Raaso, Somali Region State, Ethiopia

Humanitarian aspects
Food security and IDP living conditions of in the Liban and Afdheer zones
in Somali National Region State -Ethiopia at the end of Jilaal Gimmick

A big clan gathering in 1998 decided that the group would look for a place to settle as a community. After a lengthy process an agreement was reached with local groups that the Sheekash would move to Raaso in West Imi Woreda (Afder Zone) in 2000. Up to 50,000 to 80,000 people were expected to migrate to the area until the end of 2001 (Guinand, 2001a). REUTERS/Taro Matsuoka

Assessment Mission: 26 March - 8 June 2002 By Ropert Mark, UN-Emergencies Office for Ethiopia -Addis Ababa, August 30, 2002 (Raaso Staff Writer)-
1 Introduction and background
1.1 Objective and methodology
Reports of population movements from Somalia into Ethiopia in February 2002 motivated the UN-EUE to fieldundertake an assessment mission toin the Afder and Liben zones of the Somali National Regional State (SNRS), south of the Wabe Shebelle river. Besides investigating the veracity of those reports and considering the SNRS is recoveringemerging from a recent humanitarian crisis, the UN-EUE mission assessed the present food security situation, and studiedsought to better understand the IDP living conditions and reasons for displacement.
The methodology included aogy used was to review some of the related literature review and , by travelling by car travelling totill Kelafo in Gode zone via Awassa, Negele, Filtu, Dolo Odo, Cheretti, Raaso, Hargele and Gode., In the field key informats such asand by interviewing administrators, elders, and members of the community were interviewed. Furthermore, cConsultations were also held with the governmental, international, and national organisations that operate active in the southern Somali region (i.e. DPPD, WFP, COOPI, ACF, ICRC, MSF-B, CCM, NCA, Guardian/Serro, SCF-US, RDA and PCAE, etc.).

1.2 Recent history in light of population displacements

Southeast Ethiopia has been a region racked by conflict and has experienced large inflows and outflows of refugees. In 1977/78, the Western-Somali (Hararghe) war between Ethiopia and Somalia led to huge outflows of Ethiopian Somalis into Somalia. Then in the late 1980's and early 1990's, the civil war in Somalia led to a reverse in refugee flows ofwith Somalis, including those who had previously fled from Ethiopia, crossing into south east Ethiopia to escape fighting in Somalia.

Apart from the international destabilising factors that destabilise the region, the population of the SNRS also has to sustain the negative impact of conflicts between the regional states, (primarily Oromia and SNRS,) and between fracsections of concerned ethnic groups (such as the Ogaden Tribe and Shekhash tribe, Somali Degodia and the Borana of the Oromo). The change of government in 1991 and the subsequent introduction of the “ethnic federalism” concept brought about the creation of regional states and governments. However, the exact definition of the boundary between the SNRS and Oromia, two entities that have evolved from this process, remains disputed. At the same timeIn parallel to this, ethnic groups from both sides compete over the ownership and access, particularly to rich grazing land and pasture as well as strategically and historically crucialvital water points along the regional border. Adding to this, there areis a range of local conflicts within SNRS thatwhich are related to particular issues orthe same commodities, as well as local crime such as cattle raiding or murder. Parties to these conflicts frequently define themselves along the lines of clan identities.
Furthermore, the semi-arid Somali Region and its surrounding lowlands are is extremely drought prone areas. Drought is a recurrent and frequent and normal phenomenonn in Ethiopia's rangelands. Pastoralists experience a “mini-drought” each dry season stretching their livelihood to the limits. Both the international, and internal conflicts, and the recurrent droughts lead to populationthe displacement of groups of population.
In a press statement today, 4.Population movements and IDP situation in Liban and Afdher zones of the SNRS

4.1 Drought and conflict related internal displacement of persons and families

West Imi woreda is affected by a conflict over the ownership of land and the right to settle. Following the introduction of the "ethnic federalism" concept in Ethiopia, the Sheekash, a Hawiye sub-clan which specialiseds in Islamic teaching and used to be spread across Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia’s Somali Region , have had to identify a home territory to be able to be politically represented in the new system of Ethiopian Ethnic Federalism. A big clan gathering in 1998 decided that the group would look for a place to settle as a community. After a lengthy process an agreement was reached with local groups that the Sheekash would move to Raaso in West Imi Woreda (Afdher Zone) in 2000. Up to 50,000 to 80,000 people were expected to migrate to the area until the end of 2001 (Guinand, 2001a).

Despite the agreement which proceeded the settlement, it was reported that Sheekash and Ogaden clans engaged in armed fighting. In one incident at the beginning of 2002, a village called Hargeisa-yare, situated (west of Imi, about 10 km from Raaso,) was said to have been burned down following the theft of livestock from the Sheekash. This incident left around 20 people dead. Approximately one month later, the Ogaden clans are said to have sought revenge. 51 people were allegedly killed when the two groups confronted each other, this time in Raaso. A total of about 70 people were reported killed in the course of the conflict (48 of Ogaden and 23 of the Sheekash), an unknown number of people were injured and livestock was stolen. About 2000 Ogadens have allegedly fled the area. This impact made people realise the need to solve the problem. Elders and local Somali clans intervened and managed to improve the situation, but now about 215,000 Sheekash tribes reached Raaso area and perminantly settled to defend and established a power base.

.

FIQI INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

FIDA

Kulankii 5aad ee Gollaha Guud ee Qawmiyada Sheekhaash ku yeesheen Magaalada Raaso 2002.

Muuqaalka Guud ee Raaso 2020

By Jawhar Sheikh Ismail, Raaso Times

Drought Kills 4,870 Animals In Western Hararghe … Miesso, September 2, 2002 (WIC)- Some 4,870 domestic animals have died in the drought hit woreda of Miesso, in Western Hararghe zone, the Zonal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Department said. According to the Department Head, Benku Taye, 3,389 heads of cattle, 1,116 sheep and goats 149 camels and 29 donkeys in 25 kebeles of the woreda had died from lack of pasture and water. He said veterinary services were now being stepped -up to save the lives of surviving animals. their monks in 1658, it was seized by others.

Comment: Some people are now using this long-standing dispute between Aw and Ogaden as a whipping rod against the current tribal conflict. It has become a habit of these characters to use whatever means they get to darken the image of the AW & Ogaden Brotherhood no matter how outrageous it appears or sounds. It’s very sad indeed!

THE EDITORIAL FORUM

After RAASO Where do we go from here?

The Gindhir verdict of April 13th, 2002 has left a bad taste in our mouths. A decision that was supposed to be based an AW & Ogaden treaties (however flawed they were) was instead based on political considerations. The only part of the treaties the border commission validated was the part the keeps Ogaden tribes landlocked. Other than that the verdict was miles away from the treaties.