Gimme Shelter

Somalia has been without a functioning government since 1991, and since late 2006 the county has been engulfed in renewed armed conflict in which thousands of civilians have been killed and tens of thousands forced to flee their homes. It is one of the world’s worst refugee crises with well over a million people repeatedly displaced within Somalia, and 500,000 fleeing to countries in the region.

Somalis forced to flee war and the worst drought for 10 years are now living in overcrowded and unsanitary camps in Somalia and her neighboring countries: Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen.

One such camp, the Dadaab camp in northern Kenya, has facilities for 90,000 people, and yet houses over 280,000 refugees who have no access to basic necessities, including clean water. Some refugees were moved to a camp in north-west Kenya in late 2009 but thousands continue to arrive monthly.

In Ethiopia, the Shedder camp is home to about 8,000 people, with thousands more arriving there every month. Again here the facilities are not adequate to handle the huge numbers of arriving refugees, leaving them ravaged by the harsh environment and disease.

In Somalia itself, insecurity has hindered international aid agencies from reaching the 485,000 people who have fled from the capital, Mogadishu, to makeshift settlements for the displaced in the Afgooye corridor.

The horrific conditions seen in these three places -- Afgooye, Dadaab and Bokolmayo – are replicated across the region, with the services being provided to these vulnerable and desperate people far below acceptable international standards.

UNHCR is working to help these displaced people find basic provisions and shelter. All we need is for every individual to give a small amount, and together we can make a huge difference.

If you and nine of your friends give $20 each, we can supply a tent and give shelter to 5 refugees.

Donate now, and give shelter