Somalis fleeing

This item appears on page 17 of the November 2008 issue.

In 1991, Somalia’s dictator was overthrown by warlords, and the country has not had a stable government since.

Clashes between various factions caused a million Somalis to leave their homes since last year, and in the last few months increasing violence in addition to soaring food prices (up 700% in one year) have caused an escalation in the number of refugees. Many are crossing into Yemen, and some are continuing across desert to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations to look for work.

Currently, Islamist rebels are attacking Somali forces, Ethiopian troops, peacekeepers, foreign aid workers and citizens in an effort to topple the interim government.