Thursday, May 12, 2016
NAIROBI (HOL) – There are growing concerns over
the Kenyan government’s plan to close the world’s largest refugee camp and send
hundred thousands of refugees to other countries, citing ‘reasons of pressing
national security’, a development decried by rights groups and aid agencies as
‘disturbing’.
In recent years, the semi-arid refugee camp in
north-eastern Kenya which hosts over 300,000 people had found itself in Kenyan
security’s crosshairs after deadly attacks by the Somalia-based Al-Qaeda linked
Al Shabab group.
Responding to the development, the U.S. Secretary
of State John Kerry said he was concerned by the decision to close the camp
which has been home to hundreds of thousands in the past decades, urging Kenya
to continue its “leadership role in protecting and sheltering victims of
violence and trauma, consistent with its international obligations.”
Established in 1991, the camp largely receives
people fleeing conflict in Somalia, as well ethnic people escaping prosecution
in some East African countries.
In addition, Kenya-based aid agencies joined the
camp’s advocacy alliance, appealing the government to reconsider its decision
which risks uprooting a large number of people who have nowhere to return.
In a joint statement, the aid groups OXFAM, the Refugee
Consortium of Kenya, Save the Children International Rescue Committee, World
Vision, the Danish Refugee Council, Jesuit Refugee Service, Action Africa, Help
International, the Lutheran World Federation, the Norwegian Refugee Council and
Heshima Kenya asked the government warned that the intended closure would
create humanitarian crisis.
Announcing the decision this week, Kenya’s
Ministry of Interior said that the sprawling camp has become a ‘safe haven’ for
terrorist groups like Al Shabab.
The decision has also sent shockwaves across the
refugee communities in the camp who have no desire to return to their
respective countries that they fled during period of unrest and prosecutions
they may face back home.
“It’s a worrying decision and for me, I would
rather die here than going home which I haven’t seen since my childhood.” said
Ahmed Abshir, a 29 years-old Somali refugee who has been living in Dadaab since
1993.
“We are here because of security which my country
cannot provide for the time being.” He said by phone from the camp.