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Somalia

Somalia: Situation Report no. 13 - 04 Apr 2008

Main Developments

Two expatriates (one British and one Kenyan) were abducted on 1 April by armed militiamen while traveling by road from Baardheere to Bu'aale, Middle Juba, Southern Somalia. Currently the information available about the incident is limited. Their vehicle was hijacked, and they were abducted around 15 kilometers south of Sakow town, Middle Juba. The two are working for a private company hired by FAO to carry out surveys at the Juba River for flood prevention and development of irrigation cannels.

The incident exemplifies the insecurity and threat to personal safety that aid workers face when operating in Somalia. The threat of kidnapping has severely restricted the freedom of movement of aid workers throughout the country. During the past four months there have been at least four kidnappings and attempted kidnappings of aid workers in the country.

Medecins Sans Frontiéres (MSF) announced that it is officially closing its operation in Kismayo town, Lower Juba, saying 'we cannot continue working in a place where our staff have been deliberately targeted and brutally murdered'. Three MSF staff were killed in Kismayo on 28 January. The organization will remain in other parts of Somalia.

On 3 April government troops stopped a World Food Programme (WFP) rented vehicle with a UN logo. The vehicle was forced to carry government troops from Baidoa to where the regional Governor and Police Commander had been attacked by anti-government groups earlier the same day. The vehicle was released when it returned from Qansadere. Forcing UN vehicles to carry military personnel is a serious violation of international humanitarian practice.

The situation in Mogadishu has been relatively calm the past four days while heavy fighting has been going on elsewhere in south central Somalia. Anti-government groups seized a town in Galgaduud region called Adado. According to reports from the field, at least 15 people were killed. There are no reports of displacement in the area.

According to media, at least 53 people died (most of them Somalis) after smugglers forced some 145 migrants into the sea during the journey from the northern Somali coast to Yemen. This incident follows another tragic episode reported last week when at least 75 people died. In less than a month there has been a dramatic increase in people being smuggled from Somalia.

The much-anticipated April-June Gu rains have started in the northern part of the country. Sanaag region and eastern parts of Hargeysa (Somaliland) received light rains the past two days. The Gu rains are crucial for the replenishment of water sources, regeneration of pasture, and production of crops that are harvested in August. Humanitarian agencies led by OCHA are currently preparing contingency plans for the worst-case scenario.

This week WFP distributed 408 metric tons of food aid to 4,593 drought-affected households in Bardaale district, Bay region. In addition 46 metric tons of food was also distributed to 400 women who participated in a food for training programme in Baidoa town.

This week the Dutch Government took over the escort of WFP ships of food aid into Somalia from the Danish Government who provided the escort the last two months. According to WFP, the cost of transporting the food aid has been reduced since the escort started back in November 2007 as more shipping companies are willing to transport given the reduced risk.

The Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) has launched direct broadcasts via short wave radio of Somali news and information at: Frequency 9665 kHz, 31 meter band, daily from 1730-1745 GMT (2030-2045 EAT).

Further Information in Somali or English, contact: Muna Mohamed on + 254 733 643 737 - mohamed26@un.org

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