Mohamed Idle, Deputy Country Director for Somalia , Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
Organization of Islamic Coorperation
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The
presence of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) in Mogadishu was necessitated
by the famine declared approximately one year and half years which was further
precipitated by ongoing conflict that also affect greater portion of the
communities living across the Somalia regions.
The international humanitarian
organizations made tremendous effort in reaching the IDPs while in the camps
and other localities to reduce further suffering and deaths which was record
high during the emergency phase.
The
IDPS were faced with number of problems in the IDP camps including, poorly
ventilated houses, poor drainage systems, unreported rape cases and lack of essential
aid continuity all the calendar months thereby exposing them further to myriad
of challenges.
Recently,
the government of Somalia in collaboration with other stakeholders made an plan
to realize the six steps of relocating the IDPs as way of preparing them
further for return program.
Based
on the current needs to improve the condition of the IDPs and as a way of
reducing eventual dependency syndrome; OIC in collaboration with coalition
members initiated a voluntary return
program by investing social services at the point of origin (village/towns) for
50,000 persons .
The
main intention of OIC and its coalition members is to develop household
purchasing power of the communities affected by such drought and build their
internal resilience mechanisms rather than keeping them in camps where future
of the children and other vulnerable groups remains uncertain.
To
demonstrate OIC drive in regards to voluntary return program (VRP); a high
level consultative workshop has been conducted on 26th March 2013 in
Mogadishu where 100 stakeholders turned out for the workshop to share their
experiences, feelings and challenges which will be used by OIC as a springboard
to actualize the voluntary return program in a successful manner.
OIC
has developed key messages for the VRP to be used by stakeholders including the
media to promote the voluntary return program supported by the key actors. The messages includes and not limited to;
that,
1)The
OIC and coalition members initiatives is to induce a voluntary return program
acceptable to the drought/conflict affected communities, local authorities and
key actors living in major cities in Somalia with an aim of upholding and
guarding the spirits of non forceful evictions.
2)In
respect to collective approach to dignified and safe return initiatives by all
main actors; OIC and coalition members envisages the fundamental motivations of
the whole process with an effort of fostering the resilience efforts.
3)OIC
and coalition members believe in empowering the communities by providing
durable options during and after the return program as a way of indoctrinating
the need for them become self sufficient and increase household purchasing
power.
4)While
promotion for massive IDP return is not applicable to Somalia today, careful engagement
in measured and facilitated return with the provision of appropriate support
and assistance can contribute to ensuring that returns are lasting and
sustainable.
OIC
is seeking to mobilize essential services at the village level/towns so as to
create a push level factor which will eventually motivate and empower the
communities to access all the basic needs and consequently increase the
likelihood of all the IDPs to go back to village of origin.
