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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Your search for « Dadaab » matched 1263 results. Only the first 1,000 results are displayed. Displaying page 1 of 112 pages.
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Evaluation of the Dadaab firewood project, Kenya
15 Jun 2001 ... AND POLICY ANALYSIS UNIT Evaluation of the Dadaab firewood project, Kenya By CASA Consulting, ......... 13 Overview of the Dadaab Firewood Project......... -
Analysis of Refugee Protection Capacity: Kenya
18 Apr 2005 ... ... In 1998, these were consolidated into four refugee camps: the three Dadaab camps in the ... Somali refugees comprise the majority of the 138,571 refugees in the Dadaab camps. The Kakuma camp ...... -
Safe Haven: Case Study, Kenya
May 2013 ... ... / 22 Dadaab Refugee Camps / 22 Kenya’s Post-election Violence / 23 iv. findings / 25 Shelter Models / 25 Kakuma Refugee Camp / 28 Text Box: Dadaab Refugee ...... -
Strengthening refugee protection, assistance and support to host communities in Kenya: Project proposals
1 Aug 2008 ... according to international standards at the Dadaab camps……..9 3) Building the capacity of the ... access to a basic education of high quality at Dadaab refugee camps……………………………...... -
Vital links in social security: Somali refugees in the Dadaab camps, Kenya, Cindy Horst
10 Apr 2001 ... in social security: Somali refugees in the Dadaab camps, Kenya Cindy Horst University of ... 1991, three refugee camps were set up close to Dadaab, a small town in the Garissa district of ...... -
ILO-UNHCR Partnership through Technical Cooperation: Multi-bilateral Programme of Technical Cooperation: Self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods for refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma camps
1 Sep 2005 ... REPORT Self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods for refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma camps Alfred Dube (Kakuma) Andreas Koenig (Dadaab) The views expressed in this report are those of its author and ...... -
UNHCR fears fighting could swell numbers of Somalis fleeing into Kenya
11 Aug 2006 ... DADAAB, Kenya, August 11 (UNHCR) - Somali refugees are arriving at Dadaab in north-east Kenya at a rate of 100 per day, but UNHCR fears the numbers could rise even higher if fighting between the Union ...... -
Return intentions survey
17 Sep 2015 ... Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Dadaab Refugee Operation, Nairobi Kenya and the ... Following this initial support the IOM Dadaab Survey Team carried on the survey that was financially ...... -
How To Guide: Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations, Kakuma & Dadaab, Kenya
1 Jun 2001 ... Her assessment of RH services in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps was undertaken with the aim of ... the reproductive health (RH) services provided in the refugee camps in Kakuma and Dadaab, Kenya. ......