Humanitarian aid in Somalia: managing insecurity, 2009

01/07/2009

For humanitarian aid workers, Somalia is one of the most dangerous operational contexts in the world, with Afghanistan, Iraq and, more recently, Darfur. At the same time, it is one of the contexts in which needs are highest. There are reportedly more than three million people living in conditions of extreme vulnerability. This is a major challenge for humanitarian actors and donors. As the political situation in Mogadishu continues to deteriorate and the humanitarian situation in the country worsens as a result of conflict and drought, this article attempts to take stock of the security challenges and humanitarian practices being implemented in this context.