Garissa County Governor Ali Korane has told the United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to stop issuing licenses to individuals to cut down trees in his county for fuelwood for refugees.
Korane said for twenty-six years now, the UNHCR has been providing fuelwood to refugees using the then forested areas within Dadaab and its environs but it has since turned into a desert something he said it must stop.
“150km/sq where refugees have taken refuge all the trees have been cut down and it has become difficult for the host community to graze their animals or lead a comfortable life,” said.
Speaking in Abdisamit on Monday during homecoming party of his water county minister, Korane said it was high time the UNHCR look for an alternative source of energy for refugees including gas and even solar energy.
The Governor said he was willing to travel to the UN headquarters in Geneva in a conference to be held in October where he said he wants to argue his case that the refugees to use any other source of fuel but not firewood.
Meanwhile, Korane said he has dedicated over 50% of the county’s total budget to address perennial water shortage in his county.
He said he wants to have big project investments that will have an impact on his people rather than small scattered ones that might not add value at the end of his tenure.
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