Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia perturbed by the destruction of IDP settlements on Mogadishu’s periphery

A humanitarian coordinator for Somalia has been gravely disturbed by the large- scale destruction on internally displaced persons (IDPs) settlements in Kahda district, Mogadishu, Banadir state.

Mr Peter de Clercq, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia has noted his deep concern over reports of the destruction of IDPs in KM13, Kahda district in Mogadishu 2 days ago and carried out of the blue,  catching the local dwellers unprepared.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of evictions, without prior notice, of internally displaced persons, in Banadir region. Some of these displaced people have walked long distances from different parts of the country fleeing drought and conflict. On 29 and 30 December, over 23 IDP settlements, housing over 4,000 IDP households, were destroyed” said Deputy Special Representative de Clercq.

The destruction of a record number  23 IDPs settlements were caught off guard which were housing over over 4,000 households.

Most of the local people affected by the displacement drive are now camping in the open air fields when they lost personal properties and their small livelihoods activities after they were subjected to prompt evictions.

 “Personal property and livelihoods have also been lost as people were not given time to collect their belongings before the destruction started. Families, including children, women and the elderly are now living in the open” said de Clercq.

Deputy Special Representative de Clercq has called upon all stakeholders to extend a helping hand to these people who have been earlier displaced by drought not to face more troubles on top of their current plight.

 “I call upon all parties to protect and assist all civilian people who have fled conflict and drought and that have already suffered so much. Humanitarians stand ready to cooperate with and support the authorities in this regard.”

Early august 2017 the  World Bank released a report on the ongoing drought in Somalia estimating the country lost close to a $ 2 billion dollars in livestock and crop losses, further warning the drought is ‘likely to have cast widespread and lingering impacts across multiple sectors in the country’.

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