Press releases
Kenya: 'reckless' closure of world's biggest refugee camp will put lives at risk
‘This reckless decision by the Kenyan government is an abdication of its duty to protect the vulnerable’ - Muthoni Wanyeki
The Kenyan government’s decision to close down two large refugee camps, including the world’s biggest at Dadaab, is likely to put thousands of innocent lives at risk, said Amnesty International this afternoon.
In a statement, Kenya’s Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, Dr Karanja Kibicho, said the decision to close Dadaab and Kakuma camps was due to “immense security challenges such as the threat of Al-Shabaab.”
He said Kenya had hosted more than 600,000 refugees for over a quarter of a century and had shouldered a “very heavy economic, security and environmental burden.” He also asked for the support of the international community to expedite the process.
Amnesty International’s East Africa Regional Director Muthoni Wanyeki said:
“This reckless decision by the Kenyan government is an abdication of its duty to protect the vulnerable and will put thousands of lives at risk.“It could lead to the involuntary return of thousands of refugees to Somalia and other countries of origin, where their lives may still be in danger. This would be in violation of Kenya’s obligations under international law.“While it is true that resettlement to third countries has been slow, Kenya should itself consider permanent solutions towards the full integration of refugees, some of whose stay in Kenya is now over generations. Forced return to situations of persecution or conflict is not an option.”