NAIROBI – Garissa County Woman Representative, Amina Udgoon Siyad, has expressed deep sadness and anger following the tragic death of Ms. Hadija Noor Ali, a 28-year-old pregnant woman, in a stampede at a food distribution centre at the Ifo 2 Refugee Camp in Dadaab Sub-County on Friday.
The incident, which resulted in the loss of Ms. Ali’s life, has raised serious concerns about the safety and organization of humanitarian aid efforts in the camp. The tragic event has sparked calls for immediate action to prevent such incidents in the future.
In her statement, Representative Edo Udgoon Siyad called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Department of Refugee Services (DRS), and all other organizations involved.
“The death of Ms. Hadija Noor Ali is deeply upsetting and unacceptable. No one, especially a pregnant woman, should lose their life while trying to receive basic food,” said Udgoon
Siyad also called for urgent changes to improve the safety of food distribution at refugee camps. She suggested decentralizing distribution points to reduce overcrowding, improving crowd control measures, and enhancing emergency response systems.
“As the Woman Representative for Garissa County, I urge UNHCR, WFP, DRS, and all partners to reassess the situation and take quick action to protect refugees, particularly women and children,” she added.
My statement On the Tragic Incident at Ifo 2 Refugee Camp – April 4, 2025
I am deeply heartbroken and outraged by the tragic events that unfolded on April 4, 2025, at the Ifo 2 Refugee Camp in Dadaab Sub-County, Garissa County. The loss of Ms. Hadija Noor Ali—a 28-year-old…
— Edo Udgoon Siyad. (@UdgoonSiyad) April 5, 2025
Siyad emphasized the need to ensure that all refugees are treated with dignity and safety. She also stated that Hadija’s death should lead to lasting changes that will protect the lives of refugees in the future.
“Hadija’s death must lead to action. We must honor her memory by making sure this never happens again,” she concluded.
The incident, which resulted in the loss of Ms. Ali’s life, has raised serious concerns about the safety and organization of humanitarian aid efforts in the camp. The tragic event has sparked calls for immediate action to prevent such incidents in the future.
