The United Nations refugee agency says security continues todeteriorate in Somalia. At the same time, it says poverty isincreasing as prolonged drought is destroying ways to make a living inthe country.
Instability and the devastating effects of prolongeddrought are causing tens of thousands of Somalis to take to their feetin search of a safe refuge.
The U.N. refugee agency reportsdeadly clashes between government forces and rebel groups have forcedabout one-quarter of a million Somalis to flee the capital, Mogadishusince May.
It says most have sought refuge in the Afgooyecorridor, some 30 kilometers west of Mogadishu. This area now is hometo more than 534,000 internally displaced people.
While theirsecurity may be better, UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic says theirliving conditions are deplorable. He says they are living in makeshiftsites in squalid conditions.
And, he notes humanitarianorganizations have great difficulty in reaching them with much neededassistance. He says thousands of other Somalis are exploringalternative escape routes.
"The deteriorating security situationand prolonged drought in Somalia are forcing more people to fleefurther a-field into the neighboring countries and beyond," saidMahecic. "Some of them are making the journey across the Gulf of Adenand the Red Sea trying to reach Yemen and the Mediterranean Sea to getto Europe."
Mahecic says not all of them make it to their destination.
"Lastweek, as reported, 16 people died and 49 others went missing, presumeddrowned in the Gulf of Aden," he said. "Since January, a total of 924boats and over 46,700 people have made the journey to Yemen from theHorn of Africa. So far this year, 322 others are known to have drownedor went missing at sea and are presumed dead."
Mahecic saysthousands of desperate Somalis continue to risk their lives and useunscrupulous smugglers to make the perilous journey across the Gulf ofAden.
The UNHCR says Somalia is one of the world's biggestproducers of refugees and internally displaced people. The agencyprovides protection and assistance to more than one-half million Somalirefugees in the nearby countries of Kenya, Yemen, Ethiopia, Djiboutiand Uganda.