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Final Somalia Shelter Cluster Strategy (2020-21)

Países
Somalia
+ 3
Fuentes
UNHCR
+ 1
Fecha de publicación

Shelter Cluster Strategy

Context

The crisis in Somalia is characterised by prolonged conflict and recurrent drought and flooding. These have resulted in large displacements over the years and the loss of life, assets and livelihoods.

An estimated 2.6 million Somali are displaced within the country and over 734,000 Somali remain displaced in neighbouring countries mainly in Kenya, Ethiopia and Yemen. Since 2014, 91,101 Somali refugees have returned home including those who returned spontaneously. In addition, as of October 2019, there are 35,438 refugees and asylum seekers in Somalia mostly from Ethiopia and Yemen.

Most of the displaced people live in IDP settlements who mainly rely on humanitarian assistance. IDPs living in protracted situations in informal IDP settlements are in need of durable solutions as about 80 per cent of them want to settle in the location in which they currently live and do not want to return to their place of origin due to insecurity and lack of employment opportunities. Provision of durable shelters with long term security of tenure is a challenge due to the unavailability of suitable land with long term security of tenure and lack of resources. Secondary displacements require shelter and some NFI assistance each time they move to a new location. Lack of such assistance makes them more vulnerable to further shocks regardless of the displaced location.
An estimated 45% of the national population lives in urban areas and it is expected that by 2026, more than half of the country population will live in urban areas. The rapid urbanization is also linked to the displacements and this has led to unplanned settlements having long lasting impact on serviceability of the urban and peri-urban areas.

There are an estimated 2,000 IDP settlements in the country and most of the settlements are built on private land often without a written land tenure agreement or have a short term land tenure agreement. In some cases, the local authorities have allocated public land for the displaced people so that they are integrated locally, however this is at very small scale. 85% IDP sites are informal and 74% of them are in urban areas. IDP settlements are located near major urban centres as it provides livelihood opportunities and access to relatively improved infrastructure and services.

Shelter and NFI items remain unaffordable to many and people are resorting to coping mechanisms such as scavenging for NFIs, borrowing cash, living with others and moving from one location to another.

The rising trend of forced evictions, influenced by the increasing urban population density, growing property prices and a lack of tenure security or regulatory frameworks, constitutes a significant and prevalent protection threat for IDPs and poor urban families. IDPs are exposed to a higher risk of forced evictions as a result of exposure to unequal power dynamics and exploitative relationships with land owners, through informal settlement managers (frequently called gatekeepers).
Due to overwhelming shelter needs, lack of security of tenure and severe underfunding, the shelter and NFI needs of the displaced people are largely unmet.