DADAAB (Halbeeg News) – The Kenyan government is planning to close down the world’s largest refugee camp, Dadaab in Northeastern part of the country, AFP news agency has reported.
According to an internal UN document, Nairobi will shut the camp which is home to a half a million Somali refugees in the next six months.
A United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) document dated February 28 said the Kenyan government had sent a note verbale informing it of “plans to close the Dadaab camps within six months”.
An aid worker in Dadaab, speaking on condition of anonymity also confirmed that all international organisations were aware of a plan to close the camp, but the “government is keeping it low profile.”
The note, which was dated February 19, asked UNHCR “to expedite the relocation of the refugees and asylum-seekers residing therein.”
The UNHCR said it is committed to working with the government of Kenya on voluntary repatriation to countries of origin, relocating refugees to other parts of Kenya and resettlement to third countries.
In late 2013, Somalia, Kenya and UNHCR signed a tripartite agreement which will allow refugees in the camp to voluntary return to their country with help from the UN agencies. Since then hundreds have relocated back to Somalia.
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