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| Kenya postpones planned closure of Dadaab refugee camp Kenya postpones planned closure of Dadaab refugee camp | |
| (21 days later) | |
| Kenya’s government said on Wednesday it had agreed to delay the closure of a Somali refugee camp that it sees as a security risk, after international pressure to give residents more time to find new homes. | Kenya’s government said on Wednesday it had agreed to delay the closure of a Somali refugee camp that it sees as a security risk, after international pressure to give residents more time to find new homes. |
| Nairobi had vowed to shut Dadaab camp this month, saying it was being used by Islamist militants from neighbouring Somalia who have launched a string of attacks on Kenyan soil. | Nairobi had vowed to shut Dadaab camp this month, saying it was being used by Islamist militants from neighbouring Somalia who have launched a string of attacks on Kenyan soil. |
| But rights groups criticised the decision over the camp, saying it would hurt Somalis fleeing violence and poverty, and accused Nairobi of forcibly sending people back to a war zone. The government dismisses that allegation. | But rights groups criticised the decision over the camp, saying it would hurt Somalis fleeing violence and poverty, and accused Nairobi of forcibly sending people back to a war zone. The government dismisses that allegation. |
| “The government has accepted the request to extend the deadline for the completion of repatriation of Somali refugees, and this is essential to the closure of the Dadaab refugee complex, [in] six months,” said interior minister Joseph Ole Nkaissery. | “The government has accepted the request to extend the deadline for the completion of repatriation of Somali refugees, and this is essential to the closure of the Dadaab refugee complex, [in] six months,” said interior minister Joseph Ole Nkaissery. |
| “However, the ongoing voluntary repatriation will continue uninterrupted,” he said. | “However, the ongoing voluntary repatriation will continue uninterrupted,” he said. |
| This week, a ministry official had said that the November deadline would be missed, although he did not give a new timetable. He also dismissed accusations from Amnesty International and others about forcible repatriations. | This week, a ministry official had said that the November deadline would be missed, although he did not give a new timetable. He also dismissed accusations from Amnesty International and others about forcible repatriations. |
| The official said the camp was now home to about 250,000 people, while UN officials had put the figure at about 350,000 at the start of the year. | The official said the camp was now home to about 250,000 people, while UN officials had put the figure at about 350,000 at the start of the year. |
| More than half a million people lived there a few years ago. | More than half a million people lived there a few years ago. |
| “Kenya should end its threats to close the Dadaab camps,” said Gerry Simpson, senior refugee researcher for New York-based Human Rights Watch. | “Kenya should end its threats to close the Dadaab camps,” said Gerry Simpson, senior refugee researcher for New York-based Human Rights Watch. |
| “The UN refugee agency and donors should press Kenya to publicly reassure Somalia’s refugees they are welcome in Kenya until it safe for them to return,” he added. | “The UN refugee agency and donors should press Kenya to publicly reassure Somalia’s refugees they are welcome in Kenya until it safe for them to return,” he added. |
| Somalia’s western-backed government is battling an Islamist insurgency as it oversees a fragile reconstruction effort after decades of conflict. Swathes of the country do not have basic services. | Somalia’s western-backed government is battling an Islamist insurgency as it oversees a fragile reconstruction effort after decades of conflict. Swathes of the country do not have basic services. |