General Overview
After heavy fighting in the second week of August between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and AMISOM on the one hand and Al Shabaab on the other , Al Shabaab forces withdrew from most Districts of Mogadishu including Bondhere, Shibis, Shangani, Wardhigley, Hodan, Waberi and Wadajir, as well as from areas of Galgaduud and Middle Juba regions.1It remains to be seen whether the withdrawal from these areas will have a positive impact on the protection environment. Following the withdrawal from Mogadishu, sporadic reprisals against AMISOM troops in evacuated districts have caused many residents to flee from the northern districts of the capital. Al Shabaab reportedly continues to carry out sporadic attacks throughout the city. Despite the intermittent fighting, an unconfirmed number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have reportedly begun moving to vacated areas of Bondhere and Hodan districts after Al Shabaab withdrew on Saturday. Some reports indicate that the IDP families opted to settle in these locations as an alternative to the congested areas in TFG-controlled areas.
At the beginning of August, the United Nations (UN) declared famine in three more areas of southern Somalia, including Middle Shabelle, the Afgooye corridor and parts of Mogadishu, in addition to Bay,
Bakool. However, access to Al Shabaab-controlled areas in the South continues to hinder relief efforts.