Somalia: Fleeing atrocity

03 September 2008

Many of the people in the recent influx are coming from Mogadishu. Most reported that mortars and shelling were common near their homes, and were the reason they fled. They tell me they’ve all lost friends, neighbours and family recently. When talking in groups, someone will tell a horrible story of how his neighbour’s house was shelled, killing everyone inside, except the little girl that is clinging to his leg, wide-eyed and confused. The story ends and I say nothing, as anything I try to muster just sounds trite and insincere. Another person starts telling a similarly disturbing story.

I ask about the journey to Liboi, the transit camp just over the Kenyan border. ‘I am told that the journey is long, expensive for those with money, dangerous due to robberies and rapes, and generally difficult for a fleeing group of people either crammed in a mini-van, or holding on atop of a transport truck. When asked what do they do if someone gets sick on the way? A person answers, “We continue and hope for the best.” In a quieter voice someone says, “Some people from our group died on the way,” and another says, “Some died from our group too.” When asked did they come with their whole family? A person replies, “We left some who were too old or too sick to make the journey. We don’t know if they are still alive or not.”

Read more accounts from Steve's journey to the camps, based on conversations with camp residents...

Intro
Life in transit
A constant struggle – Life in the camp
Dying a little every night

MSF worked in the Dadaab camps on a permanent basis from 1991 until 2004 when we handed over to other medical NGO's. Since then we have assisted the population during recent flooding and cholera emergencies. This report was taken during a recent exploratory mission with the mandate to assess the needs of the newly arrived refugees.