UNHCR Head Visits Famine-Hit Somali Refugees During Eid
- 13 years ago
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The head of the UN's refugee agency, Antonio Guterres, visits Somali drought victims as they mark the end of Ramadan with no food. Ramadan is the Islamic holy month of fasting that often concludes with a celebratory Muslim holiday known as Eid.
Somalis fleeing a drought and famine will not be enjoying a celebratory Eid meal this year to mark the end of Ramadan.
Hundreds of destitute people are among the latest wave of Somalis escaping a deadly combination of war and drought in the lawless country, where Islamist rebels are waging a bloody insurgency.
The major transit point for refugees is Dollow, a town near the Juba river that separates Somalia and Ethiopia.
Refugees have flooded across the border since a famine in southern Somalia enveloped the region.
UN estimates today there are more than 800 thousand Somali refugees, and up to one-and-a-half million Somalis displaced within their own country.
With 3.7 million Somalis at risk of starvation, the relief operation to reach them has been ramped up.
Meanwhile aid groups are looking to stem the latest exodus.
[António Guterres, UNHCR High Commissioner]:
"We are helping more than 800 thousand Somalis, refugees in the countries around Somalia, but we should not aim at emptying Somalia. Our objective is to help create the conditions for Somalis to be able to live in Somalia and for Somali refugees one day to have the opportunity to go back home in safety and in dignity."
The drought and famine have already killed thousands of children under the age of five. Some are so weak they can only be saved by intravenous feeding, available at a clinic across the border.
Ramadan, the Islamic holy month which sees the Muslim faithful go without food and water during daylight hours has been grueling on Jamal Aden and his heavily pregnant wife...
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The head of the UN's refugee agency, Antonio Guterres, visits Somali drought victims as they mark the end of Ramadan with no food. Ramadan is the Islamic holy month of fasting that often concludes with a celebratory Muslim holiday known as Eid.
Somalis fleeing a drought and famine will not be enjoying a celebratory Eid meal this year to mark the end of Ramadan.
Hundreds of destitute people are among the latest wave of Somalis escaping a deadly combination of war and drought in the lawless country, where Islamist rebels are waging a bloody insurgency.
The major transit point for refugees is Dollow, a town near the Juba river that separates Somalia and Ethiopia.
Refugees have flooded across the border since a famine in southern Somalia enveloped the region.
UN estimates today there are more than 800 thousand Somali refugees, and up to one-and-a-half million Somalis displaced within their own country.
With 3.7 million Somalis at risk of starvation, the relief operation to reach them has been ramped up.
Meanwhile aid groups are looking to stem the latest exodus.
[António Guterres, UNHCR High Commissioner]:
"We are helping more than 800 thousand Somalis, refugees in the countries around Somalia, but we should not aim at emptying Somalia. Our objective is to help create the conditions for Somalis to be able to live in Somalia and for Somali refugees one day to have the opportunity to go back home in safety and in dignity."
The drought and famine have already killed thousands of children under the age of five. Some are so weak they can only be saved by intravenous feeding, available at a clinic across the border.
Ramadan, the Islamic holy month which sees the Muslim faithful go without food and water during daylight hours has been grueling on Jamal Aden and his heavily pregnant wife...