Zanzibar refugees flee camp

Refugees complained of cramped conditions

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

More than 1,200 refugees from the twin islands of Pemba and Zanzibar were reported to have disappeared.

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

The refugees are supporters of Tanzania's opposition Civic United Front and are in Kenya following political trouble on Zanzibar.

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

A local official for the United Nations refugees agency UNCHR said urgent steps need to be taken to improve the situation at the camp.

He called on the Kenyan authorities to provide an alternative site to house the refugees.