In Kenya, UNHCR began populating yesterday (Thursday, 18 August) a new part of the Dadaab refugee complex to provide shelter for tens of thousands of new Somali refugees and to ease the chronic overcrowding of the existing camps - namely Dagahaley, Ifo and Hagadera.

The first group to occupy tents at Ifo II part of Ifo Extension were 259 Somali refugees. These families were transported in buses, with all their personal belongings in trucks from the outskirts of Dagahaley camp where they initially pitched their tents some weeks ago - far from assistance and services available in the camps. Movements to the Ifo3 part of the Ifo Extension, which began on 25 July, continue and some 18,000 refugees have been moved there.

More than 140,000 Somali refugees have fled to Kenya since the beginning of the year, 70,000 during June and July alone - overwhelming the reception capacity of Dadaab.