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Somalia

Field Reports  In-Depth Reports  

Overview
Almost two decades after the collapse of its central government, Somalia remains a failed state. The Transitional Federal Government, supported by the international community and recognized by the United Nations, has failed to bring peace and stability to the country. Following the Ethiopian government’s military intervention in support of the TFG in early 2007, Somalis were caught in a violent conflict and fled their homes in Mogadishu and other cities in Southern Somalia. Today Somalia is the world’s greatest humanitarian disaster and aid agencies are unable to respond to the immense scale of needs. The insecurity preventing assistance is a consequence of the failed international political and diplomatic efforts. In light of the dramatic situation in south central Somalia, U.S. policy requires a complete overhaul, prioritizing humanitarian concerns over narrow counterterrorism objectives.

Current Humanitarian Situation
Somalia is the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. More than 3.6 million Somalis – 40% of the population – are dependent on external assistance, and hundreds of thousands of people have fled the country to seek refuge in neighboring countries.

There are approximately 1.5 million internally displaced people in Somalia and over 500,000 Somali refugees in neighboring countries. While the situation has continuously deteriorated in the past two years, the last months have seen worsening indicators, including high numbers of refugees going to Kenya and Yemen.

Exacerbating the problem has been the extreme difficulty in providing assistance. Somalia has always been a challenging operating environment for aid agencies, but it has now become one of the most dangerous places for humanitarian workers, alongside Iraq and Afghanistan.

Refugees International is also concerned about Somali refugee populations in neighboring countries and conducted missions in Yemen in March 2008, Djibouti in October 2008, and Kenya in March 2009.

Action Needed
The Obama Administration should announce a new U.S. policy towards Somalia by taking a comprehensive regional approach, prioritizing the provision of humanitarian and development assistance and calling for a truly inclusive political process.

Field Reports
  • Somalia: Political Progress, Humanitarian Stalemate
    04/03/2009
    Somalia remains the site of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with regional consequences that require greater international attention. The formation of a new government has so far meant little to the more than three million Somalis in need of emergency assistance inside the country.
  • Somalia: Policy Overhaul Required
    11/19/2008
    Somalia is the world’s worst humanitarian disaster and aid agencies are unable to respond to the immense scale of needs. The insecurity preventing assistance is a consequence of failed international political and diplomatic efforts. To stabilize the situation in south central Somalia, U.S. policy requires a complete overhaul, prioritizing humanitarian concerns over narrow counterterrorism objectives.
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In Depth Reports
  • Last Line of Defense: How Peacekeepers Can Better Protect Civilians
    02/24/2010

    When violent conflict breaks out, the United States and other United Nations member states often call for the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces to create stability and protect people from harm. The UN Security Council has explicitly instructed peacekeepers to protect civilians under “imminent threat of violence” in most UN peacekeeping mandates since 1999. But there is no clarity as to what “protection” means in practice. Which circumstances require action and what level of force should be used? This has resulted in a lack of proper training, guidance and resources for peacekeepers to accomplish protection activities.