Durable Solutions for Somali Refugees
Since 2014, over 73,000 Somali refugees have been repatriated from Dadaab – the world’s largest refugee camp in Kenya’s northeastern province. The majority of these returnees had previously fled from rural areas currently under the control of the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab. For four years, Kenyan authorities labored to shut down Dadaab, labeling it as a breeding ground for terrorists. Human rights groups dismissed such charges as fear mongering and victimization of already vulnerable refugees. In February 2017, a High Court judge in Kenya blocked the government’s plan to close Dadaab, saying it was “discriminatory” and “unconstitutional”. Over 45,000 refugees have since returned to Kismaayo, while significant numbers have returned to Baydhabo and Mogadishu. Most of the returnees do not have land, property or other support systems and safety nets in these urban areas. Somalia’s fledgling federal government has played little part in the repatriation program and offers no support. Local administrations in Jubaland (Kismaayo) and Southwest (Baydhabo) are even weaker, and there is a lack of resources and infrastructure to resettle the returnees. As a result, many of the repatriated Dadaab refugees feel that they have been abandoned.
Tan iyo sanadkii 2014, qaxooti kor u dhaafaya 73,000 ayaa laga soo celiyay Dhadhaab oo ku taala gobolka Waqooyi Bari ee Kenya, isla markaana ah xero qaxooti tan ugu weyn caalamka. Inta badan dadkan soo laabtay ayaa markoodii hore ka qaxay degaanada baadiyaha ee ay haatan ka taliyaan kooxda Al-Shabaab. Muddo afar sanadood ah ayey dowladda Kenya ka shaqeyneysay sidii loo xiri lahaa xerada Dhadhaab, iyadoo tilmaameysa in xeradu gabbaad u noqotay kooxaha argagixisada ah. Hay’adaha u dooda xuquuqda aadnaha ayaa eedeymaha Kenya ku tilmaamay kuwo aan waxba ka jirin, isla markaana lagu dulminayo dad markoodii horeba dhibanayaal ahaa. Bishii Febraayo 2017 ayey maxkamadda sare ee Kenya joojisay qorshaha dowladda Kenya ku dooneysay in ay ku xirto xerada Dhadhaab, iyadoo maxkamaddu go’aanka dowladda ku tilmaantay “takoorid” iyo “mid aan dastuurka qaafaqsaneyn”. Tiro ka badan 45,000 qaxooti ah ayaa ilaa hadda ku laabtay magaalada Kismaayo, iyada oo tiro kale oo badanna ay ku laabteen magaalooyinka Baydhabo iyo Muqdisho. Badi qaxootiga soo laabanaya kuma haystaan dhul, hanti ama taakuleyn degaanada ay kusoo laabteen. Dowladda federaalka Soomaaliya door muuqda kuma laha qaxootiga kasoo laabanaya Kenya, wax taakulo ahna ma siiso. Maamul goboleedyada Jubaland (Kismaayo) iyo Koofur Galbeed (Baydhabo) iyaguna waa kuwo tabar yar, mana hayaan dhaqaalihii iyo kaabayaashii dib u dejinta loogu sameyn lahaa qaxootiga soo laabanaya. Arrimahan isbiirsaday waxey sababeen in dad badan oo kamid ah qaxootiga soo laabtay ay dareemaan in ay yihiin dad leyska ilaaway.