According to UNHCR head of operations, Jean Bosco Rushatsi, they will assist community and refugees in Dadaab camp. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said that it will continue assisting communities and refugees in camps.
UNHCR head of operations Jean Bosco Rushatsi expressed his gratitude to the local community for hosting refugees despite the region facing severe drought conditions and food insecurity.
UNHCR has initiated numerous projects targeting the host community in water trucking, drilling of boreholes, repair of generators and distribution of nonfood items.
Mr Rushatsi said that the agency plans to build a technical college at Alinjugur, where its sub-office was recently closed.
“The agency is keen on helping the community and protecting refugees in camps. The UN is also planning to build a technical college at Alinjugur,” said Mr Rushatsi.
Early this month, the UN World Food Programme announced it would cut food rations by 30 percent for more than 400,000 refugees living in camps in Kenya due to insufficient funding.
Mr Rushatsi further said that the refugees in the Dadaab camp have contributed to deforestation which has left the host community vulnerable.
Many trees around the camps have been cut down for food and fuel which has left the land bare and susceptible to soil erosion but he said the agency is working with UNEP to resolve the issue.