Kenya has been home to thousands of refugees fleeing the war torn Somalia, and it seems the 18 year old war is far from ending now that a hard line Somalia leader on Washington’s list of terror suspects has rallied his forces to keep fighting, saying that the violence that has killed more than 200 people since May is “compulsory.”

Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, with the backing of hundreds of foreign fighters, supports a strict interpretation of Islam that has frightened many Somalis into submission with threats of stonings and other harsh punishments. The insurgents launched a major offensive against the Western-backed government last month.

At the moment the Kenyan government is under pressure to provide more land for Somali refugees. The refugee crisis is getting worse and exposing them to risks, in February the Kenyan government promised to provide more land for its mushrooming Somali refugee population. But as much as the Kenyan government should honour its pledge, its overwhelmed and this is a high time that donors should also step up their financial support for the refugee camps which have lost shape due to large numbers of refugees.

These people have run from horror but are living hopeless lives not forgetting the ruthless Kenyan policemen who have capitalized on the plight of the refugees. It is very sad that women go through untold suffering while crossing the border to Kenya and at times they are forced to comply since they cannot afford to raise the money that police ask for them to be allowed to cross over to Kenya.

The camps meant for 90,000 refugees shelter 275,000. On the other hand the government has not been able to resettle the internally displaced refugees who are still living in camps and still it has made a promise to provide alternative living places for these refugees who are also living under deplorable conditions.