This document summarizes a live web seminar on the humanitarian crisis in Somalia. It provides background on the crisis and introduces the panelists, who are experts on Somalia and humanitarian response. The crisis is due to drought and conflict, leaving over 750,000 at risk of starvation. Access for aid groups is limited by violence and Al-Shabaab restrictions. The panelists will discuss challenges to aid operations and responsibilities of different actors in addressing the crisis and preventing famine.

1. Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR) Harvard University Famine and War: A Critical Appraisal of the Challenges to Humanitarian Response in Somalia October 11, 2011

2. Famine and War: A Critical Appraisal of the Challenges to Humanitarian Response in Somalia October 11, 2011 Live Web Seminar Mr. Claude Bruderlein Director Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research at Harvard University Ms. Naz Modirzadeh Associate Director Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research at Harvard University

4. What is the relationship – if any – between the armed conflict and famine in Somalia?

5. Were these conditions predictable? If so, what could have been done to avoid it?

6. What responsibility do the various actors operating in Somalia bear for the current situation?

8. Dr. Ken Menkhausis professor of Political Science at Davidson College, where he has taught since 1991. Prior to his appointment at Davidson College, he taught for two years at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. He received his Ph.D. in International Studies in 1989 from the University of South Carolina, where he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for dissertation research on southern Somalia. His subsequent specialization on the Horn of Africa has focused primarily on development, conflict analysis, peace operations, state-building, and political Islam, involving both academic research and policy work. In 1993-94, he served as special political advisor in the UN Operation in Somalia, and in 1994-95 was visiting civilian professor at the US Army Peacekeeping Institute. He regularly serves as a consultant for the UN, US government, non-governmental organizations, and policy research institutes, and has provided expert testimony on three occasions before subcommittees of the US Senate. In 2002 he was recipient of a US Institute of Peace grant to study protracted conflict in the Horn of Africa. Menkhaus is author of over fifty articles, book chapters, and monographs, including Somalia: State Collapse and the Threat of Terrorism (2004) and “Governance without Government in Somalia” in International Security (2007). He has recently been interviewed on BBC, CNN, FOX, NPR’s “All Things Considered,” the Voice of America, and other media on the crisis in Somalia.

9. Somali 2011 humanitarian crisis

10. Causes of the crisis; Impediments to humanitarian response Context: long-term dependence on food aid; low production, high poverty; insecurity; recurring drought remittances as safety net Causes: “perfect storm” Severe drought spike in global food and fuel prices market failure US CT policy – suspension of aid late 2009 Shabaab agricultural and tax policies Shabaab policy – blockage of most aid Result : tipping point summer 2011: 750,000 in famine conditions, 4 million in need; poor access; dheere season rains and disease; expected fatalities Current impediments: Access without control: In Mogadishu (250,000 famine victims) – TFG corruption, militia diversion of aid, insecurity Lack of access: (In shabaab areas, 500,000 victims): no access for biggest food aid deliverers; limits of new Islamic NGOs; ICRC Restricted population movements US and other CT laws Lack of relief agency surge capacity

11. Bronwyn Brutonis Deputy Director of the Atlantic Council’s Michael S. Ansari Africa Center. Bronwyn is a democracy and governance specialist with extensive experience in Africa, and was a 2008-2009 international affairs fellow in residence at the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to her fellowship appointment, Bronwyn spent three years at the National Endowment for Democracy, where she managed a $7 million portfolio of grants to local and international nongovernmental organizations in east and southern Africa. She has also served as a program manager on the Africa team of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Transition Initiatives, and as a policy analyst on the international affairs and trade team of the Government Accountability Office. Bronwyn Bruton has authored a series of provocative reports and articles on the Horn of Africa, including the November 2009 Foreign Affairs essay, “In the Quicksands of Somalia,” the March 2010 Council on Foreign Relations Special Report, “Somalia: A New Approach,” and the July 25, 2010 New York Times op-ed, “In Somalia, Talk to the Enemy.” She holds an MPP, with honors, from the University of California at Los Angeles.

12. EJ Hogendoornis Project Director for the Horm of Africa at International Crisis Group. EJ Hogendoorn and Crisis Group’s Horn of Africa analysts, based in the region, prepare analytical reports on the sources of conflict and violence in the region, with a particular focus on Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda. He and his team have assessed political stability in both Eritrea and Ethiopia, electoral violence in Kenya, and produced a series of reports on the conflicts in Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. EJ frequently briefs the media, international organisations and government representatives on these issues. He is based in Washington, DC, and travels frequently to the region. EJ has previously examined political dynamics and peace and security issues conflicts in Kenya, Somalia and Sudan. EJ is a former Arms Expert with the United Nations Panel of Experts on Somalia (2002-2003) and Sudan (2005-2006). Prior to that, he worked as a researcher for the Human Rights Watch Arms Division. He has a PhD in Public Affairs (Security Studies), Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University.

13. 1. Conflict in Somalia is over control of resources 2. Resources include humanitarian aid 3. Many new aid providers coming to country 4. Will see more conflict between TGF and other armed actors over control of this assistance

14. Joe Belliveauis Operations Manager for Médecins Sans Frontières. He is responsible for operations in Somalia, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Iraq. He has worked with MSF for 12 years. Joe has worked in Zambia, DR-Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Sudan. He has a Masters in International Relations from the University of Toronto.

16. The current medical-nutritional crisis will likely persist until mid 2012.

17. In addition to malnutrition, MSF expects to see more cholera, measles and malaria in the coming months.

18. Recent scale-up of MSF programs has been in non-Al Shebaab areas. Accessing new areas under Al Shebaab has been very limited, but negotiation is not impossible.

20. HostsNazModirzadeh Claude Bruderlein ProducerElizabeth Holland Technical DirectorJames BrockmanProduction TeamDustin Lewis, Christina Blunt& AnaïdeNahikian

21. Panelists Ken Menkhaus Davidson College Bronwyn Bruton Atlantic Council EJ Hogendoorn International Crisis Group Joe Belliveau Médecins Sans Frontières

22. The Live Seminars on Humanitarian Law and Policy are produced by: Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR) Harvard University Sponsored by: For more information on the Humanitarian Law and Policy Forum, please visit: http://ihlforum.ning.com or http://twitter.com/hpcr or contact: ihlforum@hpcr.org