Where are They Now?
N. I. Issue No 62: April 1978
The spotlight of world concern has long since shifted from the Horn of Africa but the struggle between Somalia and Ethiopia over the wind-swept Ogaden desert threatens to flare up again without warning. In the meantime, the nomadic tribesmen who traverse the desert in search of food continue to make their way towards the Somalia border. Almost 1 million refugees have fled the disputed territory since the height of the fighting in 1977. With a population of only 5 million and an economy weakened by the war effort, Somalia can barely provide for its own people, let alone the 370,000 refugees in temporary camps and another 650,000 that have been assimilated into towns and villages. The refugee problem was anticipated by the Somali Government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). But they were both confounded by the numbers. When the nine-month war between Ethiopia and Somalia gradually wound down in May, 1978 twenty camps were opened in preparation for an expected 80,000 refugees. That figure was surpassed in just six months.
The Somali Government has declared a state of emergency and asked for $70 million in immediate relief aid. Although the UNHCR chipped in $6 million in 1979, the overall response of the international community has been disappointing. Peter Nobel, a lawyer sent by the Swedish Foreign Ministry to investigate the problem, says if there were atrocities and horror stories the Ogaden refugees would get more international attention. But, because they're not 'dying like flies' - at least not yet - the response has been muted.
Despite the shortages of food and sanitary accommodation, the refugees continue to show up at border crossing points. They are mostly women and children and old men - leading camels loaded down with tents, skins and other meagre possessions of the nomadic life.
It's possible that the Ethiopian strategy of bombing water wells and slaughtering livestock may provide a 'final solution' to the Ogaden battle. In the meantime, harassment can only increase the flow of refugees. Already the region has been emptied of half its inhabitants and soon there may be no one left to fight over.
Join over 10,000 people just like you. Get e-mail updates about new content, issue alerts, contests, and more!
Voices from the margins:
Multimedia: video, podcasts, and more.
- Poetry Slam in Zimbabwe
- The House of Hunger poetry slam held in Zimbabwe in 2006, and organised by the Pamberi Trust, showcased young artists performing inspirational work on issues from corporate power to child soldiers. The video features four of the poets.
Published by Pambazuka News.
- Iranian women speak out
- 3 March 2007, London. Women's rights activists marched through the English capital last week to celebrate International Women's Day with a protest against the misogyny of the Islamic regime in Iran and the threat of invasion by the US. Hear the voices of Iranian feminists Azar and Leila Parnian and the sounds of the demonstration as it passed through the heart of the city. Click here to learn more about the campaign.
Produced by Heidi Bachram.
- Raised Voices audio:
- Benny from West Papua on Corporate Power
- Vinayan from India on agriculture
