IOM Somalia 11 July – 17 August 2014
SITUATION REPORT 10: IOM SOMALIA RETURNS
IOM transports newly arrived internally displaced persons (IDPs) to a UN base in Juba One forced returnee’s young baby receives inoculation from a nurse. © IOM 2014 (Photo: IOM Somalia)
OVERVIEW Forced Returns from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia As of 17 August, the total number of forced returnees from KSA has reached 40,779 persons since December 2013. More than 2,615 migrants have been assisted by IOM and partners during the reporting period, bringing the cumulative number of those assisted to 11,196. Between 23 and 29 July, no flights of returnees were received from KSA due to the prioritization of ‘normal’ passengers – principally Somali nationals travelling on valid documents who performed UMRAH to Mecca over the holy month of Ramadhan, as well as those visiting home for the Eid holidays. In August, KSA has resumed the flights returning Somalis. However, due to funding shortages, IOM has had to temporarily suspend assistance as of 17 August.
IOM Somalia ▼ Situation Report ▼ 11 July – 17 August 2014
HIGHLIGHTS 1st confirmed case of an unaccompanied minor (UAM) was registered and the necessary assistance provided.
On 29 July, the response team received an unaccompanied minor who had been reported as missing by her aunt three years ago. The 13-year old girl’s parents are in Somalia. IOM has coordinated with INTERSOS and the young girl has now been reunited with her father who lives in Sarkus IDP Camp in the outskirts of Mogadishu. IOM RESPONSE IOM continues to provide humanitarian assistance to Somali nationals being forcefully returned from KSA with the generous support of its partners and donors. All the figures below are cumulative. Highlights include: General Cumulatively, IOM has received and assisted 2,514 women and 7,392 men, as well as 645 girls and 645 boys from KSA.
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Food and non-food items (NFIs)
11,516 individuals have received food, water and biscuits from IOM. More than 1,028 individuals have received NFI assistance comprising of clothes, blankets, shelter kits and cooking items from IOM. 851 dignity kits, a contribution from UNFPA, have been made available to vulnerable female migrants by IOM as part of this emergency response.
Health Doctors and nurses from the Ministry of Health, in coordination with IOM, continue to provide basic healthcare assistance. To date, 360 males and 316 females have benefitted from consultations, medicines, ante/post-natal care, psychosocial support, health referral assistance and oral polio vaccinations for all age groups. Others (Accommodation and Transport)
835 males and 147 females have received accommodation assistance prior to their onward transport to their place of origin. Usually, the accommodation, provided by IOM, lasts two to four days. IOM provided 532 individuals with onward transport assistance by road while 735 persons received onward transport assistance by air. More than 9,091 persons received key awareness-raising messages on general health, sanitation and unexploded mines, provided by UNMAS and other implementing partners.
OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES AND GAPS Delayed funding: Due to a delay in funding, the provision of assistance has been temporarily suspended as of 17 August. Discussions are ongoing internally as well as with other partners such on the way forward.
IOM Somalia ▼ Situation Report ▼ 11 July – 17 August 2014
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Age breakdown of Somali Nationals from KSA received at the Reception Centre (cumulative)
Type of assistance by percentage for KSA Returnees (cumulative) 4%
Health assistance 6%
6%
8%
6%
Transport 12%
Men (<18) Women (<18)
22%
Accomodation
70%
Boys (>18)
66%
Girls (>18)
NFIs and Dignity Kits
Monthly Returns of Somali Nationals from KSA December 2013 - July 201 4
Arrivals Aug '14
990
July '14
2,514
Jun '14
2,937
May '14 Apr '14
Total: 40,779
3,193 1,725
Mar '14 Feb '14
3,255 6,743
Jan '14 Dec '13
12,941 6,481
MIGRANT STORY ‘When I left Balcaad (south central Somalia) three years ago, I traveled for many days by boat from Bossaso to Yemen, and I walked for many long hours under the desert’s blazing sun. I had no property, but I had hope in my heart. Today, I have arrived in an airplane back home. I still have no property, and I have also lost hope. I was nine months pregnant when the KSA authorities detained me for not having legal documents. I stayed locked up for three months, and during that time, I had a baby girl. She is now two months old. Her father and I made our home in KSA, but he divorced me one year ago. After he left, I was forced to look for a job. I shared the little I made with my parents in Balcaad. If it was not for the transport allowance I received from IOM when I arrived in Mogadishu airport, I would have been forced to go on the streets and beg. I am also very grateful for the diapers, baby milk and refreshments that IOM gave my baby and I.’
For more information contact:
Daihei Mochizuki, Response Coordinator, Email: dmochizuki@iom.int, Tel: +254 731 989 198. Ali Abdi, Chief of Mission, IOM Somalia, Email: aabdi@iom.int, Tel: +254 20 292 6000
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