The worst locust outbreak to hit East Africa in decades is affecting more than 1.2 million hectares of crops in a region where 20 million people already face food insecurity. The international community must respond immediately.
Senior National Security and Humanitarian Figures Urge Continued Life-Saving Assistance to Somalia
In an open letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, and USAID Administrator Mark Green, 16 senior U.S. national security and humanitarian figures urged U.S. officials to reject a Kenyan proposal at the UN, saying it would cripple humanitarian aid.
Secretary Tillerson Should Promote Safety and Rights of Displaced People During his Trip to Sub-Saharan Africa
As U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson embarks on a multi-nation trip to sub-Saharan Africa, Refugees International delivered a letter to the secretary urging the Trump administration to use this critical opportunity to reaffirm U.S. humanitarian support, while advocating for policies that promote the safety, dignity, and rights of refugees and displaced populations in the sub-Saharan region.
UN Food Distributions are critical for Somali Refugees in Kenya
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it will cut food rations by 30 percent for the hundreds of thousands of Somalis in the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in northern Kenya. WFP said the decision is the result of funding shortfalls. However, many of the Somali refugees believe the reductions are the result of a Kenyan government move to close the Dadaab and push the Somali refugees toward “voluntary” repatriation to Somali
The Case Against Refugee Camps
Throughout the 20th century, it was a common and largely uncontested practice for refugees to be placed in camps when they arrived in their country of asylum. The advantages of this arrangement appeared to be self-evident. However, alternatives to camps must be pursued as a global principle, while the provision of appropriate support to refugees in urban centers and rural host communities must be guaranteed.
Refugees International Applauds Kenyan Court’s Decision on Dadaab Refugee Camp
Refugees International applauds the decision by Kenya’s High Court to strike down the Kenyan government’s order to close the Dadaab refugee camp and disband its Department of Refugee Affairs.
Refugee Returns from Kenya to Somalia: “This is About Fear… Not About Choice”
The Kenyan government’s threat to close the Dadaab refugee camp by the end of November would cause irreparable harm and damage.
Kenyan decision to close refugee camps potentially puts hundreds of thousands at risk
Earlier today, the Kenyan government issued a deeply troubling statement on the closure of Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps. Citing national security concerns, Ministry of Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Eng Karanja Kibicho announced that “hosting of refugees has come to an end.” The statement is a major blow to the most basic fundamentals of refugee rights.
Making Ends Meet in Dadaab
Ja’far Abdikadir* is a shoe shiner in Dagahaley. He has been working for a couple of years as the breadwinner for a desperate family comprising of a mother and siblings. Ja’far at the age of 13 years simultaneously manages to go to school and work as a shoe shiner. The latter is the only source…
Keeping Refugees on the Agenda for Obama’s Africa Visit
For the sake of Somali refugees like Farah, let’s also hope that refugee rights are on the agenda. For years, Somali refugees in Kenya have faced abuse and extortion at the hands of Kenya’s security services. However, as Kenyan government officials have sought to link the broad refugee population with the threat of terrorism, police…