UNHCR repatriates 13000 Somali refugees from Kenya

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday said some 13,277 Somali refugees in Kenya have been repatriated since the beginning of 2017.

In its bi-weekly Update, the UN refugee agency said that flights to Mogadishu have resumed on Feb. 27 after a long suspension due to security restrictions in Mogadishu since December 2016.

Some 52,591 Somali were repatriated for the last 27 months, according the statement.

“Road convoys were organized from Dadaab to Dhobley respectively on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays,” the UN refugee agency said.

The UNHCR said its Monthly Cross Border Coordination Meeting on voluntary repatriation to Somalia held on Feb. 28 and attended by representatives from Government of Kenya, Government of Somalia, UNHCR Kenya and Somalia resolved to step up repatriation despite looming famine in Somalia.

“Participants deliberated on the drought situation and the looming famine in Somalia and its impact on voluntary repatriation. It was agreed that voluntary repatriation from Kenya to Somalia will continue, while the drought situation will be closely monitored,” it said.