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As a result of famine, floods and civil war, there has been an internal movement of refugees from the southern regions of Somalia to the northern self-proclaimed independent Republic of Somaliland. This internal migration has been taking place since the early 1990s.

These refugees have experienced all the problems related to displacement and upheaval, such as violence, torture, intimidation, poverty, powerlessness and alienation. They have suffered immense losses to their health, safety, education and income; they are destitute and homeless. It has been difficult for them to approach the authorities, police or local government for support and protection and inevitably, they feel isolated and alienated. To exacerbate the problem, they have not been recognised as a refugee population by international agencies such as UNHCR or UNICEF.

In 1997, the Somaliland government allocated land for the internally displaced refugees in Hargeisa, and settled them in designated areas in the eastern parts of the town, where limited water, food and sanitation was provided. In Burco, the local government has ignored the plight of this population, who are not recognised as refugees and have no access to facilities in the town.

In the area in which the refugees have settled in Burco, access to appropriate health care is non-existent. In addition, malnutrition, poor sanitation and contaminated water supplies have all contributed to high death rates, particularly in children and the elderly.

There is also no access to education, even at the primary level. The situation is worse for girls, who are expected to help their mothers at home and act as carers for their younger brothers and sisters. Girls are too often the last of the family to be educated, if the opportunity arises in the first place.

Skills previously useful and essential to generate income have become irrelevant and useless in the new settlements. Often the only avenue open to families is to go to the town and beg, or send their children to beg.

Displaced people are using the trees in the area as an alternative source of fuel. In consequence, the surrounding land has become barren and desertification is exposing the town to the elements.

The general attitude by town dwellers towards the refugees is one of resentment. They feel bitter and angry, as resources in general are scarce; for example, in the case of fuel. In town, refugees are often openly abused and insulted and there has been consistent animosity between the two communities. It is possible that the combination of poverty, discrimination and powerlessness could cause violent conflict. There is an atmosphere of despair and a pervasive sense of communal depression, which needs an urgent response to avoid a social catastrophe.

Currently, Barako and BWHAFS have secured a small amount of funding from Christian Aid in order to facilitate various projects for displaced families in Burco and the Togdheer region.