NAIROBI (AlertNet) Â? Half a million people have fled war in Somalia this year, with hundreds dying on a perilous crossing across the Gulf of Eden to Yemen, the UN refugee agency has said.
The numbers of refugees this year are the highest since the fighting in the country resumed two years ago, according to the UNHCR, while much of the country's population needs humanitarian assistance.
"This year we have seen more than half of Somalia's population in need of humanitarian aid, and more and more people have increasingly been willing to take higher risks to flee the country," said Roberta Russo, UNHCR's spokeswoman for Somalia.
Those who do not attempt the crossing to Yemen generally flee to Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan.
Al Shabaab insurgents, who Washington says are a proxy for Osama bin Laden's group in Somalia, have been fighting government forces since the start of 2007, killing 19,000 civilians and driving another 1.5 million from their homes.
Somalia's capital Mogadishu is the worst affected by the fighting. Government and rebel forces have constantly battled for control, forcing hundreds of thousands into makeshift camps.
"Since May, over 250,000 people have been displaced from Mogadishu while 300,000 are trapped in the city with no means of escape," said Russo.
The U.N., in a separate briefing paper, said Somalia's president faced a huge challenge
"Sheikh Shariif is facing overwhelming challenges, as armed opposition groups continue deadly attacks on government and African Union peacekeeping forces, and still control large parts of Somali territory," the briefing said.
Over 524,000 people were now living in makeshift shelters along the road linking Mogadishu to Afgooye, some 30 kilometres to the west of the capital, the briefing added.
RISKING THEIR LIVES
Somalia has lacked an effective central government for 18 years. An African Union AMISOM peacekeeping mission in Somalia is slowly being bolstered. It is made up of about 5,200 troops and will eventually increase to 8,000.
According to the U.N., more and more people were also willing to risk their lives to escape Somalia's troubles.
The number of migrants, mainly Somalis, making the notoriously dangerous crossing to Yemen rose sharply this year, the agency said. Many of those who attempt the crossing die, mainly due to storms and boats capsizing.
"Since January 2009, over 63,000 people crossed into Yemen, a notable increase compared to 2008, with 467 people reported to be either dead or missing," the U.N. said.
In 2008, 50,000 people crossed the Gulf of Aden, and more than 1,000 died on the journey. That compares with 29,500 who made the crossing in 2007.
Hundreds of people are often crammed into small rickety vessels by people smugglers and brave the 30-hour trip with little food or water.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
