Kenya's planned closure of Dadaab camp 'unlikely' - UN envoys

In a move to call for a stop in the closure of the world’s largest refugees camp, the international community have reminded Kenya to adhere to the international obligation on the fundamental Human Rights in Daadab.

Speaking with AFP, Egypt’s ambassador to the United Nation, Abdellatif Aboulatta, further reiterated that the international community cannot rule out the possibility of the camp being the breeding ground for many terrorists as a major factor behind its planned closure.

“It is not about finance. Yes of course there is some financial problem, of course, but it is also about terrorism. There might be a link to some radicalization inside these camps and we understand it, of course, again the challenge of terrorism is real and it is important to take it into consideration.”

The decision to close the camp has been considered “very worrying” by the UNHCR, which has however recognized the “extraordinary” role played by the Kenya in allowing refugees for many years. The country currently houses approximately 600,000 refugees.

Kenya’s decision to close the Dadaab refugee camp was also discussed at length. pic.twitter.com/HFpAs1PyuN

— President of Kenya (@PresidentKE) May 20, 2016

“The Security Council is united I think on two issues, first of all on empathizing with the authorities of Kenya for the situation that they are in and for everything that they are doing for the region and that is why we expressed our strong support for that. But secondly, on the importance of Kenya fulfilling its international obligations and that’s an extremely important message we passed on to the president of Kenya and he was very clear in committing to abide by those international obligations,” said Matthew Rycroft, British ambassador to the United Nation.

The envoys has however urged Kenya to abide by the international obligation before closing the camp.

“From the UK perspective it is important that Kenya abides by its international obligations, the president has committed to do that. You are absolutely right, there can be no foreseeable return of refugees. There’s a much broader question about the scale of the challenge which is a global one, it’s not just about the and not just about the situation in Kenya, important though that is, and that is going to be the topic of the world humanitarian summit amongst other issues in Istanbul next week,” said Matthew.

Agencies