Aid Worker Attacks Rise in Somalia, UN Reports

Madow Ahmed, a mother of three children talks to staff from OCHA and other aid partners in Yaqbarwe camp for the displaced in Baidoa, Somalia. With support from the OCHA-managed Somalia Humanitarian Fund, NGO, ACTED, has assisted the camp's residents including Madow's family with cash, water trucking, hygiene promotion, and built a water tank of 10,000 liters and latrines with solar lights, including those that are disability-friendly. OCHA/Yao Chen

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The United Nations relief agency has raised alarms over an uptick in attacks targeting aid workers in Somalia during the last quarter of 2024.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Thursday that there were 62 incidents affecting humanitarian access from October to December, marking an 8.8% increase from the previous quarter.

"Violence against humanitarian personnel, assets, and facilities has remained high, with incidents increasing from 15 in Q3 to 17 in Q4, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by aid workers," stated OCHA in its latest humanitarian report from Mogadishu.

The report indicates a slight shift like these incidents. Military operations and hostilities that disrupt aid efforts increased to eight in Q4 from six in Q3, showing a rise in conflict-related interruptions.

Conversely, there was a positive development in the interference with humanitarian activities, which fell from 22 to 14 cases, suggesting better coordination and operational understanding.

"This significant reduction could be linked to enhanced efforts in managing and negotiating access for humanitarian work," OCHA noted.

The report underscores the persistent challenges in delivering aid in Somalia, where security threats continue to pose significant risks to both aid workers and the effective distribution of humanitarian supplies.

GAROWE ONLINE