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Somalia

ICRC activities in Somalia

"An open wound in the Horn of Africa"
Since it ceased to be a household name in the early 1990s, Somalia has slipped from public consciousness. The departure of UN forces in 1995 and the reduction of aid personnel led many people to believe that Somalia had returned to a state of near-normality.

Yet for the past two years the situation in Somalia has remained volatile, marked by open conflict, the absence of a central authority and economic collapse. In some regions, poverty has been exacerbated by outbreaks of disease and adverse climatic conditions which have seriously diminished people's ability to regain even the most basic economic security.

Up to the end of 1993 the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) carried out one of its biggest-ever relief operations, for a time feeding more than a million people each day, evacuating the wounded, performing surgery on war casualties and visiting prisoners. Meanwhile, its Tracing Agency provided the only link between families torn apart by the
conflict.

Despite the UN intervention in 1992 further chaos seemed imminent, and in July 1994 the ICRC decided to withdraw its delegation to Nairobi. Nevertheless, its delegates have continued to work in close collaboration with Somali staff based inside Somalia and its expatriate staff in the field take action where necessary. In the 24 months up to mid-1996 the ICRC's Somalia delegation more than tripled in size; along with the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS), the ICRC is the only international organization working throughout Somalia.

In 1995 the ICRC provided assistance to 875,000 people, financed the running of a hospital in north Mogadishu where some 4,700 patients were admitted and 2,500 operations were performed, provided essential supplies to two other hospitals, rehabilitated or established several health posts and wells, visited more than 400 prisoners and assisted in the exchange of approximately 135,000 Red Cross messages.

Operations in Somalia, 1996

The first seven months of 1996 were marked by renewed outbreaks of heavy fighting in south Mogadishu, resulting in injuries, death or displacement for thousands of people; by outbreaks of diseases such as choleroid diarrhoea; and by continuing widespread insecurity, which in some areas forced people to leave their homes.

The ICRC has developed a distinctive approach to its relief operations in Somalia by relying as much as possible on local traders to obtain and transport the necessary supplies.

Some 70 per cent of the Somali people are nomads and depend on animals for their livelihood. The ICRC carried out a major veterinary programme as an urgent response to the collapse of the national veterinary-drugs distribution system during the war. Another important challenge was to provide people with access to clean water. Water is scarce in many areas and access to water has traditionally been the cause of conflict.

OVERVIEW OF ICRC WORK IN SOMALIA

RELIEF

During the first six months of this year, 1,800 tonnes of relief supplies were distributed to half a million people. In all, 32,675 people were provided with food, 283,300 with other relief supplies, and 183,620 with seed.

- Agricultural assistance: Although seed was distributed in the lower Juba valley, crops were severely damaged by the late onset of the rains and by the flooding which occurred in May. The ICRC distributed more seed so that farmers could sow again in the receding waters.

- Veterinary assistance: A major veterinary programme was carried out from 1991 to 1993 in response to the collapse of the national veterinary-drugs distribution system. A tsetse-fly programme is being set up in the Juba valley.

- Fisheries assistance: Emergency distribution of fishing material in the Kismayo region. Development programmes in the fisheries sector.

MEDICAL AND HEALTH ACTIVITIES

In the first six months of 1996, the ICRC provided hospitals and health posts with 68 tonnes of medical supplies, part of which were used to establish emergency stocks in critical areas. It also rehabilitated several health facilities and opened six new ones.
- Medical emergencies: The ICRC supports two major facilities in Mogadishu:

- Keysaney hospital (160 beds and a staff of 150), where 1,100 operations were performed during the first half of 1996;

- Digfer hospital (situated near the conflict areas), which took in large numbers of wounded people during the clashes in April and June. The ICRC provides medical supplies as well as food for the staff - vital support needed to keep the facility running.

- Public/primary health programmes:After an outbreak of cholera, the ICRC worked with local communities and the SRCS to bring the situation under control. It is currently providing:

- assistance to local health workers on preventive measures;
- support for more than 20 health facilities.

WATER AND SANITATION ACTIVITIES

In the first six months of 1996, the ICRC rehabilitated or equipped 92 hand-dug wells, drilled 6 new boreholes and rehabilitated or repaired 13 generators, bringing clean water to more than 40 villages and partially covering the needs of the population of north and south Mogadishu.

DETENTION ACTIVITIES

In Somaliland, 322 prisoners were visited in five places of detention. ICRC delegates also visit prisoners in Mogadishu Central Jail and in Baidoa.

TRACING ACTIVITIES

During the first six months of 1996, the SRCS Tracing Service assisted in the exchange of more than 53,300 Red Cross messages between Somalia and the rest of the world. In February, five Somali children were reunited with their family in Sweden; the children had been separated from their parents since 1989. The Tracing Agency also maintains lists of prisoners seen and registered by the ICRC and records all data concerning their capture, detention, transfer and release. The country-wide network established by the ICRC acts as a substitute for the long-defunct postal service.

LOGISTICS, SUPPORT AND FINANCE

- At the end of July 1996, the ICRC's
- Somalia delegation based in Nairobi included 26 expatriates and 12 Somali staff.
- A 15-seater aircraft flies daily to various destinations in Somalia.
- The budget for the 1996 Somalia operation is 38.8 million Swiss francs (about 32.3 million US dollars).

Cooperation with the Movement

The Somali Red Crescent Society plays a valuable role in assisting the ICRC to implement its emergency programmes. However, years of conflict, economic collapse and immense difficulties in generating income locally have weakened its structure to such an extent that it is only able to function thanks to external funding (the ICRC being its main support).

The following programmes are starting to take shape:

- small credit schemes for women affected by war;
- skill development activities for young unemployed Somalis;
- small income-generating activities for the SRCS branches.

SRCS staff and volunteers also play an important part during emergency operations for conflict victims, for example by helping to evacuate the wounded (three SRCS workers were killed and over 20 wounded while on duty during the fighting in Mogadishu this year).

Promoting respect for humanitarian law and values

Innovative ways have been found of disseminating humanitarian law. The ICRC and the SRCS have produced a series of plays depicting the sufferings caused by war and urging respect for civilians and for wounded or captured combatants. The plays have been recorded on audiocassettes and videotapes, ensuring wide circulation. In addition, in the first six months of 1996 the SRCS staff gave some 200 talks on humanitarian law to over 18,000 people.