Somali refugees in Ethiopias Dollo Ado exceed 150,000 as rains hit camps
Somali refugees in Ethiopias Dollo Ado exceed 150,000 as rains hit camps
UNHCR, 27 Apr 2012
Heavy rains have hit Somali refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, damaging tents, flooding roads and affecting aid delivery. This comes as the refugee population in southern Ethiopia swells to more than 150,000.
In recent weeks, Dollo Ado in southern Ethiopia has been receiving a weekly average of 450 new Somali refugees. More than 8,500 have been registered so far this year, pushing the refugee population in the areas five camps past the 150,000 mark.
New arrivals continue to cite insecurity inside Somalia as their reason for flight. In a new development, some refugees say they fled in fear of possible forced recruitment or military conscription. Others cite fear of potential revenge killings in the wake of renewed fighting. These circumstances, combined with last year's famine in Somalia, eroded many peoples traditional coping mechanisms and forced them to seek asylum across the border.
Meanwhile, heavy rains in mid-April damaged an estimated 700 tents in Dollo Ado. Prior to this, UNHCR staff had begun identifying refugees whose shelters would need reinforcement against the rain. They started distributing thousands of plastic sheets in the different camps two weeks ago, and are providing replacement tents to a smaller number of families whose shelters were completely destroyed by the wind and rain.
The access road to one of the camps, Hilaweyn, has been flooded. This has slowed down the delivery of services, including water provision. UNHCR has met partners to work on rehabilitating the road and maintaining access to the camp. Dollo Ados dry-weather only airstrip was also out of service for most of last week, but is currently serviceable again. Road convoys are in place during the rainy season, to supplement or replace air travel as necessary.
In north-eastern Kenya, the Dadaab refugee complex has also been affected by the recent rains. Since mid-April, UNHCR has been distributing plastic sheets and tents to refugees whose shelter has been damaged or collapsed because of downpour. Our staff are standing by to distribute more tarpaulins and other relief items, prioritizing the most vulnerable refugees and those whose homes have been affected by the rains. UNHCR and our partners are also working to mitigate the effects of potential floods. Needs assessment and plans have been developed, but budgetary constraints are hindering progress.
In anticipation of malaria cases, UNHCRs health partners have started distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets. 220,000 nets will be handed out in the next four weeks in Ifo, Dagahaley and Hagadera camps, accompanied by demonstrations and information sessions on their use and care. The Dadaab refugee complex current hosts more than 464,000 refugees, the majority from Somalia.
Decades of conflict and drought have driven nearly 983,000 Somali refugees into the region, most of them hosted in Kenya, Yemen and Ethiopia. Another 1.36 million Somalis are internally displaced within the country.
In recent weeks, Dollo Ado in southern Ethiopia has been receiving a weekly average of 450 new Somali refugees. More than 8,500 have been registered so far this year, pushing the refugee population in the areas five camps past the 150,000 mark.
New arrivals continue to cite insecurity inside Somalia as their reason for flight. In a new development, some refugees say they fled in fear of possible forced recruitment or military conscription. Others cite fear of potential revenge killings in the wake of renewed fighting. These circumstances, combined with last year's famine in Somalia, eroded many peoples traditional coping mechanisms and forced them to seek asylum across the border.
Meanwhile, heavy rains in mid-April damaged an estimated 700 tents in Dollo Ado. Prior to this, UNHCR staff had begun identifying refugees whose shelters would need reinforcement against the rain. They started distributing thousands of plastic sheets in the different camps two weeks ago, and are providing replacement tents to a smaller number of families whose shelters were completely destroyed by the wind and rain.
The access road to one of the camps, Hilaweyn, has been flooded. This has slowed down the delivery of services, including water provision. UNHCR has met partners to work on rehabilitating the road and maintaining access to the camp. Dollo Ados dry-weather only airstrip was also out of service for most of last week, but is currently serviceable again. Road convoys are in place during the rainy season, to supplement or replace air travel as necessary.
In north-eastern Kenya, the Dadaab refugee complex has also been affected by the recent rains. Since mid-April, UNHCR has been distributing plastic sheets and tents to refugees whose shelter has been damaged or collapsed because of downpour. Our staff are standing by to distribute more tarpaulins and other relief items, prioritizing the most vulnerable refugees and those whose homes have been affected by the rains. UNHCR and our partners are also working to mitigate the effects of potential floods. Needs assessment and plans have been developed, but budgetary constraints are hindering progress.
In anticipation of malaria cases, UNHCRs health partners have started distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets. 220,000 nets will be handed out in the next four weeks in Ifo, Dagahaley and Hagadera camps, accompanied by demonstrations and information sessions on their use and care. The Dadaab refugee complex current hosts more than 464,000 refugees, the majority from Somalia.
Decades of conflict and drought have driven nearly 983,000 Somali refugees into the region, most of them hosted in Kenya, Yemen and Ethiopia. Another 1.36 million Somalis are internally displaced within the country.