A million homeless in Somalia war

Last Modified: 21 Nov 2007
By: Jonathan Miller

Renewed fighting in Somalia has led many to flee the capital of Mogadishu, says the UN refugee agency.

Fighting in Somalia has left a million people homeless. According to the UN refugee agency, 600,000 people have left the capital Mogadishu this year - a third of them in the last two weeks.

Struggling

People have fled because of renewed conflict between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian-backed government troops, who are supported by America.

The UN Secretary General has also said it is too dangerous to send peacekeepers to Somalia, but the African Union force there is struggling to cope.

While aid organisations are there on the ground, it remains to be seen how long they can cope for as the fighting intensifies in Mogadishu.

Distressing scenes

Our Somali cameraman, who cannot be identified for his own safety, has been to Mogadishu and the town of Afgooye.

Among other distressing scenes, he has filmed Ethiopian troops being dragged through the streets, as American soldiers were 14 years ago.

Warning: Viewers may be disturbed by some of the scenes in Jonathan Miller's report.