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Somali refugees in Dadaab have destroyed the environment-Ali Bunow Korane

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Ali Bunow Korane, the Garissa County governor (Courtesy)

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GARISSA—Ali Bunow Korane, the Garissa County governor has asked the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to stop giving licenses to people who are cutting down trees for firewood.

The governor has noted that Somali refugees in Dadaab camp have wrecked the environment in Garissa County.

“150 kilometer square where refugees have been hosted, all the trees have been cut down and it has become difficult for the host community to graze their animals or lead a comfortable life since there is nothing left,” Korane said.

Korane said for twenty-six years now, the UNHCR has been providing firewood to refugees using the then forested areas within Dadaab constituency but it has since turned into a desert.

While speaking in Abdisamad in Balambala constituency, Ali Bunow has urged UNHCR to get an alternative source of energy for the refugees in Dadaab camps to reduce the ever growing deforestation in the area.

“Yes they are refugees and we have accommodated them as our brothers and sisters for over twenty years now but that does not mean we allow them to destroy our environment by cutting trees for firewood and charcoal burning.” Korane noted.

“It’s high time we explore alternative means of energy that will not directly destroy the environment. The UNHCR must take responsibility for the massive environmental destruction in Dadaab sub county. They must come up with tangible long term and short term measures to restore the environment in Dadaab,” he added.

Dadaab refugee camp holds over 400,000 refugees mostly from the neighboring war torn Somalia.

 

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