U.S. says to support Kenya in repatriation of Somali refugees

The U.S. has said it will work with Kenya in the planned repatriation of Somalis in Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp.

Kenya last month announced it would close the Dadaab camp and repatriate the more than 300,000 Somalis living in it, citing environmental and security concerns.

U.S. President Barack Obama pledged the support in the repatritaion in a phone call with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday.

"The president (Obama) and President Kenyatta agreed that the United States and Kenya would work closely together on this issue, to better ensure that the needs of refugees and host communities are met," said a statement released by the White House.

According to the statement, the two leaders discussed the ongoing repatriation of the refugees, and the challenges Kenya had been facing in hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees for more than two decades.

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

Islamist group Al-Shabaab controls areas in southern Somalia and frequently stages attacks in the country.

Kenya has said the repatriation will start on July 1 and will take about five months.

Kenya's Interior Principal Secretary, Joseph Irungu, said 5,000 refugees had opted to return to their home countries voluntarily.

"Our latest statistics as per Wednesday stand at 321,000 refugees at the Dadaab camp from 326,000 as reported in May 31," said Irungu.

He said the voluntary return of the refugees was a sign that the highly debated move will run smoothly. "We encourage the refugees if they have their own means of leaving, let them do so instead of waiting for the official exercise," he said. Endit