UNHCR repatriates 39,316 of Somali refugees to Somalia since 2014

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said 39,316 Somali refugees in Kenya’s Dadaab Camp had returned home since 8th December 2014, when UNHCR started supporting voluntary return of Somali refugees in Kenya.

During return exercise 33,725 Somalis were supported to return their country in 2016 alone,  UN refugee agency in bi-weekly Update released on Saturday.

“The number of flights has been significantly increased as it remains the only mean of transportation to Somalia. Returns movements by air are organised to Mogadishu, Kismayu and Baidoa,” it said in a statement.

UNHCR said it will resume road movements to Somalia on 16th January 2017 and the plan is to organize four convoys a week (each convoy will carry 350 – 500 refugees).

“Verification, assessment and screening is ongoing for the registered refugees who have protection, health concerns and People with Specific Needs. These cases will be verified before being processed at the voluntary repatriation desk,” it said.

The bi-weekly Update note that the relocation flights for the non-Somali refugees will most likely resume in the second week of January 2017.

“The relocation will start with 1,401 refugees of the Gambella community from Ethiopia who are ready to be relocated,” said UNHCR.