Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland is grappling with the influx of refugees fleeing the Yemen conflict arriving in its territories.
Speaking to Radio Ergo, assistant minister for internal affairs, Abdullahi Hashi, tasked with coordinating the reception and resettlement of the arriving refugees, said the increasing number of arrivals had overstretched Puntland’s resources.
More than 5,000 refugees, most of them Somali nationals, have so far arrived in Puntland by sea since the Yemen conflict started.
“We have been working in partnership with local businessmen and aid agencies to extend a helping hand to the arriving refugees. The latest boat brought the largest number of arrivals in one go with 1,720 people on board out of which only 920 were able to cater for themselves. We transferred the remaining 800 to the camps we have set up for them,” said the assistant minister.
He added that most of these people wanted to be taken to their original home towns for villages, but they needed urgent assistance first as they looked frail and under nourished.
There are also sick, elderly and disabled people among the refugees, who need special attention.
Muna Hassan Omar, a mother of two, was accompanied by her diabetic husband. She said she wanted to go back to her home town of Marka. She had been living in Yemen as a refugee after fleeing conflict in Marka.
Muna said her husband was taken ill and had fainted several times en route and while in the camps in Puntland. They were no longer able to access the special diet and medicines he needed.
“We were told that we’ll be given $120 to enable us to travel to our home towns by road, but we cannot even wait for that to come. I am worried by the condition of my husband who needs urgent medical attention even as we are grappling with poor living conditions in the camps. We are overcrowded here with no space to breathe,” said Muna.
Muna’s frustrations are shared by Wiilo Abdullahi Barre, a pregnant mother of four.
Wiilo said she fled Mogadishu 20 years ago and had been living in Aden, southern Yemen.
“Although I would like to go back home, Idon’t know our next move since the authorities have discussed nothing with us so far. I appeal for urgent assistance since this camp is overcrowded and there is a likelihood of outbreak of diseases,” she said.
Puntland administration expressed fears of a humanitarian crisis given the large number of those arriving daily and the little resources at its disposal. The authorities asked the general public and international aid agencies to extend helping hands to the refugees.
