This update provides information on the protection environment in Somalia, including apparent violations of international Human Rights and Humanitarian Law as reported during the last two weeks through the IASC Somalia Protection Cluster monitoring systems. Incidents mentioned in this report are not exhaustive. They are intended to highlight credible reports in order to inform and prompt programming and advocacy initiatives by the humanitarian community and national authorities.
General Overview
Following the Al Shabaab retreat from Mogadishu in August and four successive months of drought, mainly in southern regions of Somalia, heavy rain fall in October has initiated a slow recovery from the drought and famine crisis. Last week, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reduced the number of famine zones in Somalia from six to three and stated that the number of people at risk of starvation has dropped from 750,000 to 250,000.
In light of both the Al Shabaab retreat and the gradual recovery, PMT data shows that between August and November more than 30,000 IDPs returned to Mogadishu. Over 22,800 people from other southern regions returned mainly to Lower Shabelle, Bay and Gedo regions, although some of these returns were reportedly forced. The number of Somali refugees returning from Ethiopia remained the same as the first two weeks of November with approximately 100 people returning to Somalia during the past two weeks.
No refugees were recorded returning from Kenya.
Despite the positive developments with regards to drought recovery, on 28 November the Al Shabaab administration revoked the permission of 6 UN agencies, 9 international NGOs and 1 local NGO to operate in the areas under its control, gravely undermining life-saving activities and humanitarian operations in these areas. In its statement, Al Shabaab accused the aid agencies of fostering secularism, immorality and misleading young Muslim Somali children, among other accusations. Furthermore, reports suggest that, Al Shabaab militiamen were confirmed to have entered the offices of international NGOs and UN agencies across southern Somalia, including in Baardheere, Baidoa, Belet Wayne,
Bu'ale, Bulo Burto, Ceel Buur, Diinsoor, Kismaayo, Marka and Wajid districts. The militiamen reportedly ordered all staff to vacate the offices, confiscating computers, phones and other office equipment. In light of this recent development, one possible scenario is that many IDPs would be reluctant to return to their places of origin in Al Shabaab controlled areas, due lack of physical security, access to livelihoods and assistance, and fear of human rights violations.3 This may therefore reinforce the policy of forced returns by Al Shabaab contrary to the concerns of IDPs and increase the movement of populations to non-Al Shabaab controlled areas to receive aid and assistance.
While military tension continued to build up during the reporting period in Middle and Lower Juba, Al Shabaab reportedly instructed the majority of IDPs in Baardheere district of Gedo region to return to their places of origin in Baardheere district of Gedo region, Middle Juba and Bay regions. The exact figures of forced IDP returnees from Baardheere district are still unknown.
While child protection remains a major concern in Somalia, the UN Special representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict visited Mogadishu last week and received a commitment by Transitional Federal Government (TFG) leaders to halt the recruitment of child soldiers into its forces. Nevertheless, the recruitment of child soldiers into armed forces by other state and nonstate actors remains a major problem, while the outcome of the commitment remains to be seen.
Increased military presence in Belet Wayne district of Hiraan Region resulted in security related displacement trends within all the three districts of the Hiraan region. PMT data shows that over 300 people were displaced mainly within Belet Wayne, but also to Jalalaqsi and Bulo Burto districts. Despite the increased military activity, the main reasons for people not moving outside Hiraan region are poverty and lack of livelihoods. IDPs generally move to nearby villages where their relatives can host them. Following the banning of 16 UN agencies and INGOs by Al Shabaab, militiamen entered a number of offices and ordered all the staffs to vacate from the offices, confiscating mobile phones and office equipment.