Kenya's rights group in court bid to stop closure of Dadaab camp

Kenya's state-funded human rights commission went to court on Monday, seeking to stop the planned closure of Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp hosting more than 300,000 Somali refugees.

The Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC) said in its court papers the closure of Dadaab was illegal.

"The closure is illegal and has far reaching negative effects on the rights and fundamental freedoms of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers within the republic as it denies them access to vital resources offered by the department," the commission said.

KNHCR argued forcible return of refugees without a proper assessment of their security concern will put their lives at risk.

"All this will have been done in breach of various national, regional and international legal instruments protecting refugees as it fails to take into account individual needs and safety measures," it said in the court papers.

The East African nation has announced it will repatriate all refugees in Dadaab by November and urged the international community to help in the process.

Despite international pressure on Kenya to reconsider the decision, the government has remained adamant, citing a "very heavy economic, security and environmental burden".

It says Somalia's Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab, which has staged deadly attacks in Kenya in rennet years, has hideouts in the refugee camp.

It was not yet clear when the repatriation will begin, but the government has disbanded the Department of Refugee Affairs, which worked with humanitarian organizations for the welfare of the refugees. Endit