General Overview
While an estimated 250,000 people continue to be at risk of starvation in Somalia, a recent report published by Refugees International (RI) confirms that insecurity and protection in the IDP camps continues to threaten IDPs and aid workers in southern regions. The report highlights the fact that particularly women and children continue to face protection violations such as rape, trafficking, and abuse, while looting of humanitarian aid, movement restrictions on IDPs, increased unconventional warfare, and kidnapping of aid workers continue preventing the delivery of vital aid supplies. These factors, as well as Al Shabaab’s banning of 16 aid agencies from operating in the areas under its control, raise concern that the humanitarian situation in the areas under the control of Al Shabaab may deteriorate, and possibly plunge back into a state of famine.