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Photo Gallery Horn of Africa Crisis

All photos: UNHCR/B. Bannon/2011

The humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa, prompted by insecurity, drought and hunger at famine levels in southern Somalia, has caused massive displacement within the country and forced more than 917,000 Somalis to seek refuge and asylum in neighbouring countries.

A severely malnourished baby Mahad, age 2, is weighed at MSF clinic at the reception center in Dagahaley refugee camp, Dadaab, Kenya. Mahad’s family arrived in the sprawling refugee camp in June, after fleeing drought and war in Baidabo, Bay region, Somalia. The journey took them 20 days. Malaboy, 26, holds her severely malnourished baby Mahad, 2, in Dagahaley refugee camp, Kenya during a health screening. Mahad’s family arrived in the sprawling refugee camp in June, after fleeing drought and war in Baidabo, Bay region, Somalia. The journey took them 20 days.Malaboy, 26, holds her severely malnourished baby Mahad, 2, in Dagahaley refugee camp, Kenya during a health screening. Mahad’s family arrived in the sprawling refugee camp in June, after fleeing drought and war in Baidabo, Bay region, Somalia. The journey took them 20 days.Somali refugees wait packed in the shade outside Dagahaley reception center, Dadaab, Kenya.The reception center for new arrivals in Dagahaley refugee camp, Dadaab, Kenya. Upon arrival new refugees go though a reception process that includes finger printing, medical screening, vaccinations and delivery of a 21 day food ration as well as non-food aid like blankets and cooking material. Here they are being finger printed and entered into a database to identify them as new arrivals for the first phase of assistance.The reception center for new arrivals in Dagahaley refugee camp, Dadaab, Kenya. Upon arrival new refugees go though a reception process that includes finger printing, medical screening, vaccinations and delivery of a 21 day food ration as well as non-food aid like blankets and cooking material Here they are being finger printed and entered into a database to identify them as new arrivals for the first phase of assistance.UNHCR staff member David Owalo Magolo has worked in Dadaab refugee camps since 1996. He says he has never seen an emergency as critical as this one. “The women and the children have suffered tremendously.” Here Magolo is bringing a vulnerable family into the reception center at Dagahaley refugee camp.Malaboy, 26, holds her severely malnourished baby Mahad, 2, in Dagahaley refugee camp, Kenya during a health screening. Mahad’s family arrived in the sprawling refugee camp in June, after fleeing drought and war in Baidabo, Bay region, Somalia. The journey took them 20 daysA mother cradles her baby while putting a hand on her daughter who was doused with water to keep cool under the harsh sun. New refugees from Somalia wait outside the reception center in Dagahaley refugee camp, Dadaab, Kenya.A mother cradles her baby while putting a hand on her daughter who was doused with water to keep cool under the harsh sun. New refugees from Somalia wait outside the reception center in Dagahaley refugee camp, Dadaab, Kenya.Ethiopia, Dolo Ado: Hawa Kerow Allow, a 70 year old Somali refugee, is blind. With no family, she has only an elderly friend Habila to care to her. Dahira, 11 years old, holds her severely malnourished baby brother Mahad, age 2 in Dagahaley refugee camp. The family arrived in the sprawling refugee camp in June, after fleeing drought and war in Baidabo, Bay region, Somalia. The journey took them 20 days.A water delivery at the new Ifo extension, Dabaab, Kenya. The extension was opened in July 2011 to alleviate over-crowding in the Dabaab refugee complex and will provide tented accommodation for 90,000 refugees the coming month. Violence and a worsening drought have caused a steady increase in the number of Somali refugees fleeing to eastern Kenya border town.A family newly relocated to Ifo Extension in Dadaab, Kenya, builds a tukol next to their new tent as protection against the harsh sun. Ifo extension opened in July 2011 to alleviate over-crowding in the Dabaab refugee complex and will provide tented accommodation for 90,000 refugees in the coming month. Violence and a worsening drought have caused a steady increase in the number of Somali refugees fleeing to eastern Kenya border town.People hudle underneath a blanket against the rain while waiting for relocation to the new Ifo Extension, Dabaab, Kenya.A Somali refugee child suffering from acute malnutrition is receiving intensive medical care in Dadaab refugee camp.UNHCR Protection Officer Mehreen Afzal registers Qatmo Iidow Hussien, a handicapped refugee from Hagar, Somalia on the day of her arrival at Dadaab refugee camp.A Somali refugee girl near Hamey, Kenya. The group of 51 families slept in an encampment where they were given food by the local community. They were later transported by the UN through the dangerous corridor between the border and the refugee camp. Many refugees have told of being robbed, beaten or raped while walking the 80 km stretch of desert to the camp.A group of Somali refugees transported by the UN from near the Kenya/Somalia border to the reception center at Ifo camp, Dabaab, Kenya.Somali refugees wait at the reception centre in Dagahaley camp. After a long journey often by foot, through perilous territory with little food and water, refugees go trough a reception process that includes medical screening and a 21 day ration of food. Some 1,300 refugees arrive daily to the camp complex from Somalia.Dahira, 11 years old, holds her severely malnourished baby brother Mahad, age 2 in Dagahaley refugee camp. Mahad’s family arrived in the sprawling refugee camp in June, after fleeing drought and war in Baidabo, Bay region, Somalia. The journey took them 20 days.Somali refugee Shamsha Adan rests on a pile of sticks she will use to construct a tukol in the Ifo extension after moving from the outskirts of the camp near Dabaab.UNHCR prepares tents for refugee families that will be transferred from self settled areas around Ifo camp to a more formally organized settlement in Ifo extension where it will be easier for water, sanitation, and protection services to be delivered.Somali refugees wait in line at the reception centre in Ifo camp. Refugees must first go to reception centers for health screening immunization and finger printing. They will be given an appointment to be registered as refugees.Somali refugees wait in line at the reception centre in Ifo camp. Refugees must first go to reception centers for health screening immunization and finger printing. They will be given an appointment to be registered as refugees.The carcass of a dead cow near Dabaab, Kenya. Drought has led to lack of pasture and the death of livestock upon which local communities depend.A young Somali boy whose nomadic family fled from Bardere, Somalia to Kenya in May 2011 due to hunger, drought and war. They traveled 32 days by foot and donkey cart relying on the kindness of people along the way for food and water.New tukols hastily built at the edge of Ifo camp. Thousands of Somali refugees are arriving each week and settling the areas around the permanent settlements in camps near Dabaab in Kenya.Somali refugees assembled for relocation to Ifo extension, which will help deliver efficient services and assistance to the refugees.Dahira Ibrahim arrived at the end of April to Ifo camp from Sakow, Somalia. She fled to save herself and her three children from the drought that has devastated the lower Juba region of Somalia.Two Somali refugee children wait to be relocated to new tents in the Ifo extension area which was opened in July to provide more secure shelter to refugees who have arrived recently from Somalia to the refuge camp complex near Dabaab, Kenya.Workers erect 300 tents per day to accommodate 1,500 people in Ifo camp extension. The residents of the new tents are being shifted from un-safe areas at the outskirts of the camp.A group of Somalia refugees wait to be transported from the Kenya/Somalia borders to the reception centre at Ifo camp in Dabaab, Kenya. The refugees fled Kismayo and traveled with donkey carts to Kenya. Many have been stolen, beaten or raped on the way.