The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has condemned the deportation of Somalis from the self-declared republic of Somaliland.

The agency placed the number of people forced out of their homes at 1,000. It said it had information that those deported had lived in the area for nearly 20 years.

The agency said it was "concerned about the reports of additional forced displacements planned in the coming days".

Somaliland deported people from southern Somali on Sunday citing insecurity. Those who had been deported were being looked after in Puntland.