The Dadaab refugee camp.[Photo/the-star.co.ke]
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said that about 17, 000 refugees from the Dadaab camp are willing to return back to Somalia.
Kenya, Somalia and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed a tripartite agreement on November 10, 2013 for the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees living in Kenya.
Speaking at his Dadaab sub-office, UNHCR's senior protection coordinator Denis Alma Kuindje said revealed that close to 75, 000 refugees had returned home under the project.
He said UNHCR is only assisting refugees who are willing to go back home and not promoting the repatriation.
"Since the process started, the number of refugees in the camps has been going down due to spontaneous return of refugees to Somalia. It's important to note that UNHCR is only facilitating safe return to areas considered safe," he said.
Mr Kuindje said return to Baidoa has been suspended due to severe drought and cholera. Refugees are returning to their home towns of Mogadishu, Dinsor and Kismayu.