A/HRC/27/71 repatriation because the security situation in Somalia did not guarantee voluntary repatriation and that both the Kenyan and Somali Governments were committed to adhering to that principle. 12. In the context of displacement and migration, the Independent Expert heard about the problem of irregular mixed migration flows across Somalia, due to push factors such as conflict and drought. Somalia is both a country of origin and a transit route for migrants. The Independent Expert was informed that human trafficking was a cause for concern. Also highlighted were the challenges facing the Somali nationals repatriated from Saudi Arabia, some of whom had reportedly been severely abused and who, upon return did not have anywhere to go. 13. The plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) was also raised with the Independent Expert. Police protection within IDP settlements was reported to be lacking or inadequate and as such, reports of sexual violence against women and recruitment of child soldiers continued to be made notwithstanding other violations of their basic rights. In addition, the phenomenon of “gatekeepers” and the practice of diversion of humanitarian assistance continued to negatively affect access of IDPs to such assistance. It was highlighted that internal displacement had brought to the fore the problem of land and property rights, since IDPs continued to face evictions and relocations from lands they occupied either by returning owners or the Government, and returnees wanted to reoccupy their lands and properties which had been occupied by displaced persons. 14. There were also allegations that IDPs were being forcibly returned to their areas of origin which were still under Al-Shabaab control. It was also pointed out that, while necessary, military operations by AMISOM and the Somali National Armed Forces had inevitably caused internal and external displacement of civilian populations and also interfered with the planting season. This combination of factors coupled with high food prices, and late and below normal rains was likely to lead to food shortages. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported to the Independent Expert that early warning indicators showed that food insecurity and malnutrition were likely to increase during the second half of 2014. The worst affected areas in which the food security situation was expected to deteriorate in the months ahead included parts of Bakool, Gedo, Hiraan, Lower Shabelle and Middle Juba regions. Meanwhile, assessments indicated that about 203,000 children under the age of 5 were acutely malnourished while about 2.9 million people in the country needed urgent life-saving and livelihood support. The urgent need for humanitarian assistance was reiterated. As at the end of July 2014 there was still a funding gap of US$663 million towards the humanitarian needs outlined in the Strategic Response Plan for Somalia. 15. In several meetings, concerns about AMISOM military operations and their impact on civilian populations were brought to the attention of the Independent Expert. It was stated that credible reports indicated that during the March 2014 offensive against AlShabaab in Jubaland, transgressions against civilians had been witnessed. The responsibility of AMISOM and other troop-contributing countries to protect civilian populations and adhere to international human rights and humanitarian law was underscored. In this regard, the Independent Expert was encouraged to follow up with AMISOM forces and the Somalia National Armed Forces to ensure that they adhered to human rights principles and norms. The Independent Expert was also urged to encourage AMISOM to establish a credible framework to track casualties, investigate violations, take measures to mitigate violations and hold persons accountable for violations. 16. With respect to the AMISOM engagement in humanitarian assistance, concerns were raised about the tension that was bound to be created between the stabilization and development approach employed by AMISOM in the wake of its military operations and the humanitarian approach based on the neutrality principle applicable to humanitarian 5