Over 800 residents fled Kismayo in past week

September 07, 2012

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More than 800 residents of Kismayo left the port city during the week ending Thursday (September 6th), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported.

Shelling in the city by the Kenya Defence Forces and the threat of increased violence as Somali and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces approach are driving people to seek shelter elsewhere, according to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Many of those leaving are remaining close by, according to UNHCR spokesman Andreas Needham.

People staying in the Lower Juba area "appear to be doing so on a short-term basis as they temporarily return to Kismayo for different periods to safeguard livelihood assets, and are likely to return to Kismayo if the situation normalises," he said.

Al-Shabaab is restricting traffic in and out of the city, which may limit the number of people leaving, he said.

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  • julia
    September 8, 2012 @ 08:30:20AM

    it is the high time that the whole of Africa join hands to carb the Alshabaab. Somalis need to be at peace

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