Dont Close Dadaab Refugee Camp, UN Warns Kenya
The United Nations warned Kenyan authorities Tuesday that closing the worlds biggest refugee camp complex would have "extreme humanitarian and practical consequences" and would violate international law.
On Sunday, the Kenyan government said it had asked the UN refugee agency to repatriate hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees from the sprawling Dadaab refugee camp by July in the wake of the Garissa University massacre claimed by al-Shabaab insurgents from Somalia.
"We recognise the obligation of the government to ensure the security of its citizens and other people living in Kenya, including refugees," UNHCR spokeswoman Karin de Gruijl told reporters in Geneva, expressing shock at the April 2 attack that left nearly 150 people dead.
However, she said the UNHCR was deeply concerned that abruptly closing Dadaab, which houses 350,000 refugees and is considered the worlds biggest camp, and forcing refugees to return to Somalia could have dire consequences.
Such a move "would have extreme humanitarian and practical consequences, and would be a breach of Kenyas international obligations," de Gruijl said.
"We are thus urging the Kenyan authorities to give the matter further consideration," she said.
Kenya hosts some 450,000 Somali refugees, most of them housed in Dadaabs vast complex of five camps.
The site opened in 1991 after the collapse of Somalias hardline Siad Barre regime when the country plunged into chaos.
The Kenyan government had already sought the closure of Dadaab after the September 2013 al-Shabaab attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi that left at least 67 people dead, saying the camp was a breeding ground for Islamist militants.
In November that year, Kenya, Somalia and the UNHCR signed a joint deal to back the voluntary repatriation of Somalis. - AFP
Comments
Security of Kenya citizens
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Security of Kenya citizens come first. Relocate to another Dadaab to another country.
Before we go international,
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Before we go international, we must first go national.Kenya is well aware that it is breaking the international accord by closing the camp.But if this will result in reducing,or removing the breeding ground for terrorists,them the move would have more that done its purpose.
Call on Alshabab to take them.Let them take their somali brothers and sisters.
Leave the camp alone and
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Leave the camp alone and arrest the local Alshabaab sponsors.Or who does not know that Al Shabaab is the military wing of ODM/CORD?
So Kenyans are going to
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So Kenyans are going to sacrifice their children or their lives
For sale of refugee I agree with kenyan government of there has been
Breach of security that involves the refugee then they have a right to do so
But more to that more investigation needs to be done these innocent
Lives lost for what just because some idiot somewhere is not happy
Of being discipline for their ruthless act I have no sympathy for such people
It's hard for young lives to be taken like that like living had no meaning. If they can just put guns down and learn to more smart and intelligent rather than being mere stupid. To me they don't have anything better to do than to kill but they needed reminded pay back is coming for no evil deed go unpunished
The innocent blood they shed is crying out
When I first visited Dadaab
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When I first visited Dadaab around 1992, it was a sprawling camp together with its sister camp in Liboi. It also provided lucrative job opportunities for expatriates and some local staff. Then, Somalia was in greater strife due to war and drought. Today is over 20 years later. Dadaab is still sprawling, war is still ongoing but probably not on the same scale as the 90s. Drought comes and goes, but Dadaab stays steady. I am sure it still provides great job opportunities for expatriates and some local staff. Do you see where I am going with this? Think economics...
every nation is responsible
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every nation is responsible for itself. Somalia government need to stop being baby seated for ever. If the Kenyan government has the evidence that, the refugees in dadaab are the cause of home grown terrorism, then refugees warudi kwao.
@Soldieron well saida nd i
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@Soldieron well saida nd i get you kabisa-monwy begets money. In addition, when wil the international law stop interferring with African ideals. They always want to dicates when to shit and not shit, Just saying............................................
Oh i forgot, Ogopa mzungu
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Oh i forgot, Ogopa mzungu wanatafuta base yakurithi mashamba
Close the damm camp.Its well
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Close the damm camp.Its well said by somebody here that b4 we go international with need to go local first.Kenya has every right to close the camp
Anytime we want so the unhcr should stop threating Us.
"The United Nations warned
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"The United Nations warned Kenyan authorities Tuesday that closing the world's biggest refugee camp complex would have "EXTREME HUMANITARIAN AND PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES".......aaaah, does this mean Kenyans are not human and their humanity does not matter? UN does not care about OUR welfare? Is it written that Somali refugees welfare comes before that of their host Kenyans?....or UN just wants a safe place to operate from without giving a damn about the PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES Kenyans face? Was the killing of 147 students practical or ??????? am I missing something??? Haiya, at this rate, these Jungus are going to poop on our heads....you'd think the 'world's biggest refugee camp' is a fete to achieve.
I meant a FEAT (not a
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I meant a FEAT (not a fete).... I am sure Mwakilishi is working on getting us an 'edit' and 'like" button
@fafanua, Kenya is a
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@fafanua, Kenya is a sovereign country. We have the right to say who we want in our country and those we don't.
Fafanua thank u for
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Fafanua thank u for fafanualing.I got nothing to add.This Somalis need to b taken home,I feel for the innocent but they r not giving the police info about the bad guys.I hope uhuruto will act in thoz 90 days.We were warn by the west about voting for uhuruto be coz of their evil interest in Kenya so wr used to threats like this from unhcr.Let them move the camp to Ethiopia or USA Juu they got a lot of space.If I was uhuruto I could have given them 30 days Juu all they want is buses n lorries to carry them n tents or we can even build them mabati housed within a week with the help of unhcr or still Kenya money asking as they get out.then we can bill this somAli gover the bill
How in the world did we get
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How in the world did we get to having a neighbor like Somalia whow does not appreciate our goodwill and benevolence?Uganda has had its woes and wars,Amin,Obote...but has relatively been agood neighbor.
But Somalia has been a terrible neighbor. First Somali goverment was essentially being run from Kenya.Now we are hosting them in camps.When are they going to get their act together.
Now their diaspora brothers and sisters are showing displease at our government for shutting down money transfer entities. Let them leave the comfort of diaspora and go and contribute to the uplifting of their Somalia.
Yes we should bill Somalia for any good deed we have done for them. What have we gotten in return except a thorn in the flesh,to say the least. Time to put a price on our kindness.With such a neighbor who needs enemies?
Somalis should be send back
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Somalis should be send back to their country for those ones who are opposing , did not feel any pain for the lives that were lost. It felt most by those who lost their close family members and friends. UNHCR why are they pushing this Somalis to our country they need to be relocated somewhere else. Wanatuskumia terrerist kwa nini. If nothing is done the worst is coming and Kenyan people will always be in fear because they are not sure what can happen anytime. Who wants to live in a country where you jsut to be worried all the time because of Alshabab. For real How can some just 1234 147 people jameni!!!!!!!
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