More Somalis Arrive in Columbus

12:00AM

October 3, 2005

by Tom Borgerding

89.7 NPR News Managing Editor

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Columbus’ Somali population is growing again. The head of the Somali Community Association, Hassan Omar, says hundreds, perhaps thousands more refugees will re-locate to Columbus from refugee camps.

Omar says Somalia still suffers from civil strife more than 14 years after the ouster of long-time dictator Mohammed Siad Barre.Because clan-based fighting continues, those coming to Columbus will be granted political asylum.

Columbus’ Somali community is estimated to be the second largest of any city in the U-S. Omar says with the new arrivals, 30,000 or more Somalis will call Columbus home.