Without Solutions for IDPs, Somalia's Recovery Can't Succeed

By Mark Yarnell

It has been nearly a year since Somalia established a new federal government, ostensibly ending years of political transition. Some areas in Somalia are indeed experiencing increased stability and economic revival, but overall, a severe and complex humanitarian crisis continues and many challenges remain – especially for the country’s 1.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs).

I will be traveling to Somalia in the coming days to assess the current conditions for IDPs and to investigate how (or even if) the rights and needs of displaced people are being considered in Somalia’s development plans (both by the Somali government itself, and by the international community).

In Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, there remain several hundred thousand IDPs. Many of them fled their home areas during the 2011 famine, while others have been displaced by conflict. Earlier this year, the Somali Federal Government (SFG) put forward a plan to relocate IDPs from multiple camp locations within Mogadishu to larger camp sites on the outskirts of the city. This is meant to be merely the first step toward their return “home.” But in fact, many IDPs (especially those who have been displaced for years) do not have homes or land they can return to. And for many others, the regions from which they fled are still too insecure.

As I learned during my last visit to Somalia, IDPs are not benefiting from Mogadishu’s economic boom. Many of them live in camps that are controlled by powerful local gatekeepers who divert much of the aid meant for IDPs and physically abuse them. Wresting control from these gatekeepers is critical, but a hasty relocation that is not properly planned and resourced could have a negative impact on the IDP population. The kind of physical harm and exploitation that can come from evicting and physically moving people must be avoided, and any new camps outside Mogadishu must have adequate security, shelter, access to livelihoods, healthcare, education, and other basic necessities.

Any relocation of these IDPs must therefore be done in a deliberate and thoughtful way that is based on fundamental humanitarian principles, upholds the rights of IDPs, and actually ameliorates their situation instead of causing harm and increasing vulnerability.

It will be a major challenge to do this right, but for the Somali government, the existence of IDPs must not be considered an obstruction to be pushed aside. A huge proportion of the country remains displaced, so properly supporting the displaced community must rank highly on the country’s development agenda.

When the Somali government first drafted its relocation plans, it called for “no IDPs in Mogadishu” by August 20, 2013. Fortunately, the SFG backed away from this unfeasible timeline and is now working with the UN and aid organizations to develop more comprehensive and realistic plans. But this initial policy framed IDPs as a problem, rather than a key segment of the Somali population, and that assumption needs to change. If Mogadishu and Somalia as a whole are going to move forward in the years ahead, then the displaced must be consulted and engaged.

Over the next few weeks, I will be meeting with a multitude of local and international actors involved in Somalia’s humanitarian response. But most importantly, I will meet with many members of the displaced community to learn how they can best be supported as they play their key role in Somalia’s development. Stay tuned for updates and reports from the field.

Source: refugeesinternational.org

Somalia's remittances quandary: what are the options post-Barclays?

The closure of UK bank accounts belonging to cash-transfer firms would force many people to find new ways of sending money home. What are the alternatives?

Somalia's remittances and the $162m question … how will the loss of UK accounts belonging to cash-transfer firms affect the country? Photograph: AFP/Getty

by Mark Tran

Barclays has decided to close the accounts of about 250 money-transfer businesses, a move that could badly affect the flow of remittances toSomalia as it lacks a banking system. What are the options for Somalis?

Use unofficial or illegal means

The Somali authorities said last year that about $2bn (£1.2m) in remittances – a significant percentage of GDP – is channelled to the country through hawala, or small money-transfer businesses.

According to Oxfam (pdf), an estimated $162m is sent to Somalia annually by the UK's Somali diaspora. There are fears this flow of money could go underground through unlicensed agents.

Barclays says it took the decision to close the accounts of some of its money service businesses (MSBs) to minimise the risk of falling foul of money-laundering regulations. But the move could lead to more money laundering. "It makes it much more likely there will be money laundering," said Dominic Thorncroft, chairman of the UK Money Transmitters Association.

The head of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka, has made the same point. In a letter to Barclays, he asked the bank to reconsider its decision. "While the other affected countries have alternatives, Somalia and the greater Horn do not," he wrote. "As a result those transfers would probably be driven to high-risk, high-cost informal channels."

Use other companies

Barclays' decision particularly affects Dahabshiil, the region's biggest remittance company. It has 286 locations across Somalia and 400 payout sites across the Horn of Africa. Western Union has opened an office in Somalia, and other Somali remittance companies, such as Amal, Iftin, Kaah and Amaana, operate in the country. But they do not have the reach of Dahabshiil, which is also used by 95% of international agencies and charities in Somalia.

