Somali Refugees Flee into Kenya

Estimated 6,000 to 10,000 Somali refugees have fled into the border town of Mandera in northeastern Kenya, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said.

The Sunday Standard newspaper quoted Reinier Thiadens, UNHCR's deputy country representative here, as saying that the refugees started flowing into Kenya following the recent renewed fighting in Somalia.

Thiadens said that the fighting in Somali has left more than 50 people dead and thousands of others injured.

The exact figure of refugees has not been established because they have mingled with Kenyans and are living together, Thiadens added.

The Kenyan government, in conjunction with UNHCR, is currently looking for a solution to the refugee influx which has put a lot of stress on local resources in Mandera.

Thiadens said discussions between his agency and the Kenyan government are underway to try and get alternative accommodation for the refugees.






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