Kenya Needs to Protect Somali Refugees, Rights Group Says

By Ben Turner
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – The human rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the Kenyan government and the United Nations to quickly respond to the Somali refugee crisis in Kenya.   According to HRW, by the end of this year more than 65,000 Somali refugees will have sought refuge in Kenya an increase from the 19,000 who sought refuge in 2007. 

HRW reported that new arrivals face extortion and abuses when trying to cross Kenya’s officially closed border.  Once they do make it across, they face terrible conditions in underserviced and overcrowded refugee camps. 

“Desperate civilians escaping the devastating conflict in Somalia need help, not more danger, abuse and deprivation,” said Gerry Simpson, refugee researcher for Human Rights Watch. “They should be able to cross the border safely and then get the aid in Kenya that they urgently need.” 

In January 2007, Kenya officially closed its 682 kilometer border with Somalia, citing security concerns.  Ethiopian troops have been supporting a transitional Somali government against Islamic insurgents for the past two years and the escalating violence has forced almost 900,000 Mogadishu residents from their homes, HRW reported.  This has caused the refugee camps to become overcrowded. 

An October 2008 investigation done by HRW into the Dadaab refugee camps concluded that closing the border to refugees violated the international reguee law prohibition against forced return and has resulted in serious abuses.  HRW reported that some refugees were forced back into Kenya because they could not pay bribes to Kenyan police.  HRW reported other refugees were arrested, beaten and deported back to Somalia. 

“Kenya has legitimate security concerns and a right to control its borders, but its borders can’t be closed to refugees fleeing fighting,” Simpson said. “Closing the border has only made Somali refugees more vulnerable to abuse and lessened the government’s and UNHCR’s control over who enters Kenya and who is registered in the camps.” 

HRW estimated that despite the efforts of the camp’s staff, thousands of Somali refugees were unable to register and were turned away. 

For more information, please see:

Human Rights News – Kenya: Protect Somali Refugees – 13 November 2008

Relief Web (press release) – Committee Against Torture Begins Examination of Report of Kenya – 13 November 2008

IOL – Refugees Starving to Death – 3 November 2008