NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Thousands of Somali refugees were successfully relocated from overcrowded refugee camps in Kenya to another location, humanitarian officials said.
Although 13,000 refugees were moved from the Dadaab camp complex to the Kakuma site since the relocation began several months ago, United Nations refugee spokesman Andrej Mahecic said 10,000 to 12,000 more had arrived at Dadaab, Voice of America reported Wednesday. The operation began in mid-August to help ease the congested Dadaab camp complex.
The Dadaab complex was built to hold 90,000 people, but houses 280,000 refugees.
The relocation was completed by the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations' refugee agency, and other organizations.
"People are crossing into Kenya because of the situation in Somalia, because of the war and the drought and the famine there," Mahecic said. "So far this year, more than 50,000 people, 50,000 Somalis have crossed into Kenya. ... The solution would to be to address the root causes of the refugee crisis. Somalia is one of the worst humanitarian situations in the world."
