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UNHCR chief visits Kenya over repatriation of Somali refugees

Xinhua, June 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi started a visit to Kenya on Thursday to assess situation at refugee camps following Kenya's decision to close Daddab refugee camp, the world's largest refugee camp.

Grandi is expected to meet with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and attend a meeting on a tripartite agreement signed by Kenya, Somalia, and the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, over repatriation of Somali refugees in Kenya.

His five-day visit comes after Kenya recently announced it will repatriate the more than 300,000 Somali refugees in Daddab refugee camp in northeastern Kenya.

Grandi will visit Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps to assess the situation, meet refugee representatives and be briefed on the process of voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees.

"He will hold discussions with the donor community on resource mobilization to improve the living conditions in Somalia and give support to the refugee hosting communities in Kenya," a statement from UNHCR Kenya said.

Grandi, after his trip in Kenya, will visit Somalia and meet Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to discuss "efforts that should be made to ensure that Somalia is ready for sustained return of refugees", according to the statement.

During his visit to Kenya on Wednesday, President Mohamud said Somalia was ready to receive refugees from Kenya.He assured Dadaab refugees that the repatriation will be orderly, humane and dignified.

Kenya has cited a "very heavy economic, security and environmental burden" for its decision to close the Dadaab camp.

Kenya claims Somalia-based Islamist group Al-Shabaab, which has staged several bloody attacks in Kenya in recent years, has hideouts in Dadaab.

Dadaab was set up more than 20 years ago to house people fleeing conflict in Somalia.

It is not yet clear when the closure of Dadaab will begin, but the Kenyan government has disbanded its Department of Refugee Affairs, which worked with humanitarian organizations for the welfare of the refugees. Endit