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STATUS OF REFUGEES IN KENYA: RUNNING OUT OF SPACEHaron Njiru Email: [email protected]
St. Johns UniversityJune 2011
Outline Key concepts Refugees population in Kenya Origins and reasons Running out of space and the
repercussions ~ Conclusion
RefugeeSomeone who ”owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”
UN Refugee Convention, 1951
Internally displaced persons
“Persons who are displaced within their country and to whom UNHCR extends protection and/or assistance… including persons in IDP-like situations.”
UNHCR 2011
Refugee population in Kenya Significant
increase in refugee population
Cumulative total of 1.4 million refugees registered
Asylum seekers on the decline
IDPs population stagnant
Jan 2010
Jan 2011
Dec 2011
0100,000200,000300,000400,000500,000600,000700,000
RefugeesAsylum-seekersIDPS
Time
Popu
latio
n
Origins of refugees in Kenya
Population of concern Origin
Time Total
% Jan 2010
Jan 2011
Dec 2011
RefugeesSomalia 385,000 516,000
901,000
62.5
Sudan 25,000 32,500 57,500
4.0
Ethiopia 35,500 43,000 78,500
5.4
Various 20,000 26,000 46,000
3.2
Total358,92
8465,50
0617,50
0
1,441,928
100.0
Asylum-seekersEthiopia 14,000 12,000
26,000
46.6
DRC 2,500 2,300 4,800
8.6
Sudan 1,000 1,000 2,000
3.6
Various 2,000 2,000 4,000
7.2
Total 18,958 19,500 17,300 55,758
100.0
IDPs
Kenya399,00
0305,30
0313,60
0
1,017,900
100.0
Why the emigration? Somali refugees
No stable government Civil war since 1991 300 refugees per day
Ethiopia asylum seekers Repressive regime
Crimes against humanity Kenya IDPS
2007 postelection violence Crimes against humanity
Video on Somali Refugees in Kenya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AduoIV7na0
World’s largest refugee camp
Coordinates: 0.051°N 40.314°ECountry: KenyaProvince: North Eastern
World’s largest refugee camp Dadaab refugee camp
Dagahaley camp Hagadera camp Ifo camps
Population: > 300,000 refugees
Hosts many IGOs & NGOs UNHCR UNICEF Care International ….
The camp is full!
Poverty
No shelter
Insecurity
The trouble with overpopulation Spread of air borne diseases such at TB Spread of sexually transmitted infections Over exploitation of natural resources
leading to loss of biodiversity. Water pollution from domestic and fecal
wastes Camp fires, conflict, crime and stress
Conclusion Need to address the political situation in
neighboring countries to reduce the refugee population in Kenya.
Need to improve the living conditions of refugees who are already in the country (Kenya)
Need to protect loss of biodiversity in the refugee camps.
References and further reading Camp overcrowding:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/06/10/refugee-camp-kenya.html
UNHCR in Kenya: http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e483a16
UNHCR: www.unhcr.org/4d8c5b109.html Ethiopia repression:
www.anyuakmedia.com/ethionews41206.html Kenya post election violence:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17774507
Intervention of International Criminal Court in Kenya: http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/exeres/BA2041D8-3F30-4531-8850-
431B5B2F4416.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8GtApfAIY8&feat
ure=fvsr
