Thousands of displaced persons have been forcefully evicted from their homes on the outskirts of Mogadishu.
The United Nations says that close to four thousands internally displaced camps (IDP) households have been destroyed and families are now living in the open.
This family is constructing a makeshift home on the outskirts of Mogadishu; they were among thousands of displaced persons forcefully evicted from their camp at the K13 area.
More than 23 IDP settlements were affected – the United Nations say these sprawling camps hosted more than 4000 people fleeing conflict and drought in southern Somalia
“We just received a three-day notice to vacate this area – but hours later a demolition team arrived began to destroy our makeshift homes. We carried all our belongings to the main road and moved to this new area with our families”. One displaced man said.
Elsewhere, hundreds of women and children sit under the shade – with no place to go.
“What we want is a place to stay and food to eat. We are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance – we don’t have a place to stay now -we need help.” one displaced woman said.
More than two million people are now displaced due to drought and conflict, including one million newly displaced in 2017 alone according to official U.N statistics
Some of these IDPs arrived here from the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions fleeing increased aerial bombardment by U.S drones- aid agencies estimate that close to 10,000 alone fled to Mogadishu in early December as civilians continue to bear brunt of the ongoing conflict.
Washington has carried out 34 aerial strikes in Somalia in 2017 – pursuing militant hideouts as well as boosting government’s control of towns and village towards the south
The country recently overcame a famine after coordinated efforts by government, diaspora and international partners – but half the country’s population remains in need
In May 2017, Chinese government made a cash contribution of one million U.S dollars for the project under multi sector assistance to IDPs and vulnerable communities -providing non-food items and emergency shelters –
Back at the camps – displaced persons say the forced evictions was triggered by land dispute between two individuals – prompting for their immediate removal from the land
For these families it’s a tough decision to make – they have to either return back to their strife torn regions or remain both homeless and hopeless and on the outskirts of the capital
