Attacks against humanitarian convoys and continuing attempts to loot humanitarian food aid continued to be major concern during the week. On 7 May a World Food Programme (WFP) contracted truck driver was killed when a convoy of 12 WFP-contracted trucks, loaded with food, was stopped by militiamen demanding money at an illegal checkpoint, 30 kilometers north of Gaalkacyo in Mudug region. A militiaman opened fire on the trucks and a driver was shot and later died in hospital of his wounds. He was the second WFP convoy driver killed this year. These unrelenting attacks on humanitarian workers and contractors are slowing down humanitarian agencies’ ability to support populations in need. The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, condemned the killing and reiterated that vital humanitarian assistance to population in need must be facilitated by all concerned.
On 6 May Amnesty International (AI) issued a report detailing the dire human rights crisis in Somalia. The AI report is based on scores of interviews which reveal that violations and abuses are being perpetrated by all parties of the conflict. AI calls on all parties to immediately halt violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Also during the week, the UN Humanitarian & Resident Coordinator, a.i, for Somalia issued an open letter to the Somali people expressing the humanitarian community’s concern the deteriorating situation and explaining the security challenges on the ground in getting aid to people in need.
The security situation in Mogadishu and other parts of South Central Somalia remains unstable. Clashes between Ethiopian/Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and anti-government groups were reported daily and are causing anxiety for the civilian population. On 7 May Ethiopian forces reportedly killed some 12 civilians near the town of Wanle Weyn in Lower Shabelle. In Baidoa, Bay region, residents had to close down their businesses on 6 - 7 May in fear of armed confrontation between the Ethiopian troops and insurgents. On 7 May a convoy carrying government soldiers hit a roadside bomb believed to have been planted by the insurgent on the outskirts of Baidoa town. In Mogadishu at least three confrontations were recorded in the first week of May, although civilian casualties were minimal in all cases.
In Mogadishu, food riots erupted this week in response to rising prices. Angry residents stoned shops and cars and set tyres ablaze on 5 - 6 May in protest of shopkeepers’ refusal to accept Somali shilling banknotes. At least three people have been confirmed killed and several others injured after government forces opened fire to disperse the demonstrators.
Other Developments
The FAO Food Security Analysis Unit has released the preliminary results from a nutrition survey conducted in April in El Berde district, Bakool region. The results indicate a very critical nutrition situation with 24.1% global acute malnutrition (GAM) and 2.8% severe acute malnutrition. These results indicate deterioration from a previous survey conducted in Dec 2006 when the GAM was 17.7%. The decline is due to a deteriorating food security situation caused by poor rainfall which has led to lack of pasture and water for livestock, and the ability of poor pastoralists to purchase food. These effects are further compounded by the soaring food prices overall.
During the week, WFP dispatched 1,947 metric tons of food aid to an estimated 118,700 beneficiaries in Puntland, Somaliland and South Central Somalia.
