The United Nations is not convinced by Kenya’s plan to shut the Dadaab refugee camp and will not back down from its efforts to persuade the country to keep the complex open.
This is contained in a UN summary drafted after secretary general Ban Ki-moon met Deputy President William Ruto in Istanbul, Turkey, during the World Humanitarian Summit.
Ban was not persuaded by Ruto’s announcement that Kenya’s plan to close the camp is final.
In the summary released yesterday, Ban pointed out the potentially devastating consequences of prematurely ending refugee status for hundreds of thousands of people. Ban said he recognises the extraordinary humanitarian role Kenya has played over the years as one of the world’s foremost refugee hosting countries.
On Monday, Ruto told world leaders at the summit that Kenya’s resolve to shut the camp and repatriate about 300,000 Somali refugees is non-negotiable. “Kenya has been faithful to her international obligations of humanitarian assistance but no country can shoulder humanitarian responsibilities at the expense of the security of her people and the refugees themselves,” he said.
The DP asked the international community to provide funds for resettling the returnees in Somalia.
Ruto, who represented President Uhuru Kenyatta, said the camps pose a security threat, are a haven for terrorism and conduit for contraband goods as well as a danger to the environment.
On Monday, the Somali government through its ambassador in Nairobi Gamal Hassan, urged Kenya to honour the tripartite agreement signed in November 2013. “That document was signed by the three parties in good faith. It is binding. Ours is to urge Kenya, which has been a host to the refugees, to honour it,” Gamal said.