Kenya-Somalis border aid cut after abduction

The UN scaled back its aid operation for refugees on the Kenya-Somalia border today following the abduction of two women aid workers.

Refugee agency the UNHCR said all non-life-saving activities had been suspended since the kidnap of the Spanish women, who worked for Médecins Sans Frontières, yesterday. It is feared militants may have taken them to Somalia.

About half a million refugees have fled drought and conflict in Somalia and are living in the Dadaab refugee camp - the world's largest, and now Kenya's third biggest city.

Agency spokesman Emmanuel Nyabera said water, food and medical services would still be provided and they were waiting for increased security over the next few days before resuming full operations.

Until then aid workers will not be able to collect new asylum seekers from the border 50 miles away.

Suspected militants took the women after entering the camp and shooting and wounding their Kenyan driver.