Hiiraan Online
Thursday January 18, 2018
A soldier outside an IDP camp. FILE PHOTO
Mogadishu (HOL) - The Somali government on Wednesday said it will investigate the allegations of forced eviction and destruction of Internal Displacement Persons reportedly took place late last year in KM13 on the outskirt of Somali capital.
Somali security services had allegedly destroyed 23 camps for DIPs, displacing more than 4,000 people, according to UN.
Somali minister for planning and International Cooperation, Jamal Mohamed Hassan said they will launch an investigation into the reports of the IDP displacement in Mogadishu.
“We shall probe the case and how it happened, after conclusion we are going to issue reporting which will update you on how it (displacement) happened,” said Hassan.
International agencies including UNHCR, World Vision among others have condemned the forced eviction which is said have taken between 3oth and 29th December last year.
Simon Nyabwengi, National Director World Vision Somalia, said: "Over 21 IDP settlements, housing over 5,800 households were destroyed.
“We are concerned that families were not provided with adequate notification and compensation; though viable relocation or local integration options are required by International Law. We would like to urge the government of Somalia to respond to the ongoing situation, protect the communities impacted and work with landowners and other actors to develop a plan that will promote and protect housing, land and property rights of IDPs," he expressed.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday condemned the demolitions, and said the fate of those evicted did not fit with the progress Somalia has made.
“Not only did these people lose their homes, but the basic infrastructure that was provided by humanitarian partners and donors, such as latrines, schools, community centres – has been destroyed,” said Peter De Clercq, head of OCHA in Somalia.
“I reiterate my condemnation of this very serious protection violation and call on the national and regional authorities to take necessary steps to protect and assist these people who have suffered so much.”
Mogadishu hosts hundreds of thousands of IDPs from different villages and towns across the country who were displaced by drought and clan clashes.