Somali refugees in Al-Kharaz camp say they are afraid of the worsening security situation in Yemen and many have asked for help in returning home.
Mohamed Abdi Gurey, a father of six young children, has lived in Al-Kharaz for 15 years. He told Radio Ergo’s camp reporter that he feared being caught up in the fighting.
“We don’t have the means to escape the unrest here, so we are requesting humanitarian agencies to assist us before the situation gets out of hand,” Gurey said.
Nurto Osman Mu’min, who has 10 children, said she fled Somalia due to conflict, but she was now in even more danger. “We need urgent help in being evacuated from the fighting – it’s deteriorating day after day.”
Miski Farah Nur, with three children, said those with means had already left the camp.
“We are poor families! Some of us have lived here as refugees for 20 years, and we are unable to escape if the chaos spreads to the south – all those with money have gone,” she said.
The vice-chairman of Al-Kharaz refugee committee, Osman Qassim, said 18 Somali families had left the camp and made their way back to Somalia.
