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Ibrahim Sherif Nur, Somalia “It took us 20 days to flee from Mogadishu"

[Kenya] Ibrahim Sherif Nur, Somali new comer to Ifo refugee in Kenya, 16 September, 2006. John Nyaga/IRIN
Ibrahim Sherif Nur, Somali new comer to Ifo refugee camp.
    DADAAB

    My name is Ibrahim Sherif Nur. I am a 30 year-old Somali newcomer to Ifo refugee camp, which is located in Kenya's Northeastern Province.

    It took us 20 days to flee from Mogadishu [Somalia's capital] to Liboi [border post on the Kenya-Somalia frontier]. Most of the time we either walked or hitched lifts on lorries. We arrived here on 18 August.

    I came with my wife and four children. People now say Mogadishu is peaceful [after the Union of Islamic Courts seized control of the city from warlords]. But some of the defeated militias have not surrendered and those who have power now are not allowing people to have their freedom. People are running away.

    The Somali people have their own way of life and these people [Islamic forces] have come to impose a way of life which is not compatible with Somali culture.

    The minority who are opposed to them are being oppressed. I do not want to live there [Mogadishu] any more. Yes, life is hard here [in the refugee camp], I have no job, food is scarce. I am suffering but at least I have security.

    jn/mw

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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