OPINION: From unjust staff layoffs to ignoring plight of the host communities, it’s time the U.N reciprocate the generosity or lift the heavy burden off the Dadaab refugee host community

By: Dahir Abdullahi

Since the collapse of the Somali government in 1991, the lives of countless Somalis have been shattered, fleeing violence, persecution, and famine. Thousands sought refuge in Kenya, primarily through the Dadaab and Fafi constituencies in Garissa County.

In a remarkable show of solidarity, local leadership and host communities extended their hands unconditionally to these refugees, responding to the call from the Government of Kenya (GoK) and the United Nations (UN).

This generous decision followed the distressing withdrawal of host communities from similar agreements in other areas like Ukunda in Kwale County, where fear and exhaustion over the influx led them to rescind their welcome.

The Dadaab Refugee Camp was established in the heart of these resilient host communities, providing a haven for those who arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Before this overwhelming influx, the host families were a thriving business and pastoralist community, their lives intertwined with nature, each nurturing herds of goats, sheep, cows, and camels.

Tragically, the lands that once teemed with life became mere shadows of their former selves, as vital grazing areas and water catchments were transformed into crowded camps.

A burden too heavy to bear

Initially designed to accommodate 90,000 refugees, the Dadaab camp has swelled beyond comprehension, earning the sombre distinction of being the world’s largest refugee camp for nearly three uninterrupted decades—until the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh overshadowed it in 2017.

This unprecedented increase has laid a colossal burden on the host communities, who have lost everything they hold dear—livestock, water sources, and even the very vegetation that supported their livelihoods.

Refugees’ reliance on firewood as the primary source of cooking energy affects the ecosystem and environment in Dadaab (Picture/Amnesty International)

The refugees, seeking survival, have decimated forests for makeshift homes and firewood, and drained precious water resources for their daily needs. The scars of this rapid change run deep, leaving host communities mired in poverty and despair.

As overcrowding suffocates the camps, the environment suffers gravely. Deforestation, soil harvesting, and overextraction of water sources have sparked a dire ecological crisis, inviting relentless, back-to-back droughts that have further depleted the livestock on which the host communities depend.

The reversal of fortunes is stark—the very communities that were once vibrant are now sinking deeper into poverty.

In stark contrast, the refugees receive food rations, free social services, cash assistance, and resettlement opportunities, while host communities remain silent in their suffering. Despite having shared limited resources and peacefully coexisting with the refugees for decades, the host community is now on the brink of collapse.

Insecurity looms large, with groups like al-Shabaab infiltrating the camps and targeting the very communities that opened their arms to those in need.

On several occasions, a police vehicle was struck by a remote-controlled bomb, killing tens of dedicated Kenyan officers who selflessly worked to protect refugees.

Local staff first on layoffs 

The so-called ‘UN-led aid agencies’ have historically provided minimal employment opportunities to members of the host community, relegating them to junior positions such as watchmen, cleaners, and clerks. Despite their expertise, qualified locals are sidelined due to systemic bribery and nepotism that favour non-locals for senior roles.

Surprisingly, it’s these entry positions—which tend to offer paltry salaries—that are often the first on the chopping block during budget cuts or reorganisations. A recent round of layoffs highlighted this trend, shedding light on the UN’s conspicuous lack of consideration for the sacrifices made by the host community.

Refugee families face water shortages as declining water tables result from increased demand.(Picture/Baruud)

Over 90 locally hired aid workers and security guards were unjustly dismissed, their livelihoods torn away without notice—a clear violation of the Kenya Employment Act. The dubious justification offered by the UN, citing a budget shortfall related to funding cuts from the US government, has been met with outrage.

The local community has rightly rejected this reasoning as insulting, a simplistic excuse for a grave injustice they have endured for far too long.

It’s time to take the bull by the horns

In response to the betrayal and the mockery of their generosity, the host community has rallied together, staging a demonstration and blocking access to the main UN compound in Dadaab.

This move has brought operations to a standstill as they demand the return of their fellow workers. How else can they convey the urgency of their plight when UN agencies refuse to acknowledge the humanity of those who once embraced their struggle?

For over thirty years, UN-led agencies have turned a blind eye, allowing a disturbing cycle of neglect and impunity to continue. They’ve treated host communities as mere footnotes in their humanitarian missions. It’s time for the world to wake up and recognise the sacrifices and struggles of those hosting the Dadaab refugee camps.

The scales have tipped, and it’s in the interest of major UN players like UNHCR and WFP to take a hard look in the mirror, rethink their strategies, and honour the very people who sustained the very fabric of support that helped refugees survive.

The humanitarian crisis in Dadaab is not solely a story of refugees; it is equally a tale of selfless host communities burdened by an overwhelming weight — one that deserves recognition, empathy, and action.

It’s time for my people to take the bull by the horns and stand up against this injustice! The time is now.

Dahir Abdullahi is a strategic communication and advocacy expert.