Here are a few resources for you to review to elevate your knowledge about the country of Somalia and what has led to its refugee crisis. If you work directly with people from the Somalia, this may help you put some things into context.

Note: Catholic Community Services of Utah (CCS) Migration and Refugee Services department serves refugees and displaced peoples from all sides of national and cultural conflicts. Therefore, the perspectives in these resources do not directly reflect the perspectives of all of CCS’s clients. It is recommended that you not assume an individual’s personal beliefs about a conflict.

Resources

Al-Shabaab in Somalia (2005-2020)

A dynamic timeline of the group Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

Somalia Country Conditions Report (to 2015)

A document showing a timeline of relevant historical events in Somalia and the current situation as of 2015

Refugee Families from Somalia

A document giving a brief but thorough overview of some characteristics about refugee families from Somalia

Somalia: The Forgotten History

A video showing history and culture of Somalia from Al Jazeera English