The closure of the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya fails to meet international standards

A Human Rights Watch Report has questioned the repatriation of refugees from the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya.

The body has said the exercise fails to meet international standards for voluntary return.

The exercise came after a consistent campaign by both Kenya and Somalia for Dadaab to shut down.

But HRW says Kenya is not giving the refugees a true choice between being repatriated or staying at the facility.

Home to more than 300, 000, Somalis camp was set up in 1991 for Somali refugees and it’s been home to many for more than 20 years.

A good number are making their way back home, mostly for the fear of being forced out .

Pressuring refugees to return to a place where their lives or freedom could be under threat is a breach of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the UNHCR has reminded both Kenya and Somalia.

Kenya has defended the exercise saying attacks on its soil have been planned in the camp.