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Somalia
The refugee crisis in Somalia is a direct repercussion of civil wars between multiple warlords. Somalia also has not had a president since 1991 when Siad Barre was displaced. Barre was a supporter of socialism. In 1977 Somalia tried to gain territory but fought with Ethiopia. The warlords who displaced Barre opposed his actions, but when they tried to take over, they were unable to run Somalia and everything went to chaos Without the proper stability that they needed from a leader, Somalis were also suffering from famine and disease. This has caused many to take refuge in Yemen where they are currently trying to now escape from the war going on there.
bbc.com -
Why Somalis are fleeing their country
The UN classified Somalia as on the brink of a full blown famine in March. The drought that is going on is seen as a natural disaster that is making many problems. Greater than 1.4 million children have the risk of death and half of the population, more than 6 million, need humanitarian assistance. Not only are natural disasters causing many people to flee but the constant attacks from the Islamic militants al Shabab as well. Many of the refugees have been coming to the US to get away from the harsh life that is their home. But many are also finding it impossible to stay in the US with President Trump’s anti-immigration viewpoints and his proposed travel ban. This leaves them with a risky move to try and cross the border into Canada.
globalnews.ca -
Yemen insecurity
In June 2015, Kharaz refugee camp ran out of food. Also in June 2015, on the same day as the food shortage, the camps fuel stock ran very low, enough to say dangerously low. This resulted in electricity rationing in many needed areas of the camp such as water pumps and healthcare facilities. The refugees have also not been just impacted from shortages of necessities but also by the their concern for their own security. But don’t worry, the list doesn’t stop there. The school in Kharaz refugee camp was closed like many of the schools in Yemen and that’s causing many to drop out. Then some of the refugees reach out to the UNHCR for financial assistance, and internal relocation. This is hoped to help the problems of the refugee camp in Yemen, and create less tension.
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Yemen conditions deteriorate - Somali refugees look to return home
Yemen has been a transporting and destination for many refugees and they are generous enough to try and keep letting more in. At this point in time they have a quickly declining situation where they are dealing with war, and many of the 280,000 refugee’s lives are at risk. The current war taking place in Yemen has limited the country’s capability of caring for the refugees. Refugees have endured hardships such as lack of basic needs and services, and loss of jobs and livelihoods. Around 30,600 Somali refugees have returned to Somalia after two years of constant war in Yemen. The lack of basic needs and services, and a loss of jobs and livelihoods shows what condition the refugees have to go through just to be “safe.” This is big because if you flee somewhere for safety and you’re not any safer in that place, that is a problem.
unhcr.org -
Kenya Is Abandoning Somali Refugees
Kenya was seen as a very helpful country and that is because it holds one of the biggest refugee camps in the world. Recently they have told the somali refugees that peace had been restored in Somalia and that they should return home. They even reached out to the UN and asked to help expedite the journey of sending the refugees back home. When many left the camp and returned home they found carnage and dangerous situations. Many begged to return to the camp to find safety once again but Kenya refused. In May 2016 Kenya announced that "hosting refugees has to come to an end" and that Somali asylum seekers would no longer automatically get refugee status. The Kenyan police in Dadaab appear to have been acting well and the refugees have told that had not been directly coerced, but they are all aware that the camp intends to close.
hrw.org -
Somali refugees sent from safety into a war zone
Somali refugees feel betrayed from the actions of Kenya and the UN. The UN have tried to help Kenya get rid of the Somali refugees. The UN gave small amounts of money to send the refugees back to the place they came from where security issues and hunger is a big problem. Many of the refugees took the money and went back to the dangerous place they used to call home. Once they left and crossed the borders from Kenya, they no longer have their legal refugee status and they were no longer entitled to any help. The refugees who have returned to the camp but don’t have their legal status, survive by the generosity of others while living off of small rations of food for the whole family. Looking into the situation many sad things are happening and many look to the law of being forced to return to Somalia is a major breach of international law.
theguardian.com
