UN rejects plan to force refugees out

Somali refugees will not be forced out of the camps, the UN refugee agency said on Tuesday.

The statement contradicts the government’s position that the refugees must leave and the camps closed. (READ: Lenku now orders all refugee camps closed)

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) noted that the Tripartite Agreement between agency, Kenya and Somalia — signed on November 10 — did not indicate the deadline for the repatriation.

At a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards said the implementation of voluntary repatriation would initially concentrate on supporting refugees who were themselves spontaneously returning to Somalia.

“Three areas in Somalia will be targeted for this purpose. So far, Luuq, Baidoa and Kismayu are under discussion with the refugees,” he said.

FIGHT CRIME

However, the government on Tuesday maintained that to effectively fight crime, the Somali refugees had to be repatriated and the camps closed. (READ: Somali envoy defends refugees over terrorism claims)

The Senate and national security officials held a meeting in Nairobi yesterday to discuss the rising insecurity in the country and came up with a raft of measures to contain the situation.

Besides the repatriation of the refugees, the leaders agreed that the coordination among various security organs in the country would be enhanced.

They also agreed that intelligence data would first be circulated to the officers before being relayed to the public. The county commanders will also oversee the general security in every county.

Standing Committee on the National Security and Foreign Relations chairman Yusuf Haji said the meeting was prompted by the rising cases of border conflicts, terrorism, kidnappings, proliferation of criminal gangs in major towns, and the involvement of former police officers in crime.