Hours after exit deadline elapsed, the United Nations Refugee Agency has proposed to the Kenyan Government a set of measures aimed at identifying solutions for refugees living in the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps.
These include enhanced voluntary repatriation in safety and dignity, while taking into account movement restrictions related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The UN also suggests resettlement to third countries for a small number of refugees who are not able to return home and those who face protection risks.
Provision of alternative-stay arrangements to refugees from the East African Community (EAC) is another proposition.
UNHCR also proposes acceleration of the issuance of national ID cards to over 11,000 Kenyans who have previously been identified as registered in the refugee database.
Kenyan Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i earlier announced the government’s intention to shut down the Dadaab and Kakuma camps, giving the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) two weeks to present a plan to do so as there was no room for further negotiations.