Decision to close Dadaab refugee camp final, Ruto tells UN summit

____________________________________________________________________________

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during the opening ceremony of the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, May 23, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal

The Star | May. 23, 2016 | By DPPS – Kenya has told the International Community to support its move to close the Dadaab refugee camp and channel finances in resettling the refugees back to Somalia.

Deputy President William Ruto told the World Humanitarian Summit attended by UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon and other world leaders that the camp had become a burden to Kenya.

“The camp was a security threat, a haven for terrorism and conduit of contraband goods as well as a danger to the environment” he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also addressed the conference.

Ruto said: “Kenya has been faithful to her international obligations of humanitarian assistance but no country can shoulder humanitarian responsibilities at the expense of the security of her people and the refugees themselves.”

The DP who was accompanied by Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery and Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Monica Juma said the country’s contribution and commitment to humanitarianism is beyond question.

Also present were chairmen of National Assembly Security Committee Asman Kamama and Defence and Foreign Relations’ Ndungu Gethenji. Kenya’s ambassador to Turkey Kiema Kilonzo, MPs Yusuf Haji, Barre Shill and Kimani Ichungwah also attended the conference.

Ruto conveyed the same message to Mr Ki-Moon and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who he met at the sidelines of the meeting.

The Deputy President observed: “We have been steadfast and unparalleled despite the huge cost to the country in monetary, security, environmental and ecological spheres.”

He observed: “We are looking forward to discussions on how best to fast-track the repatriation of refugees process so that they can go back and contribute to rebuilding of their country.”

The Deputy President said it was an insult for anyone to insinuate that Kenya is using the refugee crisis to solicit for funds.

“Kenya has used its own resources for many years to support refugees and help stabilise Somalia. The country spends 100 million US dollars annually to support military intervention in Somali.”

Kenya, he added, had paid the prize of terrorism and smuggling of weapons and contraband goods into the country because of the camp.

The closure of the camp, he said, is being carried out for the best interest of refugees within the framework of the Tripartite Agreement between the Government of Kenya, Federal Government of Somalia and UNHCR.

Ruto said it was unfortunate that the Dadaab Refugee Camp had lost its humanitarian character and instead mutated into a centre for radicalisation, planning and training of al Shabaab terrorists as well as a conduit for contraband goods, weapons, electronics and sugar which is killing local industries.

He added: “For the last two years, the refugee camp has posed an existential threat to Kenya.”

The planning, coordination and the execution

of the terrorist attack in Westgate Shopping Mall that killed 67 people in Nairobi, the Garissa University terror attack where we lost 147 students and Lamu attack where 67 Kenyans lost their lives, he said, were all traced to the camp.

Mr Ruto who conveyed Kenya’s decision to close the camp to President Mohamud said the world should focus on stabilizing Somalia to resolve the conflict once and for all.

“We must tell the world to focus on Somalia. We must share the responsibility of the refugee crisis,” he said.

Mr Ruto said the three years of tripartite agreement was almost coming to and end and Kenya had deployed its resources to return the refugees.

Mr Mohamud said his government will work with Kenya, other countries and UN to make the process successful.

“We have been preparing the ground to receive the refugees. We have done infrastructure in 52 districts where returnees can stay. This is our priority area. We are ready to receive them,” he said.

He regretted the problems refugees have caused to Kenya.

______________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________