Monday July 28, 2025
FILE – Somali families transport their belongings on trucks as they flee conflict zones in the southern region of Gedo, Somalia, in this undated photo. A renewed wave of violence between federal forces and Jubbaland-aligned militias has displaced dozens, with some families crossing into neighbouring Kenya in search of safety.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Eight Somali families fleeing intensified fighting in the Gedo region have arrived in Mandera, a Kenyan border town, after crossing into the country in search of safety, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society.
The families arrived in Mandera after fleeing heavy clashes around Beled Hawo, a strategic town near the Somalia–Kenya border. Local Red Cross officials, working with Kenya’s Ministry of Interior and Mandera County authorities, confirmed that the displaced families were received peacefully and provided with emergency aid.
“These families crossed the border to escape the violence in their home areas,” a Kenya Red Cross official said. “We are supporting them with essential relief services.”
The Mandera branch of the Red Cross is working in coordination with Kenya’s Ministry of Interior and the Mandera County government to respond to the humanitarian needs of those arriving from Somalia. Officials warn that more families are expected to follow as the conflict continues to escalate.
Local authorities said preparations are underway to assist additional displaced people who may cross into Kenya if violence spreads further. Aid agencies and county officials are closely monitoring the situation along the border.
Mandera officials stressed that the region’s close cultural and familial ties with neighbouring Somali communities, pledging to treat those displaced with compassion and dignity.
The displacement is the result of renewed tensions in the Gedo region, where a longstanding power struggle between Somalia’s federal government and the Jubbaland administration has once again erupted into open conflict. The fighting has raised fresh concerns about the safety of civilians and the growing humanitarian needs in the area.
