Human Rights Watch report based on misinformation-Somalia and Kenya

Somalia and Kenya have dismissed reports the repatriation of Somali refugees from Daadaab camp is based on coercion by Kenyan authorities.

In a joint communique, the two countries and the UNHCR said the report by Human Rights Watch was based on misinformation and that the process had been conducted in line with the provisions of the 2013 Tripartite Agreement by the three parties.

In a scathing report against Kenya and UNHCR, Human Rights Watch said this past week refugees were being forced to leave the camp and that they were provided with very limited information about the situation of the places they were going to be relocated in Somalia.

“The Kenyan authorities are not giving Somali refugees a real choice between staying and leaving, and the U.N. refugee agency isn’t giving people accurate information about security conditions in Somalia,” said HRW’s refugee rights director, Bill Frelick, in a statement.

But in the rejoinder, the three parties noted the claims by HRW were counter-productive to the efforts of both governments in hosting and receiving the refugees. The report does not take into account the fact the government of the Federal Republic of Somalia is appreciative of the process and is willing to receive her people,” read the communique.

The parties said a total of 13,064 Somali refugees had voluntarily returned to Somalia while 439 have been settled to third countries to third countries since May 2016 to date. They noted however 2,000 returnees have been waiting for a way forward at the transit centres in Dagahaley and Hagadera camps in Dadaab.