AS FIGHTING RAGES IN SOMALIA, UN REFUGEE AGENCY SENDS IN AID

AS FIGHTING RAGES IN SOMALIA, UN REFUGEE AGENCY SENDS IN AID
New York, Apr 13 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations refugee agency has been begun delivery of 28 tons of relief supplies to war-ravaged Somalia, where officials from the world body warn that fighting is at its heaviest since the outbreak of war over a decade ago.

Amid the violence, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/461f670f16.html">UNHCR) is sending in 9,000 blankets, 1,800 plastic sheets, 3,600 jerry cans and 1,800 kitchen sets which will be distributed to up to 20,000 people who fled recent fighting in Mogadishu, the capital, spokesman Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva today.

"Thousands of displaced Somalis have spent nearly two weeks without proper food, water or shelter," he said. "Families with no relatives or clan links in the area continue to live in the open, or under trees. The need for shelter material is now more pressing because of the rainy season which normally begins this month."

UNHCR has additional stocks for up to 5,000 families in Mogadishu and smaller quantities in the town of Marka. But Mr. Redmond warned that obstacles remain. "We are still facing difficulties in bringing items out of the warehouses for distribution to thousands of families who fled from the capital," he said, adding that "insecurity in parts of Mogadishu has continued to jeopardize humanitarian access to the Somali capital and surrounding regions, making the plight of civilians all the more desperate."

About 128,000 Somalis are believed to have fled from Mogadishu since the beginning of February. Nearly 90,000 of them have sought safety in the adjacent provinces of Middle and Lower Shabelle, according to UNHCR, which estimate that 18,000 people have settled in the district of Afgooye. And up to 4,000 people may be recently displaced in Baidoa.

These figures "may still rise as people continue to flee Mogadishu, where a truce had been holding for about 10 days despite sporadic gunfire," Mr. Redmond said. Clashes resumed Wednesday between the Ethiopian-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces and insurgents.

On Thursday, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, voiced deep concern over the dire situation facing the displaced, who have been harassed, threatened, raped and robbed.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that aid workers are being thwarted in their efforts to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups by the deteriorating security situation, harassment, intimidation and even detention.
2007-04-13 00:00:00.000

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