Kenyans on social media have joined the world in marking World refugee day, a day adopted by the UN General Assembly on every June 20, every year.
On the other hand, refugees in the Kakuma and Dadaab camps in Garissa County are still at a crossroads since they face a possible eviction after the government said it plans to shut the two camps down.
However, this year’s event saw social media outlets awash with messages of hope and solidarity across the globe with much attention directed to the plight of refugees.
“US is expanding our own resettlement program, to admit as many as 85,000 refugees this year, up from the target of 70,000. Refugees should be allowed to return home voluntarily and in dignity. We must continue to work globally, locally, not just to save lives, but to restore dignity. Kenya’s support has provided a lifeline in a time of need to some of the world’s most vulnerable, ‘said US Ambassador to Kenya, Robert Godec at the U.S Embassy in Nairobi.
“Today we mark World Refugee Day to shine a light on the resilience of families forced to flee. We stand With Refugees,” stated UNHCR on their Twitter page.
“More people are being displaced by war and persecution and that’s worrying in itself but the factors that endanger refugees are multiplying too,” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.
According to the latest report released by UNHCR, entitled Global Trends, 2016 is the first time in the organisation’s history that the threshold of 60 million has been crossed.
A total 65.3 million people were displaced at the end of 2015, compared to 59.5 million just 12 months earlier.
Kenya currently hosts more than 600, 000 refugees mostly in the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps making them the hugest camps in the African continent.