HIGHLIGHTSVoluntary Repatriation
During the first half of October, 118 returnees were assisted to return by flight to Mogadishu. In total 5,444 Somali refugees returned home since 8th December 2014, when UNHCR started supporting voluntary return of Somali refugees in Kenya. 3,874 retuned by road and 1,411 by flight.
During the reporting period, 582 individuals have visited the integrated return help desks to register their intention for return or make enquiries about the process. The integrated return help desks are managed by UNHCR, the Department of Refugee Affairs (DRA) and Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
Voluntary repatriation by road remains temporary suspended due to poor road conditions inside Somalia. However plans are underway in order to airlift refugees intending to return to Kismayu and Baidoa during the rainy season when roads are impassable.
With the support of DRA, UNHCR is reviewing the list of active 4,600 refugees who have previously declared their intention to return to Somalia and are not forthcoming to access or receive the return support package. The process intends to reconfirm and re-establish the intentions of this category of refugees and is expected to help in understanding the exact figures of refugees who are ready to return to Somalia.