Mandera (KAAB TV ) – Several Somali families have fled to Kenya’s Mandera district to escape escalating conflict in the Beled-Haawo district and its surrounding areas, according to the Kenya Red Crescent Society.
The Mandera branch of the Red Crescent, working in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Mandera Regional Government, has confirmed the safe arrival of eight Somali families. These families were displaced by ongoing clashes between forces loyal to the Somali Federal Government and those aligned with the Jubbaland regional administration.
“These families crossed into Kenya seeking refuge from the violence that has engulfed their communities,” said a spokesperson for the Kenyan Red Crescent. “Upon arrival, they received urgent humanitarian support, including temporary shelter, clean drinking water, and medical assistance.”
The renewed conflict in the Gedo region, particularly around Beled-Haawo, has intensified over recent days, forcing more civilians to abandon their homes. Aid organizations and local authorities anticipate that additional families may arrive in the coming days as instability continues to spread along the Somali-Kenyan border.
Regional officials in Mandera have emphasized that those seeking safety are being treated with dignity and compassion. They also highlighted the deep cultural, familial, and ethnic ties between communities on both sides of the border.
“This region has long-standing connections that transcend national boundaries. We are committed to helping our brothers and sisters in need,” said a Mandera county official.
The displacement adds to growing concerns about the humanitarian toll of the ongoing power struggle in Somalia’s Gedo region. Tensions between the federal and regional governments have repeatedly erupted into violence, leaving civilians caught in the middle.
Humanitarian agencies continue to monitor the situation closely and are preparing contingency plans should the crisis worsen and lead to a larger influx of displaced persons.