Relief as Dadaab operations resume after talks with UNHCR

The Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya. Operations at the camp have been at a standoff following protests by local residents. ( Photo Courtesy)

GARISSA—Normalcy has been restored in the Dadaab refugee camp after being paralyzed for days by ongoing protests by local residents over a number of conflicting issues.

Dadaab Deputy County Commissioner Harun Kamau on Thursday, said operations resumed after a series of meetings between the host community, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and government officials.

“We have reached an agreement after a day’s long meeting. Majority of the concerns have been addressed but going forward we need to further engage to ensure that normalcy returns,” Kamau noted.

Operations have been on a standoff for more than a week after the host community protested against the termination of some UNHCR employees and complained about environmental degradation caused by the refugees.

“Termination of employment, which was one of the main issues, has been put on hold for further talks to allow operations to continue as usual,” Kamau added.

The locals claimed the UN refugee agency has ignored the plight of host community for the last 26 years whom they accused of causing untold suffering to the community.

Local leaders including MPs and MCAs met with UNHCR officials from Geneva and negotiated a deal.

MP Mohamed Dahiye thanked the locals for heeding to their leaders advice to stop the demonstrations as a lasting solution is being sought.

“On behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank the people of Dadaab for maintaining peace, law and order even as they went about demonstrating. As the host community we want to make it very clear that we don’t have any problem with our brothers and sisters from Somalia whom we have hosted for years. We only had issues with UNHCR and they have promised to address them as first as possible,” Dahiye said.

On his Jamhuri day speech Garissa governor Ali Bunow Korane, said refugees and the host community have been coexisting for the last 26 years and the current stalemate was brought about by the reduced number of refugees due to repatriation.

He urged the locals to remain calm since the county and national governments will get a lasting solution to the current stand-off.