GENEVA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed concern on Wednesday over reports that Kenyan authorities were forcibly returning Somalis who had fled the recent strife in their homeland.

    Several trucks carrying Somalis who had sought refuge in a UNHCR-supported reception center near the Kenyan border town of Liboi were seen heading back toward Somalia on Wednesday morning, media reports said.

    In Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said border security measures should not impair the ability of deserving Somali civilians to enter Kenya to seek safety and protection as refugees.

    "We fully appreciate that the situation in neighboring Somalia is a serious concern to the Kenyan authorities and that governments have a responsibility to ensure border security in such situations," Guterres said.

    "But Kenya also has a humanitarian obligation to allow civilians at risk to seek asylum on its territory. Most of those in Liboi are women and children and they should not be sent back to a very uncertain situation," he added.

    Guterres said UNHCR had already extended an offer to provide immediate expertise and support to Kenya in dealing with new arrivals from Somalia, helping to ensure that it can meet its international obligations while also addressing its legitimate security concerns.

    UNHCR already operates three large refugee camps at Dadaab, about 80 kilometers from Liboi, holding more than 160,000 mainly Somali refugees.

    It also has several emergency staff already on the ground at Dadaab who can assist Kenyan authorities in dealing with any new influx. More staff could be sent.