20100704
africanews

The UN refugee agency has reported that many of the 200, 000 Somalis who fled their homes are trapped in the country as routes out become increasingly dangerous.

Adrian Edwards, a spokesperson for the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said newly arrived refugees stated that it is becoming increasingly dangerous and difficult to flee Somalia. Many displaced civilians are effectively trapped inside the country.

Some 6 660 refugees are estimated to have made the sea crossing to Yemen in the first half of this year, half as many as over the same period last year, while 29,848 had reached neighbouring Kenya compared to 44 385 in the first six months of 2009 said the UNHCR.

Edwards said that they estimate more than 200 000 Somalis have been forced to leave their homes this year alone - with most becoming displaced internally and some of the refugees arriving in Kenya have been walking for days, resting along the way often without any shelter.