Somalia famine: 2,500 people arriving at camps each day

Somali women queue for food - image CAFOD

Famine is now devastating the entire Horn of Africa - Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Kenya. One of the most badly countries is Somalia, where war is also raging. The two major camps for displaced Somalis are Dadaab, in Kenya, and Dollo Ado, in Ethiopia.

Suzanna Tkalec, of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), who assists Mgr Giorgio Bertin, Bishop of Djibouti and Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu, who is president of Caritas Somalia. She said: "We are working in Dadaab, refugee camp in Kenya which is situated 80km from the border with Somalia. On average 2,500 people arrive at this camp every day. 80% are mothers with young children". "Instead of a single refugee camp in Dadaab there are many camps gathered together which provide, health care, water and food".

Mrs Tkalec said that for security reasons aid agencies were not publicising their activities in Somalia. "What we can say is that the various Caritas groups send aid to Somalia through some local partners".

If you would like to donate to the CAFOD's emergency East Africa appeal, please go to: www.cafod.org.uk

Source: Fides