Update

Key Overall Developments

High casualties in Mogadishu

On 31 May, WHO issued a press statement highlighting the concerning number of weapon-related injuries which reached nearly 1,600 in May compared to 320 in April, representing an 80 per cent increase. The number of cases of children under 5 years of age in May alone was 735 or 46 per cent of the total. This is attributed to the superior weaponry shelling highly populated areas around the Bakara Market. Children are less able to withstand the high impact of the shelling, leading to injuries caused by severe burns, bullet wounds, blasts and shrapnel. From 3 January – 29 May, more than 5,000 people have been admitted in Mogadishu’s main hospitals with weapon-related injuries.

UNICEF also issued a press statement saying that these figures underscore the vulnerability of Somali children in the ongoing conflict. “Not only is this a tragic humanitarian disaster in the present, it also represents a critical challenge to peace and stability in Somalia in the future,” warned UNICEF.

Conflict and Displacement

Mogadishu: Fierce fighting between the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)/the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces and Al Shabaab continued affecting civilians in Mogadishu. On 30 May, two AU soldiers were killed and four others were wounded when a suicide bomber attacked an AMISOM base in Hawl Wadaag district. Two suicide bombers died while a third one escaped. On 2 June, at least 20 people were killed while more than 80 others were wounded following heavy fighting. The Bakara market, which many people rely on as a source of income, is completely under military siege and no business activities are taking place. Business people have been transporting their assets to relatively safer areas during the reporting week.

Update on IDP evictions in Bossaso, Puntland

The number of people evicted from five IDP settlements in Bossaso now stands at more than 14,000 IDPs (approximately 2,400 households) up from 5,000 people reported last week. The evictions that took place between 20 and 29 May without prior notice. The evictees moved to a location near or on land that had been identified for a planned relocation. The Humanitarian Country Team had to suspend the planned relocation and at this stage will only provide life-saving assistance to the affected population. The humanitarian community continues to negotiate with the government to find a long-term solution for the IDPs.

WFP funding shortfall update

WFP continues to face critical funding shortfalls for the next 12 months despite receiving US $14.5 million from the United States government and a total of 65,000 metric tons of food commodities. The food agency is seeking other contributions to cover the remaining associated costs which would improve the availability of stocks on hand for distribution in the coming months.

Update on the Gu rains

The Gu rains (April-June) are generally below normal, but performance was average to above-normal in most parts of the country during the second week of May even after a late start. According to the latest Somalia Rain Watch update issued by the Famine Early Warning System Network on 23 May, most drought-affected areas of the north eastern regions received significant rains while in the south, the rains have been sequential and spatially distributed. Water stress in some communities has been relieved and pasture regenerated.