Multiple regions of Somalia have seen a rise in fighting for the month of October, pushing thousands of families into crisis.
Many are fleeing to makeshift camps, surviving in flimsy shelters with little protection from the rains. This is according to a November 1 press release by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
“We are alarmed that fighting has forced thousands of people to run for their lives. Several of the hardest hit communities are in insecure areas, where aid agencies are unable to reach them. We fear many displaced people will be left without life-saving assistance. These families were recovering from last year’s drought, and fighting has now pushed them back into crisis,” said Victor Moses, Country Director NRC.
Thousands on the run
“Over 21,000 people have fled for their lives due to fighting and insecurity this month, according to the UNHCR Protection and Returns Monitoring Network. Overall there are 2.6 million people displaced in Somalia from conflict, insecurity, drought and other causes,” the press release reads.
The largest number of people displaced by fighting and insecurity in October were from Lower Shabelle region, followed by Hiran, Bay and other regions.
“We were harvesting crops when fighting started. The fighting went on for hours, so we fled to Mogadishu. We didn’t come with any belongings, we just escaped with our lives. We’re worried we cannot afford to buy what we need, and we cannot go back home,” said Mustaqiim, a farmer and mother of three, who fled Marka district in Lower Shabelle region.
The children surviving in the camps are especially vulnerable. Without enough food, shelter, clean water and sanitation, they are left vulnerable to disease outbreaks. 294,000 Somali children are acutely malnourished, of which 55,000 are severely malnourished, putting them at risk of death.
The Norwegian Refugee Council says that parties to the conflict should take all precautions to minimize civilian casualties. They must allow free access to humanitarian agencies to safely provide aid, in line with international humanitarian law.
“NRC also calls for the international community to scale up their support. This year’s UN humanitarian aid appeal for Somalia has received $857 million, sharply down from $1.3 billion in 2017. As a result some programmes for vital services have been cut back, including for food, water, health, cash relief and education,” the releases says.
NRC programmes in Somalia include food security, livelihoods, water, sanitation, shelter, education and legal assistance. NRC has worked in Somalia since 2004.
