Experience from the Benadir region
Authors:
Mohamed Osman Mohamoud, Nicholas Ndiema,
Salim Kinyiri and Abdirisak Ahmed Dalmar
This working paper documents research carried out on the protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in urban communities in Somalia, providing an evidence base for improved humanitarian protection. The study, carried out in Hodan, Wadajir and Dharkenley districts in the Benadir region, uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches to identify urban IDP protection needs and explore the relevance of the proximity of the IDP camps to the urban centre of Mogadishu. By identifying IDP protection and food security needs, the paper highlights existing gaps in the coordination of stakeholders in protection issues, and considers how protection approaches could be integrated into programming. It proposes an institutional framework for the identification, inclusion and support for the social, economic, physical, and rights-based protection of IDPs in Somalia.
Executive summary
Somalia continues to experience chronic internal displacement as a result of two decades of conflict, violence, human rights violations, and natural disasters. An estimated 1.1 million internally displaced people (IDPs) live in vulnerable conditions, facing a range of risks and hardships which raises serious concerns for their protection. It is important that these vulnerabilities are assessed in order to identify the unique protection needs of IDP communities in Somalia. This working paper documents research carried out on the protection of internally displaced communities in Mogadishu, with the aim of providing an evidence base for improved humanitarian protection in urban areas of Somalia. Although the inflow of humanitarian support to the country remains high, IDPs in urban camps continue to suffer with little or no protection, in particular minority groups. Humanitarian programmes which address challenges faced by IDPs in Somalia are shifting their approach to resilience programming, and it is unclear whether IDP protection is part of that remit. The paper examines the self-identified protection needs of IDPs in three districts in the Benadir region of Somalia, assessing how the location of IDP camps and their proximity to the urban centre of Mogadishu impact on protection and food security needs. It identifies gaps in the coordination of stakeholders involved in IDP protection responses, and explores how this coordination could be improved. The paper considers specific IDP protection approaches and strategies that could be integrated into programming across resilience dimensions, and the kind of institutional framework that would enable adequate identification, inclusion and support of the social, economic, physical and rightsbased protection amongst IDPs. Both qualitative (focus group discussions and key informant interviews) and quantitative methods (questionnaires) were used in the study. The sampling was guided by statistics from the REACH Initiative Mogadishu IDP Survey (REACH Initiative, 2016). This survey showed that 10,245 households live in 55 IDP camps in Hodan in central Mogadishu, 2,514 households live in 5 IDP camps in Wadajir in peri-urban Mogadishu, and 3,279 households live in 1 IDP camp in Dharkenley, a semi peri-urban district. The personal safety and protection of urban IDPs were assessed in terms of physical safety, legal protection and documentation, access to justice, child protection and gender-based violence (GBV). Access to food and water was also identified as a challenge for most households, as well as access to health and counselling support services. Findings from the study show that proximity to Mogadishu city centre is an important factor which determines resilience among these urban IDPs. The existing gaps in IDP protection coordination which were identified include: IDPs not having permanent settlements or a home, which made reaching out to them very difficult; negative perceptions by communities about NGOs’ work on protection; and the protection of IDPs not being given sufficient priority, unlike other fields, such as health. Given the multi-dimensional nature of protection, multistakeholder engagement must be assured. The study findings indicate that IDP protection strategies should be integrated into various government sector plans and that community stakeholder engagement should be included in planning processes. It is imperative that protection activists adapt to the challenging conditions in the communities and promote advocacy and protection efforts to strengthen the resilience of IDPs at individual, household, and community levels. The study proposes a systems-based framework to address protection challenges across the various resilience dimensions, including human capital, health, security, governance and social capital. An integrated institutional framework for the identification, inclusion and support for physical and rights-based protection would offer a galvanised approach to enhancing resilience. The study recommends improvements to the government of Somalia’s existing IDP protection policy, which would help to ensure better identification, inclusion and support for the socioeconomic, physical, and rights-based protection of IDPs. Integrating legal assistance programmes in the current protection and resilience programmes would play a crucial role to support IDPs to access public justice services. Ensuring documentation of IDPs through a central registry and the creation of a special agency for IDPs is also proposed. In conclusion, a system-based framework to address protection challenges across the various resilience dimensions and inclusive planning by the urban planning department in Mogadishu would render the hitherto vulnerable internally displaced community stronger in the face of adversity regarding its protection needs.
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