Somalia: Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin No. 21, 28 May - 4 Jun 2010

Key Overall Developments

Conflict and Displacement

During the reporting week, conflict broke-out in parts of South Central regions while fighting in Mogadishu escalated, killing, wounding and displacing hundreds of civilians.

Elberde, Bakool

On 30 May, fighting erupted in Elberde town between Transitional Federal Government Troops (TFG) forces and Al Shabaab. There were no immediate reports of casualties or displacement; however, unconfirmed numbers of civilians fled the town in previous weeks as the warring sides started mobilizing their troops.

Belet Weyne, Hiraan

On 31 May, reports indicate that pro-TFG and Hizbul Islam clashed for control of Belet Weyne town at Ceeljaale, 5km outside the town. The fighting caused confusion among an estimated 3,000 IDP households recently displaced due to flooding in the town. Following the incident, some of the IDPs reportedly moved back into the town while others fled further away from Ceeljaale to escape the fighting.

Mareergur, Galgaduud,

On 2 June, heavy fighting erupted between Al Shabaab and Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamaa Islamist groups in Mareergur village (30km north of Dhuusamarreeb town). According to the Elman Human Rights group based in Mogadishu, at least 24 people were killed while more than 50 others were wounded, the majority being combatants. Unknown numbers of people were also displaced. More fighting was reported in Bulacle village (28km east of Dhuusamarreeb) between the two Islamist groups with unknown numbers of casualties.

Mogadishu

During the reporting week, fighting between insurgents and the TFG continued mainly in the northern districts of Mogadishu killing at least 50 people while more than 100 others were wounded. Between 20 March and 24 May, WHO estimates that the 1,025 casualties, among them 262 children, were admitted or treated in the two main hospitals in Mogadishu. In April, a third hospital reported 351 trauma cases-117 of which were female casualties and 28 were children under 15 years.

UNHCR estimates that 52,900 people have been displaced countrywide with 34,700 having been displaced from Mogadishu since 1 April. Of these, 18,900 have left the city while 15,800 people have moved to relatively calmer parts of the city. In the last two weeks only (21 May - 4 June), 17,400 people have been displaced from Mogadishu.

Tension in Buhoodle, Togdheer

The situation in Buhoodle is tense following fighting between Ethiopian troops and Buhoodle clan militia on 21 May, when trucks transporting commercial items from Somalia were refused entry into Ethiopia. Aid workers in the area estimate that 1,800 households were displaced following the fighting. The displaced are in need of food, shelter items and medical supplies as their host families with meagre resources are overstretched.