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REFUGEE NEWS BRIEFINGS
KENYA: FIRST PHASE OF REFUGEE RELOCATION COMPLETED, MORE EXPECTED
In mid-October, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) announced that the relocation of nearly 13,000 refugees was complete. However, in view of the ongoing arrival of refugees from Somalia, approximately 6,400 per month, further relocations are expected in the near future.
The relocation of Somali refugees began last August in an attempt to reduce congestion in Dadaab camp, which continues to host more than 280,000. According to a statement issued by UNHCR last month, continuing fighting and a prolonged drought have forced more than 50,000 Somalis to flee the country in the first nine months of the year. With no real improvements in the security situation in sight, the number of refugees is not expected to fall.
Since the relocation process from the world's largest refugee camp in the northeastern border town of Daadab began, between departures to Kakuma and arrivals, the camp population has remained more or less stable.
Service provision to refugees stretched
Since the arrival of the Somalis in Kakuma, 11 organisations, including JRS, have dramatically increased their service provision. Although resources are already overstretched, JRS has since trained more Somali speaking staff and increased the provision of basic materials to new arrivals. For instance, beneficiary numbers in one JRS day care centre have more than doubled to 50 in the last month.
"Upon arrival, the refugees, exhausted after a two-day bus journey, are provided with basic food and non-food items, including tents to protect them from the forecasted heavy rains until more permanent structures can be built. Whether the newly arrived Somalis will find support within the refugee community already living at Kakuma is yet to be seen", JRS Kenya Kakuma Director, Hezekiah Ronald, told Dispatches on 29 October.
JRS staff have quickly introduced the new arrivals to the range of services offered by the organisation, such as counselling, alternative healing, psychosocial support and care for those with mental health challenges.
"The leaders reacted with a mixture of surprise and happiness as they realised that their needs would be attended to. Many have been separated from their families and were traumatised during their flight. Others struggle with head injuries and sensory impairments due to war", added Mr Ronald.
Somali refugees face huge challenges in the camp, especially due to their language. They are mostly unable to express their needs or explain health-related problems and children find it difficult to follow school lessons. Since Kakuma is located in a semi-arid zone, there is not enough water to make the bricks to build more permanent structures at the moment.
Following the 2005 peace accord in Southern Sudan, activities at Kakuma had been scaled down. The camp was expected to close after repatriation of Sudanese refugees was complete. With the new arrivals from Dadaab, the refugee population has increased from 43,000 to 58,000 and is expected to grow, but service provision remains inadequate as most organisations were not prepared for an increase in the population.
At the moment, one hospital with two clinics, six pre-schools, five primary schools, a secondary school and two food distribution centres cater for the needs of the refugee population. The secondary school is currently attended by more than 3,000 pupils, with some classes accommodating as many as 150. There is clearly more need for educational, medical and psycho-social services, as well as food, water and clothing, at the very least.
AFRICA: CONVENTION ON INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS ADOPTED
On 23 October, the African Union (AU) adopted a convention that obliges member states to protect and help the millions of people uprooted within their own countries because of conflict and natural disasters.
Africa is home to almost half the world's internally displaced persons (IDPs) – a total of 12 million, most of them sheltering in ramshackle camps, shantytowns or among local communities. Unlike refugees, who have fled to another country and have a global UN agency dedicated to protecting their rights, IDPs benefit from little or no protection.
Speaking to Dispatches on 29 October, JRS Advocacy Representative in Geneva, Michael Gallagher SJ, commended the African Union for this new convention. In terms of international law, he said, it is a significant step toward the formal recognition of the special protection needs of internally displaced persons.
Implementation, the most difficult challenge
Although five AU states have signed the convention, it still needs to be ratified by 15 before it comes into force. Integrating the main aspects of international humanitarian law, it would oblige AU states, for the first time, to prevent displacement, come up with solutions to the causes of displacement and provide IDPs with basic rights.
"The most difficult challenge ahead will be addressing the root causes of internal displacement on the continent: greed, prejudice, injustice, and corruption which are the fuel for the conflicts displacing so many Africans today", Fr Gallagher added.
Aid officials and civil society groups have praised the AU for addressing a problem that is an obstacle to development and stability – and for producing the first legally-binding agreement on internal displacement with a continental scope.
Under the convention, states unable to assist IDPs may seek help from humanitarian organisations. Many believe international aid agencies may use that as leverage to increase pressure on AU states to ratify the pact.
NEPAL: CUTS IN AID TO REFUGEES LIKELY
On 7 October, the UN World Food Programme issued a warning regarding imminent cuts in food aid if funding shortages are not reversed.
Without increased funding, the agency warned, cuts in food provided to thousands of Bhutanese refugees are inevitable.
Staff working for JRS Nepal expressed concern regarding the consequences of food cuts on the health of the refugee population barred from undertaking paid employment or agricultural activities.
JRS fears that reduced food rations will particularly affect those refugees in the most vulnerable circumstances, such as children. Inadequate food provision is often associated with developmental problems for children, learning difficulties and increased vulnerability to disease. The WFP stated that an additional four million US dollars is needed from donors to prevent more cuts and continue food distribution programmes until the end of the year.
Tensions rise in refugee camp
In a separate incident in Beldangi camp, refugee leader Narad Muni Sanyasi, was threatened after he publicly supported the UN resettlement programme. According to local newspapers, pamphlets have been circulated around the camp by an anonymous group threatening the camp leader with death. He is accused of turning his back on the struggle for their repatriation to Bhutan, a charge the leader refutes.
Police in the nearby town of Damak say they have increased security at Beldangi, the largest of the seven refugee camps in eastern Nepal, after a 45-year-old male refugee was murdered there in September. No one has been convicted of the murder, but local police believe it was connected to the resettlement issue.
For further information on resettlement and JRS in Nepal see http://jrs.net/news/index.php?lang=en&sid=4825
UPDATES ON JRS PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
KENYA: 19 MORE REFUGEES RECEIVE SMALL LOANS
On 25 September, JRS officially granted 19 refugees from six countries interest-free loans to start small businesses.
After background assessments and business plans were approved, the final allocation of the loans, provided twice a year by JRS Kenya, was contingent upon recipient participation in a one-day workshop.
During the course of the workshop, participants were provided with practical information on loan and business management and on the general business climate in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Those living in the city for some time also shared their experiences with more recently arrived refugees.
"During the discussions, it became clear that the trainees have a good idea of what is expected of them as businessmen and women. They emphasised the importance of customer care, honesty, product quality and accounting practices. It was obvious most were familiar with the business climate in the country, and have learned to adjust", JRS Kenya Coordinator of the Income Generating Activities Project in Nairobi, Mercy Muchai, told Dispatches on 16 October
Interdependency encourages repayment
"The beneficiaries were well aware they would receive a loan not a grant. They encouraged each other to repay the loans within one year to ensure money is available for subsequent recipients", added Ms Muchai.
"I was able to fully repay my first loan within the stipulated period of one year," one lady, who will soon receive her second loan, told her fellow participants, demonstrating that it is possible to benefit from the loan and repay it within the given time frame.
The participants – originally from Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Eritrea and Cameroon – received between 100 and 150 euro to open small artisan, clothing and food businesses.
Prior to the workshop, JRS staff arranged individual meetings with each participant to provide them with detailed information on loan applications, conditions and repayments, as well as basic business management strategies.
