Friday, June 01, 2007
Most of the 90,000 returnees have gone back to districts that were not affected by the recent fighting between government and rebel forces, such as Waberi, Xamar, Jab-Jab and Medina, UN High Commissioner for Refugees spokeswoman Jennifer Pagonis told journalists.
"This figure represents just over 23 percent of the 391,000 Somalis who may have fled Mogadishu since February this year," she said.
The returnees face harsh conditions back in the capital, which remains without electricity and running water. Sanitation is a major concern as rubbish remains uncollected in many neighbourhoods, she added.
Many hundreds of thousands of Somalis who fled Mogadishu are still reluctant or fearful to return, or are unable to afford the transport costs, the UNHCR said.
A team from the agency and other UN and humanitarian bodies recently met with the Somali Transitional Federal Government and civil society groups in Mogadishu to discuss best ways of assisting the needy and displaced.
The UN's humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, Eric Laroche, said earlier this week that the war-ravaged country needs 2.2 billion dollars (1.6 billion euros) for reconstruction.
Almost daily clashes have continued in Mogadishu since Ethiopian-backed government forces defeated Islamist and clan fighters in April after weeks of heavy fighting.
The Somali government is hoping to organise a broad reconciliation conference in Mogadishu on June 14. The meeting has been delayed twice due to insecurity and a lack of funds.
Source: AFP, June 01, 2007