UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Published purpose

24 March 2011 - Somalia continues to be home to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The conflict between the United Nations/African Union-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Islamist insurgent group Al Shabab continued through 2010, leading to both new and continued displacement of civilians from Mogadishu and other conflict-affected areas. In addition to more than a million people displaced within Somalia, between 300,000 and 400,000 Somalis are also living as refugees in Kenya. Three UN-managed refugee camps around Dadaab, in desolate northeastern Kenya, originally built to house 90,000 people, are now home to this massive population. Kenyan law prevents the refugees from working or farming outside of the overcrowded camps, leaving them almost entirely dependent on international aid for food, water, shelter, and other basic needs. With CIDA support, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is managing the refugee camps in Kenya and providing basic humanitarian relief to Somali refugees in coordination with other UN and non-governmental partners. This includes food, water and sanitation services, medical support, shelter, and protection.