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UNHCR relocates first Somali refugees from Dadaab to Kakuma

Briefing Notes, 18 August 2009

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 18 August 2009, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

We have started relocating the first of some 12,900 Somali refugees from the overcrowded Dadaab refugee complex in north-eastern Kenya to Kakuma camp in the north-west. The first 311 refugees arrived in Kakuma on this weekend (15 August) after a three day journey by road. Another convoy of 13 buses with 520 refugees left Dadaab for Kakuma yesterday. The movement of the refugees is being handled by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The relocation of the refugees from Dadaab to Kakuma is part of a multi- phase plan to alleviate the chronic overcrowding in the eighteen year old Dadaab refugee camps, which currently host more than three times the population they were initially designed to accommodate. The move is scheduled to be completed by the end of October, before the start of the rainy season. In addition, in order to improve the living conditions of the refugees in Dadaab, UNHCR is working on upgrading of the aging water and sanitation systems, increasing the health services and providing adequate shelter and nutrition as well as providing more funding to support the local communities neighbouring the camps.

Upon arrival in Kakuma, the refugees were provided with blankets, sleeping mats and kitchen sets, before being transferred to their new accommodation.

The escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in Somalia has driven thousands of Somalis out of their homes, many of whom have fled to the neighbouring and nearby countries. Since January, over 43,000 Somali refugees have sought refuge in the Dadaab camps, bringing the total number of refugees in the three camps to a record 289,500.

At the same time, we are seriously concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Somalia. The continued abductions, killing and intimidation of aid workers and the pillaging of humanitarian facilities and supplies, is making it increasingly difficult to reach and access the needy population. The situation is having an adverse impact on delivery of aid to internally displaced people (IDPs) who are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

UNHCR provides protection and assistance to more than 510,000 refugees in the nearby countries of Kenya, Yemen, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Uganda. There are some 1.3 million IDPs in Somalia, and an estimated 3.2 million people who are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

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Tens of thousands of Somalis are fleeing conflict and drought into Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya.

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Flood waters in north-eastern Kenya in mid-November, caused havoc in the Dadaab refugee complex of three camps. Over 100,000 of the 160,000 refugees have been badly affected by the flooding, particularly in Ifo camp. Refugees' homes were swept away and latrines have overflowed and collapsed. The main supply route linking Dadaab to the rest of Kenya has been cut by the rains, blocking all aid deliveries by road.

To get refugees to safety on higher ground, UNHCR started transferring people to Hagadera camp, 20kms away – often using donkey carts. A series of airlifts has brought in fuel for generators, emergency health kits, tarpaulins, and shovels to fill sandbags to keep the flood waters at bay. Essentials items such as plastic tarpaulins, sleeping mats, and food have been distributed to refugees who lost everything.

These floods have been compared to the massive flooding which followed the record 1997 El Nino rains that swamped much of low-lying eastern Kenya.

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A year on, the area is getting back to its pre-tsunami state with UNHCR and its partners now making the leap from providing emergency aid to investing in development projects. In an effort to improve the lives of the inhabitants of one of the poorest places on Earth, UNHCR has begun rehabilitating schools, building markets and women's centres, as well as constructing roads to help economic development.

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