NEW DEVELOPMENTS
116 Somali refugees voluntarily return from Dadaab to Mogadishu by air
In the morning of 5th August, two planes took 116 Somali refugees from Dadaab to Mogadishu International Airport. This was after the Tripartite Commission, formed by UNHCR and the Governments of Kenya and Somalia, met on 29th July and agreed to scale up assistance to Somali refugees in Kenya wishing to return home. The Commission’s Joint Strategy envisages the voluntary repatriation of most Somali refugees over a five year period. The majority of the returns from Kenya to Somalia will continue to take place by road if the security situation allows and only for people with specific protection needs will UNHCR facilitate airlifts.
Despite the fragile security environment situation in Somalia, refugees in Dadaab have responded to signs of increasing stability and started to return. Since December 2014, 3,078 Somali refugees have returned with UNHCR support. More still have returned spontaneously without receiving assistance from UNHCR.
UNHCR support includes standardized financial and in-kind assistance to ensure safe and dignified return, as well as longer-term support to help returnees reintegrate in areas they once fled from. UNHCR together with the two governments involved will strengthen efforts to rally international support for comprehensive and community-based interventions to support the refugees and their communities.
A portfolio of development projects has been designed that aims to create conditions in Somalia that are conducive to meaningful and sustainable reintegration. Another portfolio of projects will focus on Kenya and strengthen skills of returning refugees, restore and rehabilitate refugee affected areas and support host communities. The projects will be presented at a Pledging Conference on Solutions for Somali refugees in Kenya that will take place later this year.