As part of its response to the Indian Ocean tsunami, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) conducted a short study on tsunami-affected areas of Somalia in February 2005 to identify possible environmental impacts of this natural disaster which might have posed a threat to human health and livelihoods. Two main issues of concern were highlighted: the possible existence of tsunami-related hazardous and other waste that might pose a health hazard to the population and a threat to the environmentand the lack of up-to-date information on the state of the environment in Somalia, including lack of accurate data on the impact of the tsunami on the people. UNEP was requested by the Somalia Transitional Federal Government to conduct a detailed Desk Study on the state of the environment in Somalia. It is against this background that this Desk Study has been prepared.