Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

With its supplementary appeal UNHCR aims to address return and reintegration needs of 50,000 Somali refugees returning from Kenya and 10,000 returning from Yemen, as well as the emergency pre-famine response in Somalia for 250,000 most vulnerable newly displaced, including drought-related outflows of Somalis to neighbouring countries. The appeal aims at reinforcing asylum and protection in the region, while also renewing efforts to find durable and sustainable solutions, including support infrastructure and stabilization in Somalia to ensure sustainable reintegration.

Expected results

Austria's contribution in the total amount of EUR 1,000,000 aims at 1) kick-starting livelihood activities of the returning population, while ensuring that the families’ basic needs are catered for and 2) enhancing access to education for returnee children in the areas of return by providing reinstallation grants and subsistence allowance benefiting 400 families and providing education grants benefiting 460 children for one school year (nine (9) school months).

Target group / Beneficiaries

The 2.400 direct beneficiaries of the UNHCR Supplementary Appeal 2017 consist of persons of concern, especially returnees and Internally displaced persons (IDPs), affected by the Somalia Situation, in South Central Somalia - especially in Baidoa, Kismayo and Mogadishu. The appeal is directly implemented by UNHCR and through its partners (UNHCR will operationalize the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) in Somalia through existing platforms and enhanced partnerships, in particular with development agencies including the World Bank, African Development Bank, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). UNHCR will continue to collaborate with local authorities, leaders, and communities who are directly supporting reintegration of returnees and IDPs. As part of the proactive UN Country Team, UNHCR will engage with the Durable Solutions Initiative, led by Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Somalia, as well as other relevant platforms including the national development plan.

Activities

Austria’s contribution will support approximately 2,400 beneficiaries by 1) providing reinstallation grants (provided on an individual basis at USD 200 per person) and subsistence allowance (of USD 200 paid at the household/ family level for six (6) consecutive months upon return) for 400 families and 2) providing education grants (provided for nine (9) months at USD 25 person/month) benefiting 460 children for one (1) school year (9 school months).

Context

Somalia is hosting almost 25,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, 90,000 returnees and some 1.5 million IDPs. Close to 61,000 Somalis have returned from Kenya since 2014, including 20,900 in the first three (3) months of 2017. In addition to the challenges related to security and the overall level of development in the country, there are specific immediate challenges in ensuring the successful reintegration of the returnee population. A significant number of extremely vulnerable Somali nationals remain socially marginalized and economically destitute. The majority of Somali refugees have returned to Kismayo in Lower Juba, and Baidoa in Bay. The reception capacity in these areas require additional support especially in the sectors of health, WASH, and education.

The escalation of conflict in Yemen, where there are more than 255,000 Somali refugees, has also triggered the return of some 30,600 Somalis since 2015. In addition to the returns and to conflict-driven internal displacement, Somalia is once again vulnerable to widespread famine, only six (6) years after a devastating famine led to the death of more than 250,000 people in 2011. Severe drought following at least two (2) consecutive seasons of poor rainfall has prompted displacement from rural areas to towns. According to the Population and Return Monitoring Network (PRMN) led by UNHCR, some 393,000 people have been already newly displaced in the first three (3) months of 2017, bringing the total number of drought-displaced people since November 2016 to over 615,000. This number is expected to rise in the coming months.