Somalis in Yemen are pouring into refugee camps in the desert area of Al-Kharaz in southern Yemen, despite the lack of assistance and services there.
The refugees are fleeing towns including Aden where fighting is underway between Yemeni government forces and Shia Houthi rebels.
Radio Ergo’s reporter in Al Kharaz said the camps are overcrowded and some refugees have been forced to stay outside the camp.
Aid agencies have vacated the camp, which hosts over 35,000 Somali refugees, due to increasing insecurity.
Ali Mohamed Yusuf, a refugee who lived in Al Kharaz for more than 23 years, said there was only one local relief agency left operating in the camp.
“There is a shortage of food and water and aid agencies providing such services have all left the camp,” Mohamed told Radio Ergo.
He said over the past month refugees had been left with food rations they could use for one and half months.
Healthcare services and schools have also been closed.
More than 4,000 students were registered in the only primary and secondary school in the camp.
Fadumo Adan Mohamed, a mother of several children, called on the Somali government and aid agencies to help evacuate the refugees by land and sea to safe countries or even for repatriation to Somalia.
“Now the health and education services in the camp have stopped. Water and food are running short. So we are requesting to be repatriated to our country or to other countries before the situation deteriorates further,” said Fadumo.
