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Kenya to repatriate 100,000 Somali refugees: official

Xinhua, June 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Kenyan government and development partners have agreed to voluntarily repatriate 100,000 Somali refugees by December, a senior official said on Thursday.

Acting Commissioner for Refugees Harun Komen said the repatriation of Somalia refugees will resume next week after a brief halt occasioned by torrential rains.

"We are confident that 100,000 Somali refugees will be resettled back home by December to enable them start a new life. The government and bilateral partners are fully behind this exercise," said Komen.

Speaking at a public forum in Nairobi ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20, Komen reiterated the government will abide by international statutes while relocating Somalia refugees.

"We have an obligation to protect refugees and other vulnerable groups. The current repatriation of Somalia refugees is voluntary and has not violated human rights and dignity," Komen told reporters

Kenya is home to an estimated 600,000 refugees from neighboring countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda.

Komen revealed that 70 percent of refugees in Kenya are from Somalia, while the government has intensified search for peace and stability in the horn of African state to stem an influx of asylum seekers.

"We have already commenced discussions with the Somali government to find a durable solution to refugee crisis. The Somali government has promised to create a conducive environment to facilitate smooth resettlement of refugees," said Komen.

Kenya has signed a tripartite agreement with Somali government and UN Refugee Agency to facilitate smooth repatriation of refugees.

Komen said the government will not forcibly relocate Somalia refugees despite call from some quarters to do so in the wake of terrorist attacks in the country.

"We have tried to strike a balance between national security and the needs of refugees. The recent terrorist attacks in the country cannot be wholly attributed to refugees," Komen said, adding that Kenyan security apparatus have intensified surveillance in refugee camps to deter criminal activities. Endi