Despair in Somali refugee camp in Yemen

Sunday, March 09, 2008

By our Hague correspondent Hans Andringa

Heat, dust, sand and wind dominate the lives of around 9,000 Somalis who have sought refuge in Yemen from the civil war in their own country. In Somalia the civilian population has been suffering from the effects of violent conflict for years. A million people are displaced within Somalia itself, while many others have fled to countries like Yemen. Hundreds fail to survive the crossing in ramshackle boats. Those who do make it to Yemen risk being detained in Kharaz, a camp in the middle of the desert 150 kilometres west of Aden.

No life

The refugees feel ill, miserable and unsafe. But there is no sign of any improvement. Their situation seems hopeless. "We don't want to be in Yemen. We aren't free here, Yemen isn't good!" shouts Jemenni Abdel Ahmed. He is 22 and originally comes from Mogadishu. "I've been here 15 years. I want to leave, to America or the Netherlands. We're hungry and thirsty here. We can't do anything here in the desert. I've no life here, we don't have a life."

The bystanders agree. "I can't see any future for me. And the same goes for everyone here. We don't want to stay here. We want to go back to Somalia, but it's not possible. And we can't go to another country either."

Among the men there is also a young woman with a strip of plastic over her mouth. She holds her hands crossed above her head. "I can't say anything. If I do we'll go to prison. Yemen is no good. This camp is like a prison."

Pleas

All over the camp, refugees angrily describe the appalling conditions. The development cooperation minister's staff and accompanying journalists have handwritten letters pressed into their hands, with pleas for the lives of the refugees to be improved by allowing them to go to another country.

A group of women tries to approach the minister, but is held back by Yemeni soldiers. The women are furious. One of the minister's staff sees what has happened and promises they can speak to him later.

Afterwards Mr Koenders says, "The atmosphere was so tense because yesterday evening a group of 200 armed men came to the camp. The people here found this very threatening. The camp had to be relieved by the army. Tribes in the district are hostile because they want to force the Yemeni government to grant certain favours."

Heavy security

The armed tribes in the vicinity of Camp Kharaz are also the reason for the strict security measures surrounding Mr Koenders' visit. During the journey from Aden to Khazaz, the convoy is protected by police in plain clothes and a Jeep full of soldiers, mounted with a heavy machine gun.

It seems rather excessive, here in the desert with not a soul around. The camp itself is also seething with troops. Mr Koenders counts himself lucky - not without irony - because he's "managed to keep the visit low key".

The minister says people in the camp should be able to work, and the children should receive education. In fact the camp should be moved back closer to the port of Aden, where it was originally located.

At the end of the afternoon, he promises half a million euros to improve the situation of Somali refugees in Yemen. And in April the Netherlands will probably send a frigate to Somali waters to protect relief supplies from being plundered by pirates.