Sub-Regional Operations Profile - East and Horn of Africa

Working environment

The future prospects for peace and stability remain bleak in many parts of the East and Horn of Africa. In Somalia, continuing clashes between warring groups led to large-scale population displacements within the country and movements to neighbouring states and across the Gulf of Aden. The security conditions in south and central Somalia deteriorated further, reducing UNHCR's access to its population of concern. Despite the conclusion of a peace agreement between the Transitional Federal Government and an opposition faction in June 2008, over a million Somalis remained displaced.

Though the organized voluntary repatriation of Southern Sudanese from Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda continued and resettlement increased, significant new influxes of people displaced from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya and Somalia occurred.

The widespread violence that followed the announcement of election results in Kenya in December 2007 displaced some 300,000 people. Despite the official closure of the Kenyan border with Somalia, some 17,000 new asylum-seekers from south and central Somalia have been registered since January 2008. In view of the civil strife, weakening socio-economic infrastructure, and Somalia's political instability, the humanitarian situation on both sides of the border is unlikely to improve and Kenya will continue to receive asylum-seekers from Somalia.

In Uganda, peace talks between the Government and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) promised an end to a conflict that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and displaced some two million people internally. However, the peace agreement is yet to be signed.

Hopes that tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea over their disputed border would be resolved were dashed by the formal dissolution of the Independent Border Commission in November 2007. The UN Security Council's decision to end the mandate of United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) as of 30 July 2008, and subsequent withdrawal of military observers and personnel, leaves the two countries without any international presence at their disputed border.

Drought and floods aggravated the already difficult conditions faced by impoverished populations in the region, while increases in food and fuel prices put additional pressure on UNHCR's programmes.

A number of initiatives are in progress under the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU/PSC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Peace Support Mission in Somalia (IGASOM) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), to try to bring peace to the subregion.

Strategy

A major imperative for UNHCR is to strengthen its partnerships with the AU, the African Development Bank (ADB), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and IGAD. In collaboration with these and other regional entities and UN agencies, UNHCR will promote the implementation of peace agreements, which remain crucial for stability in the subregion. It will also promote for completion of the repatriation programme for Sudanese and the eventual repatriation of Somali and other refugees willing to return home.

UNHCR will also provide technical expertise to countries which have adopted national refugee laws and help them to establish asylum institutions. The promotion of voluntary repatriation will remain a priority. Sudanese refugees living in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda will be assisted to return to their areas of origin.

The Office will also play an active role in facilitating resettlement initiatives for refugees in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. Other durable solutions initiatives will be pursued, including self-sufficiency and development assistance for refugees in Uganda, and group resettlement from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya. UNHCR's strategies will include camp consolidation and rehabilitation of the refugee-impacted areas as required.

The Office will mainstream age, gender and diversity considerations into all its programmes in the region. It will also provide assistance and support to host communities. Issues pertaining to sexual and gender-based violence, gender equality, education and HIV and AIDS will be addressed. Improvements will be made in data collection, registration and the use of standards and indicators. These efforts are expected to improve the quality of programmes and reinforce results-based management and the accountability framework. In Uganda and Kenya, UNHCR will continue to work closely with UN agencies on the return of IDPs.

The search for comprehensive durable solutions remains a priority in the subregion. To this end, the Office will support voluntary repatriation and sustainable reintegration as well as local integration and self-sufficiency. It will use resettlement as a strategic protection tool.

Constraints

Despite the move of the Somali Transitional Federal Government from Kenya to Somalia, the security situation in south and central Somalia has remained volatile.

Operations

UNHCR's operations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda are described in separate chapters.

Djibouti remains a departure point for mixed migration movements towards Yemen and elsewhere. UNHCR has established a transit centre in Djibouti to screen and register new arrivals. The Office will also maintain an international presence in Ali Addeh camp to oversee the reception and settlement of new arrivals. Comprehensive HIV and AIDS interventions for refugees and host communities, including prevention of mother-to-child transmission and the provision of antiretroviral treatment, will continue.

The situation in Djibouti is complex. It is characterized by refugees who have been in the country for almost two decades, and the continuous inflow of new arrivals - mainly from south Somalia, but also from the Ogaden region in Ethiopia - and mixed migration. There are hundreds of irregular arrivals every month, especially by Ethiopians who use Djibouti both as a transit and destination country. The majority of these arrivals vanish for fear of being detained and deported.

UNHCR will pursue durable solutions for refugees in Djibouti through voluntary repatriation to "Somaliland", "Puntland" and Ethiopia. Resettlement of refugees will also be given priority. Other programme activities include individual refugee status determination (RSD) for those refugees who opt not to return; rehabilitating refugee-impacted areas; and strengthening the Government's capacity to manage refugee affairs. UNHCR will ensure delivery of assistance, including health and social services, and primary education, in the camps.

In Eritrea, UNHCR will focus on the identification of durable solutions for some 5,000 Somalis. In 2008, the Office began preparations for a group resettlement submission for more than 3,500 Somali refugees. Resettlement, as well as the voluntary repatriation of Southern Sudanese, will continue. UNHCR plans to consolidate the Sudanese camp in Elit with the Somali camp in Emukulu in early 2009. As a result, it will be able to reduce its presence while continuing to protect and assist the remaining Somali refugees, including the latest influx through Djibouti.

The Regional Support Hub in Nairobi will continue to support 17 UNHCR operations in the East and Horn of Africa as well as in Central Africa and the Great Lakes. The Hub will provide expertise in durable solutions, registration, refugee women and children, geographical information systems, resettlement and public information. It will enhance support for peace processes; the registration and documentation of refugees; the prevention - and response to - sexual and gender-based violence; and advocacy. The Hub will also assist offices to improve their internal control mechanisms and comply with security standards. The staff welfare department will also continue to play a key role in counselling staff.

The Regional Liaison Office in Addis Ababa is responsible for UNHCR's relationships and joint programmes with the AU, IGAD, ADB, ECA and other UN agencies. These links facilitate the realization of NEPAD and UN goals and objectives. Collaborative programmes include development of an AU convention on internal displacement and the convening of the first AU special summit on refugees, returnees and IDPs in 2009.

Peacebuilding initiatives include the implementation of the AU policy on post-conflict reconstruction that was developed with UNHCR support and adopted in 2006. UNHCR chairs the UN sub-cluster on post-conflict reconstruction and development. Comprehensive reports on the status of recovery and reconstruction in 12 countries emerging from conflict have been compiled and published. Implementation of the recommendations contained in these reports would contribute to the sustainable reintegration and rehabilitation of displaced populations and the prevention of further forced displacement. To carry out these goals effectively and better align its activities with regional structures, the Regional Liaison Office will become an autonomous office in January 2009.

Financial information

Both annual and supplementary programme budgets to support implementation of UNHCR operations in the East and the Horn of Africa have increased over the past five years as a result of the revolving emergencies. In particular, UNHCR has taken an active part in IDP operations in Kenya, Uganda and Somalia. Furthermore, requirements for voluntary repatriation and rehabilitation have increased steadily during recent years.