Kenyan search for Tanzanian refugees

Kenyan officials say a major operation is underway to flush out Tanzanian refugees who had fled their camp on the Indian Ocean coast.

More than twelve-hundred refugees -- from the twin islands of Pemba and Zanzibar -- were reported to have disappered.

Villagers in the nearby area were warned that they risk heavy fines if they were found to be housing any of the refugees.

Last week, several refugees fled the Shimoni camp following storm floods.

A local offical for the United Nations refugees agency UNCHR said urgent steps need to be taken to improve the situation at the camp, and called on Kenyan authorities to provide an alternative site to house the refugees.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service