Saturday
July 16, 2011
July 16, 2011
News
TOM MARUKO | NATION Somali refugee Nuriyo Aden, 40, and her two children wait to be registered at the Dadaab camp on Wednesday after they fled hunger in their country.
By JACOB NGETICH, jngetich@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Friday, July 15 2011 at 22:11 update on Friday, July 15 2011 at 22:46
Posted Friday, July 15 2011 at 22:11 update on Friday, July 15 2011 at 22:46
Kenya wants a refugee camp set up in Somalia over security fears.
Internal security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh said refugees in Dadaab would then be moved to the camp, four kilometres into Somalia.
Mr Ojodeh said the influx of refugees into the country poses a security risk since no screening had been done on those entering Kenya.
“At the moment, we may not be sure of who is a genuine refugee. We are not ready to take chances, otherwise terrorists may find their way into the country,” said Mr Ojodeh.
“At the moment, we may not be sure of who is a genuine refugee. We are not ready to take chances, otherwise terrorists may find their way into the country,” said Mr Ojodeh.
He further said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs was coming up with a programme that would see refugees from Somalia being ferried back to their country after a place across the border has been identified.
“The situation in Somalia is now stable; there are no more conflicts. The problem is that people are running away from famine caused by the drought. If that is the case, they don’t have to travel all the way to Kenya when food can be supplied to them near their border,” said Mr Ojodeh.
The assistant minister said they had appealed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to identify non-governmental organisations that can supply food within Somalia.
“We know their problem is food and we will work to ensure they get it within their country,” he added.
UNHCR’s mandate does not cover internally displaced persons. It will, therefore, offer limited assistance in Somalia.
Mr Ojodeh differed with Prime Minister Raila Odinga who, on Thursday, ordered the reopening the Kenya-Somalia border to allow in Somali refugees seeking humanitarian assistance.
“The official opening of the border must be deliberated and agreed on, but for now we are determined to keep these people (Somali refugees) within their borders,” said Mr Ojodeh.
“The official opening of the border must be deliberated and agreed on, but for now we are determined to keep these people (Somali refugees) within their borders,” said Mr Ojodeh.
Mr Odinga said the refugees were in serious need of help and Kenya could not ignore them.
Camp overwhelmed
Camp overwhelmed
Wajir South MP Mohamed Sirat agreed with Mr Ojodeh that there was no point in letting the refugees into the country.
“We all care for the suffering Somalis who are our neighbours, our brothers and sisters. However, it is easier if we assist them within their country rather than have them travel all the way to Dadaab to get assistance,” said Dr Sirat.
He said that the camp in Dadaab had been overwhelmed.
“When the refugees come here, they need trees to construct their houses and for firewood, and they are depleting our trees,,” Dr Sirat added.
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