Geneva, November 5, 2011 – On Friday the United Nations agency responsible for coordinating and aiding refugees announced that it has stepped up its effort to provide aid to thousands of Somali refugees and refugees in other countries within the area after heavy rains in Horn of Africa have flooded regions and refugee camps.  

In a press release from a news conference held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated that heavy rains have flooded parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. 

The Horn of Africa has suffered under an intense drought and corresponding famine for the past year.  

The agency further noted that flooding has displaced many already in shelters in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, as well as those in Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya and the Dollo Ado refugee camps in Ethiopia requiring additional aid from the UNHCR in the form of plastic sheets and supports for shelter, as well as buckets, soap, blankets, food, sleeping mats, and health care. 

In order to minimize the spread of disease, the agency has also started to educate the refugees on the importance to drink only safe water and the need to boil water.  

A large concern is that the floods have impeded the ability for refugees to travel to the camps for aid, as the flow of refugees has diminished.  

Ongoing conditions in Somalia pose a huge concern.  Even when the flood water recedes, a continuing lack of security will be a barrier to the implementation of farming and other activities to create sustainability for the people.  

“So far this year, some 330,000 Somalis have fled drought and insecurity and sought refuge in the neighboring countries of Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen and Djibouti,” the brief from the UNHCR remarked.  “While the recent rains in parts of the region may bring some relief to drought-hit areas, it is unlikely to ease the famine unless farming activities can resume in an improved security climate.”

Source: The Examiner

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