Long-standing Struggle in Somalia

Posted: 8 February 2007

by Maite Alvarez

In December 2006, after months of mounting tension, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG,) backed by Ethiopia, mounted a military offensive against the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) in south and central Somalia. As the TFG took territory from the ICU many humanitarian agencies were forced to withdraw staff from certain areas because of fears for their security.

Oxfam partners were severely constrained in carrying out their work because of the fighting and the closure of the Kenyan border. Looting, militia-manned roadblocks and armed criminality, which had disappeared under the ICU, quickly returned.

Despite the difficult conditions Oxfam’s local partner organization, Horn Relief and African Rescue Committee (AFREC) returned to Afmadow district after the evacuation to deliver much needed assistance to communities traumatized by the fighting and bombing. Horn Relief Somali field officers describe the situation on the ground.

Tension in the air

“The security situation in Somalia has remained turbulent in the past weeks with the ICU forces and the TFG, battling for control of the country. There is tension in the air. The roaring sound of C130 bomber planes can be heard overhead day and night as they try and track down ICU fighters. The sound is deafening.

“Despite the takeover of South Somalia by the TFG there is no effective authority that is taking up responsibility for improving security and inspiring trust in people. In fact the combination of the surveillance flights and continued presence of Ethiopian troops is creating fear and forcing some pastoral communities to change their grazing patterns and move to other locations. Since Jiiro [in Afmadow district] was bombed on 24 January, no pastoralists have been seen grazing in that area.

“These communities had already been hit by drought and floods, and the conflict has added yet another challenge. Their situation has been made worse by the closure of the Kenyan border and very poor security slowing down the arrival of aid.”

Public health

“From our public health and needs assessments, we found that only the people of Afmadow town had a borehole for water. The community public health workers have been chlorinating the water from the borehole every evening with water treatment salts given to them by Horn Relief.

“In the rest of the villages we visited we noticed that clean water was not available; the community uses water from small and polluted ponds, or from flooded areas. As we walked around the town it became clear that poor sanitation is leading to the spread of diseases. Chlorine is not available in any of the local shops so there is no way to treat water and none of the water ponds used by the community are protected or fenced which means people are drinking and bathing from the same water points as animals.

"There were no latrines on site either so people are being forced to defecate in the open air. And to make matters worse, there are no health institutions or community health workers on site. Some of the diseases being reported include malaria, diarrhea and respiratory infections."

Existing rather than living

“The food supply is scarce and the price of food is very high. The rations they have received so far have not met people’s needs. Food in the local markets is also in short supply. The purchasing power of the people in the community is quite low compared to normal.”

“We have started to distribute non-food items and will continue for another week, but we have received some reports that armed bandits are looting humanitarian convoys. This is making our work on the ground difficult.

“So far, 10,000 mosquito nets (donated by UNICEF) are on their way to Afmadow. Unfortunately, we have heard that a number of roadblocks have been set up that might slow down or prevent the shipment from going through. We are constantly monitoring the situation.”

Heavy flooding

In addition to the growing tension, these communities have also had to battle with the effects of the recent heavy floods. These hit areas that had previously been affected by drought, displacing up to half a million people and destroying homes and people’s livelihoods. Although the Lag Dera water levels have gone down considerably and vehicles have started crossing once again, access to these areas is still problematic. Some attempts to start small-scale farming where floods waters have receded have begun, however, the situation remains a concern. Stagnant water has increased the likelihood of water-borne disease breaking out.

Despite the recent rains, more than 600,000 people continue to face a humanitarian emergency or acute livelihoods crisis in Somalia. Most of these are concentrated in Gedo, Lower and Middle Juba.

Emergency response

“As part of our emergency response, we will be training 14 community health workers on basic hygiene practices. All participants will be selected by the community themselves. With the help of the trained health workers, we will provide health education and show communities how to treat water as well as the importance of improving waste collection around towns.

"We will also distribute basic non-food items such as treated nets, buckets for storing water and chlorine for purifying water. In order to improve hygiene, we will work with communities on how to safely collect and remove domestic waste from their homes. Lastly, we will support communities to dig more pit latrines and once the floods subside, begin to de-water and chlorinate all shallow wells in Soya and Janna Abdalla villages.

“There is so much more that we could do, but for now I just feel relieved that we have managed to visit some of the communities that have been caught in the middle of this conflict and offer some form of assistance. But I feel very sad knowing that hundreds and thousands of Somalis like my family and I are trapped in a country, existing rather than living.”