulnerable, as a result of either conflict or natural disaster. Access difficulties (due to civil unrest) limited these activities, particularly in south/central, where a large number of the most vulnerable population reside.

Consolidating a functional government and restoring peace and security especially in south/central currently controlled by warlords and freelance militias will take time. As long as insecurity prevails, IDPs face an uncertain future. However, assistance to IDPs in existing pockets of security is possible and there is a growing partnership between the local authorities and humanitarian community to seek solutions for the plight of displaced groups.

In addition to conflict, over the years, natural disasters such as drought and flooding have pushed people to move from their areas of origin in Somalia causing thousands of households to lose their livelihoods. At the end of 2004, the tsunami struck the coastal areas of north east Somalia which led to fishing communities losing their fishing boats, equipment as well as their fragile shelters and forcibly moved people temporarily inland. During early 2004, at the peak of the drought in parts of the northern regions, the Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) Somalia recorded unusual population movements towards urban centres, as many nomadic pastoralists struggled to survive after many seasons of inadequate rainfall.

Conflict and natural disasters are both events that encourage people to move to urban areas in the hope of finding access to basic social services and improved livelihood opportunities. However, IDPs often lack the necessary skills to access meaningful sources of income in these urban settings.

In early 2006 the UN and NGOs established a Protection Monitoring Network to monitor human rights abuses, population movements and initiate protection activities for the displaced and other vulnerable groups. The depletion of resources (water and pasture) in many areas has led many Pastoralists and agro pastoralists to move either with their livestock to areas where water and food is available or to abandon their home area altogether. Livelihoods are increasingly becoming disrupted and stressed. Some local authorities are reporting an increase of primarily women and children on a daily basis at IDP/returnee settlements but tracking of movement can be difficult, particularly in areas where aid partners are not present due to insecurity.

The newly established Protection and Monitoring Network seeks to advocate with local and national authorities and community leaders to respect the rights of populations internally and internationally displaced as a consequence of the drought. The Protection and Monitoring Network also seeks to support fund-raising activities amongst donors for emergency drought relief including protection activities - in particular for the continuation of population tracking, protection monitoring, advocacy and protection response.

Over the last ten years and encouraged by stability in certain areas of the country such as Somaliland and Puntland, a large number of refugees originating from northern regions have returned (700,000 to Somaliland and 400,000 to Puntland), putting enormous pressure and stretching basicsocial services to their limits. The scarcity of reintegration opportunities, particularly in establishing livelihoods has led many returnees to join IDPs and the urban poor in their locations or settlements, under deplorable living conditions and with no safety or security. (An estimated 350,000 Somalis remain in exile and 250,000 of this number are still living in the region).

Often IDPs remain displaced long even after the violence that caused their original displacement has abated. This can be due to deadlocks in peace talks or difficulties in repossessing properties or land. While remaining in situations of protracted displacement, many IDPs and other vulnerable populations face discrimination, restrictions on their freedom of movement and political rights, difficulties accessing basic social services as well as limited income earning opportunities. Unresolved displacement crises remain festering sources of instability.

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