Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have warmly welcomed Kenya’s decision to reverse its firm position to close the Dadaab camps this year until Somalia stabilises.
According to Angela Wells, the communications officer at the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Somalia Country is yet to stabilize and the announcement to halt the repatriation for sometime is a welcome for the refugees.
“We are much grateful that this repatriation decision has been reversed and we hope that Somalia will one time see a sustainable peace. But until then, Kenya as a country should continue to offer a place of sanctuary for Dadaab refugees in the country and also, the international community must continue to support Kenya in doing so,” Angela Wells said in an interview with the IBTimes, UK.
Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery on August 21, announced that the government would temporarily hold back its decision to close the camps until sustainable peace in Somalia is restored.
The CS also said the refugee verification exercise was complete and that the repatriation processes would take a bit longer given the security situation in Somalia.
“We announced that verification should be over by the end of July which we have successfully done. I have the verification report with me. We are in the right direction and we are just waiting for the world to pacify Somalia nation for them to go,” Nkaissery said in a press statement.