Appeal

Somalia

Response to Mogadishu Displacements AFSO71

Appeal Target: 625,636

Geneva, 12 October 2007

In December 2006, the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) backed by the Ethiopian troops ousted the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from the capital city Mogadishu. Following the defeat of UIC, the TFG tried to exert its authority in the southern and central region. This was met by resistance from opposition groups which are against the occupation of the Ethiopians in Somalia. As a result, the civil population suffers from daily fighting between the two military factions.

The persistent insecurity in Mogadishu is mainly characterised by roadside bombs, indiscriminate shelling of civilian populated areas, and in some cases use of suicide bombers. More often than not, the people caught in the line of fire are innocent civilians. Bomb blasts occur often in the city, targeting Government officials, Ethiopians and civilians. On 6 July, 2007, eight children died when they played with a bomb placed in a garbage heap.

People have lost their relatives, family members and their properties. Many are desperate and have lost the capacity to cope with the situation. The ongoing insecurity, sporadic violence and looting in Mogadishu have forced the communities to move out of the city and create Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps along the road from Mogadishu to Afgoi district and the surrounding areas of Middle and Lower Shabelle regions. According to OCHA, due to continuing insecurity, about 400,000 IDPs moved from Mogadishu between February and May, mainly to Shabelle regions, Galgudud and Mudug regions.

Food distributions by NGOs are inadequate to cater for the increasing number of IDPs. Lack of safe drinking water and shelter is a major concern. Change of location and poor sanitation have badly affected the IDPs health conditions. Cases of trauma and mental breakdown in the camps are also rising.

In this Appeal, ACT member Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) through its local partner Daryeel Bulsho Guud (DBG) plans to provide food items consisting of rice, beans and vegetable oil to 2,100 families in the IDP camps in Mogadishu outskirts. This Appeal will run for a period of three months from October 2007.

Project Completion Date: 15 January 2008

Reporting Schedule:

Final narrative & financial reports: 15 March 2008

Audit: 15 April 2008

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FOR THE FULL TEXT AND BUDGET OF THE APPEAL (PDF FILE), KINDLY VISIT THE ACT SITE. THANK YOU. ______________________________________________________________________________

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar

Account Number - 240-432629.60A

IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro

Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z

IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together

UBS AG

8, rue du Rhône

P.O. Box 2600

1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND

Swift address: UBSW CHZH12A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Officer Michael Hyden (mhy@act-intl.org) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.