Ismail Ahmed, chief executive of World Remit, believes these companies have sufficient presence is southern Somalia, but is concerned that any negative impact on Dahabshiil could have serious consequences for the breakaway state of Somaliland, where the company has 90% of the market.

What are the options for remittance companies?

They can try to open accounts with other banks, which is easier said than done. Barclays tightened its eligibility criteria for MSBs after HSBC was fined a record $1.9bn in the US for a "blatant failure" to implement anti-money laundering controls.

It is far from certain that other UK banks will want to deal with a small sector that generates little profit yet poses a major regulatory headache. Other unpalatable options include transforming themselves into agents for bigger, more established players such as Western Union, so the money in effect goes through Western Union's systems. Or the remitters could pool their resources to set up more rigorous compliance mechanisms to track where the money comes from and where it goes.

What action is being taken?

Barclays' decision has triggered a flurry of official activity. There have been discussions between the British Banking Association (BBA), the Treasury, the Department for International Development (DfID) and remittance companies.

The BBA has called for a review of the registration and licensing requirements for MSBs, and wants better regulation of the industry. DfID is reviewing the remittances sector before talks next month.

Manuel Orozco, a senior associate at the Inter-American Dialogue and author of a report on remittances in Somalia, points to the entrepreneurial spirit of Somalis, insisting they will find ways of dealing with the problem. But he warns the damage created by Barclays far outweighs any risks it faces by doing business with remittance firms. He suggests other banks step in.

Nadifa Mohamed, the Somali-born author, has asked why Barclays continues to work with MoneyGram, which admitted to money-laundering and wire-fraud violations in the US, while shutting Somali money-transfer companies that have never faced any charges.

How does Barclays' decision affect other communities?

According to the World Bank, officially recorded remittances from the UKcame to $3.2bn in 2011. The money went not just to Somalia, but alsoBangladesh, Pakistan and India. Those communities have protested that, since other banks are refusing to offer new accounts, Barclays' decision will lead to thousands of people losing jobs in remittance companies in the UK, while those sending money abroad will be forced to use a handful of big US money-transfer providers.

Somalia: Islamic jihadists murder 15 people at Mogadishu restaurant

by Robert Spencer

Remember: today's politically correct dogma holds that this attack was committed by "extremists" who have nothing to do with Islam, despite their own self-identification as devout Muslims and claims that they carry out these attacks in fulfillment of Islamic imperatives. And if you start to examine the belief system that motivates attacks like this, you're just as much of an "extremist" as those who set off the bombs.

"Somalia bombs kill at least 15 people at restaurant in Mogadishu," from the Guardian, September 7 (thanks to Twostellas):

A car bomb and suspected suicide bomber have killed at least 15 people in two explosions at a restaurant in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, local police said.

At least another 20 people were wounded in the bomb attacks on the Village restaurant, Captain Ali Hussein, a senior police official, said on Saturday.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts but suspicion will likely fall on the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida affiliate which has carried out a campaign of suicide bombings since African Union forces forced it to withdraw from the city in 2011.

Mohamed Yusuf, a spokesman for the Mogadishu authorities, said: "First a car bomb exploded at the entrance of the restaurant, and when people converged inside a suicide bomber blew up himself."

Isaq Hassan, a car washer who lost a colleague in the blasts, said: "This disaster never comes to an end." Pointing to dead bodies on the ground, he added: "See this, that and this! Life is worthless here."

The restaurant, which was popular with government officials, was owned by a Somali businessman, Ahmed Jama, who had returned to his home country from London to set up the business. Militants, also thought to be from al-Shabaab, had previously targeted the restaurant in November. Only one person was killed in that attack by suicide bombers.

"They attack the restaurants because they hate to see people peacefully spending time together," said Mohamed Abdi, an interior ministry employee at the scene. "They are committed to obliterating any sign of peace. Because of such attacks, it's very hard for the government to restore security in the near future."

SOMALIA: Hand grenade kills one, injures more in central Somalia town

 

Beledweyn - At least one person was killed and more than five others were injured on Saturday night after a hand grenade targeted to a tea shop in Beledweyn town, on central Somalia region of Hiiraan.

According to police officer, men armed with hand grenades threw the bomb to civilians sitting in the tea shop at the centre of the town and immediately escaped from the area before the security forces reached there.

Colonel Isaq Ali, the regional police commissioner said the police were investigating the perpetrators despite no one was arrested yet for the explosion.

