The U.S. Navy is operating off coastal Somalia in what it calls an attempt to block Islamist fighters from fleeing the country. Somalia’s Islamic Courts have largely abandoned their strongholds following a military defeat against Ethiopian forces backing Somalia’s government. In addition to the U.S. naval blockade, Kenya has also sealed its border with Somalia — stranding tens of thousands of refugees now unable to flee.

U.N. Emergency Coordinator Geoffrey Wordley: “The situation since yesterday has become rather difficult for UNHCR and for any new arrivals, new refugees coming over the border, because now the border has been officially closed. This means that people fleeing the war in Somalia cannot enter Kenya.”