Southwest prepares resettlement centers for Somali refugees from Kenya’s Dadaan camp

Southwest state is carrying out plans to resettle Somali refugees coming back to the region from Dadab refugee camps, the State’s agriculture minister, Mohamed Hassan Fiqi said on Saturday.

Kenya which was hosting largest Somali refugees wants to repatriate refugees from Dadaab refugee camp to Somalia and to shut down the sprawling Dadaab camps.

Mr. Fiqi confirmed that his government has prepared resettlement areas in the state for the returning Somali refugees adding that the administration has put in place a committee to assess the conditions of the people.

He  noted that the administration has also established health centers meant to welcome and support the refugees.

The move comes barely a day after Kenya’s  Northeastern Regional coordinator, Mohamud Saleh said the planned repatriation of Somali refugees from Dadaab refugee camp will be on course.

“If there was any intention to push the date forward then it will be communicated by the cabinet secretary for internal security. As of now the exercise is on course and we expect it to be concluded in November as earlier announced,” Salah said on Friday.

Kenya in May announced it will close the world’s largest refugee camp, Dadaab and plans to repatriate the more than 300,000 Somali refugees.