Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, backed by Ethiopian forces, has wrested power from the Union of Islamic Courts who ruled large parts of the country. At least 800 people died and 100,000 people fled their homes during the violent change of government. This crisis comes after a two-year drought and a period of heavy torrential rains that caused the worst flooding in Somalia for 50 years.
There are now half a million people who have abandoned their homes because of fighting, drought or flooding.
Many of the people displaced by the current conflict have limited access to shelter, food or clean water. Thousands of people have moved into Galkayo city in the Mudug region of Puntland and the Juba and Shabelle regions in the south. Around half the population of Balatweyne have fled the city according to UN staff in Nairobi. In the capital, Mogadishu, the situation remains unpredictable. Since the retreat of the Islamic Courts, there have been sporadic street battles, robberies and killings.
Security is expected to worsen in the coming days and weeks, making it dangerous to deliver aid to the 250,000 internally displaced people who have settled in the city. As a result of sixteen years of political instability, droughts and floods, there are around 2 million people who depend directly on aid. Without security, aid agencies have limited access to those who need help. Islamic Relief has launched an urgent appeal for €1.5 million to assist 30,000 people in Puntland and 90,000 people in southern Somalia.
In the north, IR aid workers in Galkayo report that there are limited resources in the city and newly displaced people have little or no access to basic sanitation facilities and shelters. A distribution of Qurbani meat is being planned in Galkayo. In the south, displaced people in Kismayo and Mogadishu need shelter, food, clean drinking water, sanitation facilities and health services. There is an urgent need for plastic sheets, food, clean water, utensils and health services.
For more info click here: http://www.islamic-relief.com/submenu/appeal/somalia_crisis.htm
