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Somali Christian Refugees in Kenya Face Increasing Persecution |
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Written by Daniel Blake, Christian Today
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Saturday, 30 September 2006 |
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| Somali Christian refugees in Kenya continue to face increasing attacks
from Somali groups and struggle to receive adequate assistance to
survive.(NPF) |
Somali Christian refugees in Kenya continue to face increasing attacks
from Somali groups and struggle to receive adequate assistance to
survive, according to reports received by Christian Solidarity
Worldwide (CSW).
Reports
explain that one Somali Christian refugee, who shall be referred to as
A, left Somalia with his family in fear of his life. Since their
arrival in Kenya, A’s family has repeatedly been threatened by
supporters of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC).
In addition, three of A’s children have been abducted by his Muslim
relatives, and allegedly returned to Somalia, where it is thought that
they may have been forced to enrol in a ‘rehabilitation’ centre. Two
more of his children were abducted, but were rescued when the
authorities were pressurised to act.
A is currently recovering from an assault in July that left him
comatose, yet this week on 27 September A and his family were attacked
again, tells CSW.
Statistics reveal that more than 3,400 Somalis have sought refuge in
Kenya in the last three weeks, bringing the tally to almost 25,000
since the beginning of the year.
It appears that as the UIC gains further ground in Somalia, there is a
corresponding increase in attacks on Somali Christians in Kenya by UIC
supporters. According to local sources, there are “many proxy
representatives of the Islamic Shari’ah Courts in Nairobi”.
Local sources indicate that the Kenyan office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) may not have provided enough
support to Somali Christians. Since the UNHCR’s central office in
Switzerland takes its lead from the Kenya office, the organisation has
been slow in taking effective action.
Tina Lambert, Advocacy Director for CSW says: “Having suffered already
in Somalia these Christian refugees face a double tragedy when they
encounter further hardship and persecution in Kenya. Their situation is
deeply concerning and it is vital that the international community
mobilise behind the UNHCR to ensure urgent protection for these Somali
refugees and their families.”
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