Early this year, Somalia plunged into all-out war on a scale not seen since the early 1990s. Following a month's lull in large-scale fighting, violence is again increasing, with serious attacks and assassinations. Hundreds of thousands of people in Somalia are already in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, and further fighting will worsen their situation.

Since fighting started, 300,000 people have been displaced from Mogadishu, in addition to the 400,000 people already displaced in Somalia due to drought, flooding, and conflict in recent years. Those who have returned to the city have found that their homes have been destroyed or looted, or they are not allowed to return to the government buildings from which they have fled.

Conditions in Mogadishu, and across Somalia, in camps where people have fled to find safety, are very poor. People are in desperate need of all basic facilities - including water and sanitation, shelter, and food. There is a real risk of food shortages in Mogadishu, and the provision of basic health facilities and drug supplies is inadequate, contributing to the outbreak and spread of disease.

Fighting has also been reported in Kismayo, Somaliland, and Puntland, and attacks are spreading to other areas. The security situation in Somalia continues to make getting aid to those in need very difficult, with main routes very dangerous and difficult to pass. Checkpoints and restrictions on roads prevent access to communities in need.

There have been reports of the recruitment of child soldiers, along with indiscriminate shelling of civilian settlements, by all parties to the conflict.

There is no military solution to the Somali crisis. A ceasefire between all parties is needed. The international community should take a lead in both the protection of civilians, and resolution of the conflict.

Oxfam supports Somali NGOs to enable them to work on the challenges their country faces. Currently they are responding to the droughts, flooding, and conflict that have affected large parts of the population. Oxfam supports the provision of water, shelter, and food to those displaced in the recent conflict.