“We are yet proping up the explosion, as we are very sorry for the attack against civilians.” the police commissioner said.

The security of Beledweyn town has been calm in the past months despite several bomb attacks were targeted against bases for the security forces and civilian buildings in the town.

Beledweyn explosion came after a deadly suicide attacks hit the country’s capital Mogadishu on Saturday killing more than 20 people.  Al Shabab rebel group claimed the resp9nsiblity of the Mogadishu attacks.

Source: RBC Radio

Journalist kidnapped in Somalia: Reunion with mom 'felt like home'

Amanda Lindhout, who was abducted and held hostage in Somalia for 15 and a half months, details her ordeal in a new book “A House in the Sky.” Interviewed on TODAY, she talks about a failed escape attempt and describes how she kept her will to survive.

      Scott Stump - Today Contributer

After being kidnapped in Somalia and enduring abuse at the hands of Islamic rebels for 15 and a half months, former freelance journalist Amanda Lindhout recalled the experience — detailing what she went through, how she tried to escape and what it was like to finally be reunited with her mother after her release in 2009. 

"Seeing my mother that day standing in the sunshine outside of the hospital was really surreal actually,'' Lindhout told Savannah Guthrie on TODAY Friday. "It was this moment that I had been dreaming about for 460 days, and then there she was. When she held me, in her arms felt like home, like I had come home." 

Book excerpt: Author tells story of fifteen months of harrowing captivity in Somalia

TODAY

Amanda Lindhout said reuniting with her mother, Lorinda Stewart, on the first day after she was released following 460 days in the hands of kidnappers in Somalia, "felt like home."

Lindhout had been flown out of Somalia and driven to a hospital in Nairobi by a private security team a day after being released following a ransom payment when she embraced her mother, Lorinda Stewart, for the first time in nearly two years.

In her new book, “A House in the Sky,’’ Lindhout shares personal details from the time she spent in captivity, including the beatings, starvation and sexual assaults she faced and how she fought thoughts of suicide. She spoke about her ordeal with Guthrie on Friday and also gave an in-depth interview in an hour-long report by NBC News correspondent Kate Snow that will air on “Dateline’’ Friday at 9 p.m. ET.

Journalist recounts horrific kidnapping ordeal in Somalia

"Extremely difficult conditions throughout those 460 days, much of that being kept isolated in the dark with chains around my ankles, being abused very regularly,'' she said. "It wasn't always easy, but I found that as things progressively got worse, I needed to find something to hold on to, some kind of light in that situation, and so for me it was thoughts of returning home one day or what I would do with my life afterwards if I was to survive. That gave me hope just to make it through a day or make it through an hour." 

On Aug. 23, 2008, she was kidnapped by about a dozen men pointing AK-47 assault rifles at her vehicle when she went to visit a refugee camp outside the Somalian capital of Mogadishu. Lindhout, who was 24 at the time, was abducted along with 36-year-old Australian photographer Nigel Brennan on the morning of their fourth day in Somalia. They were freed in November 2009 after both of their families raised money and split the cost of getting them released.

Lindhout and Brennan briefly escaped from their captors about five months into the ordeal, but were re-captured. 

TODAY

Journalist Amanda Lindhout and Australian photographer Nigel Brennan spent 460 days in the hands of Islamic rebels after being kidnapped in Somalia in 2008.

"We were feeling really desperate, sure that our captors were probably going to kill us even if they did get the ransom that they were demanding from our families,'' Lindhout said. "We planned and executed an escape, which was using a pair of nail clippers, carving out a couple of bricks out a bathroom window, and we made it out. We were free for all of about 40 minutes and found our way into a mosque where we hoped that we would find help, and of course it didn't take long for our captors to track us to that mosque and drag us out of there. What happened after was much worse than anything we had experienced up to that point." 

Lindhout denied rumors that she gave birth to a child while she was being held.

"I absolutely did not have a child in captivity or give birth while I was there,'' Lindhout said. "It's unfortunate that these sort of tabloid headlines continue to circulate even all of these years later. Absolutely, that's not true." 

She decided to write the book, she said, because her story is emblematic of the power of the human spirit. 

"I don't think it's something that's unique to me,'' she said. "I think it's the human spirit inside of all of us that has an enormous capacity to survive. I went through something that was exceedingly difficult, so I had to dive pretty deep to find out what I was made of, so I had the opportunity to do that.

"I'm also a reader myself, and I wanted to tell a story that was going to be entertaining, taking the reader through my early travels around the world, and then ultimately into the dark part of the story, which was when I was abducted," she added.

Source : today.com