Dolow (Sunatimes) The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, is set to open a new camp in Dolow on the Ethiopian side of the border, to ease congestions in a newly opened camp which has been overwhelmed by thousands of drought displaced Somali refugees crossing into the neighbouring Ethiopian in search of humanitarian help.

At least two thousand drought displaced Somalis arrive daily in refugee camps in Dolow Ado, along the Ethiopian-Somali border, thus making the camps incapable of holding such influx of new arrivals.

UNHCR says drought victims who managed to reach to refugee camps in the neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia need an immediate humanitarian help since most of them have trekked long distances to reach into these camps, with most children severely malnourished.

Almost 45 percent of drought-stricken children are taken to refugee camps while severely malnourished while the rest die of malnutrition and starvation on their way before making to the camps.

The rising influx of Somali refugees fleeing drought in their country into the neighbouring countries, have forced aid agencies in the region to appeal for an immediate humanitarian support in dealing with the worsening situation, drawing the attention of the international community to focus on humanitarian situation in the region.

By Sahra Abdi Mohamud