Large numbers of refugees have poured into the Somaliland region from southern Somalia as a result of continued civil disruption.
Due to Somalia's clan-based politics, these displaced people are minorities and, as such, have fewer rights than most locals. They thus become particularly vulnerable to poverty, starvation and exploitation.
Click here to read the Relief Web Report:
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Is Somaliland equipped to handle the refugee crisis?
Since Somaliland is not a recognized country, these Refugees from Somalia are considered IDPs (Internally Displaced People), not actual refugees. Thus, Somaliland is not eligible for the UN refugee assistant funds and programs.
The Refugees from Somalia is crippling Somaliland's economy, environment and way of life. Somaliland Government has shown its compassion to host those running from the war torn Somalia, but doesn't have the resources to take care of them.
Somaliland will not be able to sustain the pressure any longer and the crisis has already affected the native, local population. Hargeisa, the Capital of Somaliland is hosting estimated 200 to 300 Thousand refugees. The additional population has strained the living resources. It has been reported water and energy shortages.
The robbery, rape, and other violent crimes have drastically increased over the past year. There are new health concerns and public health is at risk as city hygiene is in a verge of disaster.
The City Government is working on a way to accommodate the refugees while struggling to provide minimum services to its residents. How long would local officials can handle this problem without help is in question.
What Somaliland Citizens are asking the world is to help us help those refugees by making our government eligible for all UN Refugee Funds, not the mere relief donations we receive now.
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What do you know about the refugee situation in Somaliland?
Since Somaliland is not a recognized country, these Refugees from Somalia are considered IDPs (Internally Displaced People), not actual refugees. Thus, Somaliland is not eligible for the UN refugee assistant funds and programs.
The Refugees from Somalia is crippling Somaliland's economy, environment and way of life. Somaliland Government has shown its compassion to host those running from the war torn Somalia, but doesn't have the resources to take care of them.
Somaliland will not be able to sustain the pressure any longer and the crisis has already affected the native, local population. Hargeisa, the Capital of Somaliland is hosting estimated 200 to 300 Thousand refugees. The additional population has strained the living resources. It has been reported water and energy shortages.
The robbery, rape, and other violent crimes have drastically increased over the past year. There are new health concerns and public health is at risk as city hygiene is in a verge of disaster.
The City Government is working on a way to accommodate the refugees while struggling to provide minimum services to its residents. How long would local officials can handle this problem without help is in question.
What Somaliland Citizens are asking the world is to help us help those refugees by making our government eligible for all UN Refugee Funds, not the mere relief donations we receive now.
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What do you know about the refugee situation in Somaliland?
Share your experience with us if you live in or just visited Somaliland.
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