"You don't know who to blame"

Tens of thousands of people have fled a dramatic upsurge in conflict and a severe drought in Somalia during the first half of 2011. The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, supported by the African Union peacekeeping force, AMISOM, undertook several offensives against the militant group al-Shabaab in Mogadishu and in parts of southern and central Somalia between January and May 2011. The formal establishment of the semi-autonomous region of Jubaland and Azania by Kenyan-backed forces followed the expulsion of al-Shabaab forces from areas along the Kenyan border, creating a buffer zone between the border and al-Shabaab controlled areas, by which Kenya sought to stem the flow of illegal weapons and refugees from Somalia. This report documents violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed by all parties to the conflict in war-torn Somalia. In addition, al-Shabaab has severely restricted aid agencies from delivering urgently needed humanitarian assistance in areas under its control. Refugees fleeing Somalia face a hazardous journey to camps in Ethiopia and Kenya through al-Shabaab controlled territory. The refugee camps at Dadaab in Kenya are holding nearly 400,000 people, more than four times their original capacity after 20 years of war in Somalia; 60,000 recent arrivals are camping on the outskirts. International agencies and donors need to work with the Kenyan government to provide land for urgently needed additional camps. The internationally supported Transitional Federal Government, their allies and AMISOM, as well as al-Shabaab should act decisively to end human rights abuses. To begin the process of ensuring accountability for the many atrocities in Somalia, there should be a United Nations Commission of Inquiry.