UNHCR statement on the future of Kenya's Dadaab refugee camps
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Karin de Gruijl – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The Government of Kenya has announced that the Dadaab refugee camps should be closed within three months and the 350,000 Somali refugees living there returned to their country. The Government's decision was announced this past weekend following the horrific attack at Garissa University earlier this month.
UNHCR too has been shocked and appalled by the Garissa attack. High Commissioner António Guterres and his staff stand in solidarity with the people of Kenya. We reiterate our condolences to the families of all the victims.
Kenya has been generously hosting and protecting refugees from violence and persecution in neighbouring Somalia for more than two decades. UNHCR works closely with the Government of Kenya and we understand well the current regional security situation and the seriousness of the threats Kenya is facing. We also recognize the obligation of the Government to ensure the security of its citizens and other people living in Kenya, including refugees.
UNHCR is nevertheless concerned that abruptly closing the Dadaab camps and forcing refugees back to Somalia would have extreme humanitarian and practical consequences, and would be a breach of Kenya's international obligations.
We are thus urging the Kenyan authorities to give the matter further consideration. UNHCR stands ready to work even more closely with the Government of Kenya to strengthen law enforcement at Dadaab and support other measures to protect refugees and Kenyans alike against possible intrusion by armed actors from across the border.
In December 2014, a pilot scheme was launched to support people who seek to voluntarily repatriate to one of three relatively safe areas of Somalia, namely Luuq, Baidoa and Kismayo. We are ready to work with the Governments of Kenya and Somalia to step up this program where there are opportunities for voluntary repatriation. Nonetheless, for now UNHCR considers that large-scale returns are still not possible in many parts of the country, in particular to South Central Somalia.
UNHCR reiterates it continued commitment to supporting the Government of Kenya in its protection of Somali refugees going forward.
For further information on this topic:
- In Nairobi: Raouf Mazou,mobile +254 716 359 655
- In Nairobi: Emmanuel Nyabera,mobile +254 733 995 975
- In Geneva: Karin de Gruijl, mobile +41 79 255 9213
- In Geneva: Babar Baloch, mobile +41 79 557 9106
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UNHCR Global Appeal 2006 - North America and the Caribbean Regional Overview
1 Dec 2005 ... humanitarian traditions and inter- national obligations relating to persons of con- cern to UNHCR. ... determination procedures and the rights and obligations of asylum-seekers and UNHCR Global Appeal ...... -
Deportation and the liberal state: the forcible return of asylum seekers and unlawful migrants in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom, Matthew J. Gibney and Randall Hansen
20 Feb 2003 ... have articulated a broad range of state obligations towards refugees and legal residents. 3 Both ... has committed itself to similar legal obligations. 54 The obligation is self-imposed because ...... -
Public health equity in refugee and other displaced persons settings, April 2010
20 Apr 2010 ... ... by population, the extent of the health obligations of an emergency agency like UNHCR, the ... The state undertakes legal obligations and the populace, particularly in the context of human ...... -
IMO and UNHCR urge action to prevent rising death toll at sea
3 Jul 2007 ... the risk to lives, search and rescue obligations, including issues surrounding disembarkation. ... of the SAR services by ensuring that the obligation of the shipmaster to give help to people in ...... -
Chile passes landmark domestic legislation on refugees
11 Mar 2010 ... and incorporates this country's obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. ... of refugees; sets out guarantees and obligations for refugees; and regularizes procedures and ...... -
UNHCR comments on the European Commission's Proposal for a recast of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third country national or a stateless person ("Dublin II") (COM(2008) 820, 3 December 2008) and the European Commission's Proposal for a recast of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of [the Dublin II Regulation] (COM(2008) 825, 3 December 2008)
18 Mar 2009 ... ... new Article 6(1), creating a binding obligation under which “the best interests of the ... Proposed Recital 10 notes that this obligation is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the ...... -
Matrix: Follow-up to the Recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the Accounts for 2007: UNHCR update as at January 2009
13 Feb 2009 ... un- liquidated obligations and whether they are recorded in the proper period (para. 36); FCS / DFAM Implemented subject to review in March UNHCR has reinforced control of un-liquidated obligations. ...... -
Refugee Protection and Mixed-Migration: The 10-Point Plan in Action: Chapter 7 Solutions for refugees. Reference 2 - UNHCR, Executive Committee Conclusion No. 101 (LV) on legal safety issues in the context of voluntary repatriation of refugees, 1975-2004
1 Jun 2009 ... ... by certain States in respect of their obligations under the 1951 Convention and the 1967 ... Convention or the 1967 Protocol or whose obligations under these instruments were restricted by ...... -
Voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: Audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 1984 and Report of the Board of Auditors
16 Jul 1985 ... at 31 December 1984 - All funds: obligations liauidated/outstanding by country/area/operation...... 57 Schedule 7. Status of obligations as at 31 December 1984 - All funds ......