Kenya – 4th Update Situation in Dadaab 27th July 2011
by Lennart Hernander, LWF Country Representative, Kenya/Djibouti program
In the wider perspective;
There are currently an estimated 11.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in the Horn of Africa (here defined as Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia). The population in need of assistance inside Somalia is estimated at 3.7 million, out of which 2.8 million reside in southern Somalia. Refugee influxes from Somalia into Kenya and Ethiopia continue at a rate of around 3,500 per day in total, with slightly less than half of them being received in Dadaab. Around 1,330 per day on average are received in Dadaab (statistics for the period 1 – 20 July). It is important to note the difference between received and registered. The registration process is still slow – but improvements have been made.
The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) moving from the south-central part of Somalia has decreased according to reports from sources inside Somalia. The reasons for this may include the arrival of Islamic NGOs that are distributing relief aid in some of the affected areas (in Bay and Bakool). In addition, some International NGOs have started distributing food to drought-affected IDPs in the south of Somalia and population movements have been reported to be moving towards the surrounding towns, such as Baidoa, Wajid, Berdale, Qasaxdhere and Bardera. Another reason can be that most of those who could afford or still had strength enough to move have already done so. Those that now remain may not have the economic means or the strength to move.
In Dadaab, there is now (July 24) an overall registered population of 388,804 refugees that resides in or around the three old camps (Dagahaley, Hagadera and Ifo I). These were originally designed to accommodate a combined total of 90,000 refugees. As at July 24, there were also just above 28,000 refugees residing outside the camps awaiting registration. The total official number is therefore now above 400,000 refugees.
The Department for Refugee Affairs (DRA) has increased registration personnel and equipment. The backlog in registration is still there, and as mentioned above about 28,000 refugees wait for registration. The DRA and UNHCR strategy is that with the additional personnel and equipment, the backlog should have been cleared by the 21 of August. With effect from 22 August, all received new arrivals shall be registered on the day they arrive. At the moment WFP and UNHCR are providing food to people who have been recognized as received but have not yet been registered.
There are plans to install strategic water points along the route between the Somali border and Dadaab, to help refugees along the way. It is still a bit unclear, but has been discussed after a UNHCR-led trip to Liboi near the Somali. One conclusion from the trip was that refugees avoid the official border crossings, as the border is officially closed and they fear being stopped at the border and not allowed to enter Kenya.
UNICEF, the Kenya Ministry of Health and WHO will on 1 August launch a vaccination campaign for children living in host communities around the Dadaab refugee camps. This campaign will target just above 200,000 children under the age 5 with measles and polio vaccines, together with Vitamin A and de-worming tablets.
Following an al-Shabaab announcement in early July to allow humanitarian access to areas under its control in southern Somalia, agencies have been making initial contacts and increasing response where programs were already underway. This week al-Shabaab however repeated its previous position, to ban aid in areas under its control. The situation is unclear, even if UNICEF did manage to provide aid in one operation recently.
In the wider perspective;
There are currently an estimated 11.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in the Horn of Africa (here defined as Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia). The population in need of assistance inside Somalia is estimated at 3.7 million, out of which 2.8 million reside in southern Somalia. Refugee influxes from Somalia into Kenya and Ethiopia continue at a rate of around 3,500 per day in total, with slightly less than half of them being received in Dadaab. Around 1,330 per day on average are received in Dadaab (statistics for the period 1 – 20 July). It is important to note the difference between received and registered. The registration process is still slow – but improvements have been made.
The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) moving from the south-central part of Somalia has decreased according to reports from sources inside Somalia. The reasons for this may include the arrival of Islamic NGOs that are distributing relief aid in some of the affected areas (in Bay and Bakool). In addition, some International NGOs have started distributing food to drought-affected IDPs in the south of Somalia and population movements have been reported to be moving towards the surrounding towns, such as Baidoa, Wajid, Berdale, Qasaxdhere and Bardera. Another reason can be that most of those who could afford or still had strength enough to move have already done so. Those that now remain may not have the economic means or the strength to move.
In Dadaab, there is now (July 24) an overall registered population of 388,804 refugees that resides in or around the three old camps (Dagahaley, Hagadera and Ifo I). These were originally designed to accommodate a combined total of 90,000 refugees. As at July 24, there were also just above 28,000 refugees residing outside the camps awaiting registration. The total official number is therefore now above 400,000 refugees.
The Department for Refugee Affairs (DRA) has increased registration personnel and equipment. The backlog in registration is still there, and as mentioned above about 28,000 refugees wait for registration. The DRA and UNHCR strategy is that with the additional personnel and equipment, the backlog should have been cleared by the 21 of August. With effect from 22 August, all received new arrivals shall be registered on the day they arrive. At the moment WFP and UNHCR are providing food to people who have been recognized as received but have not yet been registered.
There are plans to install strategic water points along the route between the Somali border and Dadaab, to help refugees along the way. It is still a bit unclear, but has been discussed after a UNHCR-led trip to Liboi near the Somali. One conclusion from the trip was that refugees avoid the official border crossings, as the border is officially closed and they fear being stopped at the border and not allowed to enter Kenya.
UNICEF, the Kenya Ministry of Health and WHO will on 1 August launch a vaccination campaign for children living in host communities around the Dadaab refugee camps. This campaign will target just above 200,000 children under the age 5 with measles and polio vaccines, together with Vitamin A and de-worming tablets.
Following an al-Shabaab announcement in early July to allow humanitarian access to areas under its control in southern Somalia, agencies have been making initial contacts and increasing response where programs were already underway. This week al-Shabaab however repeated its previous position, to ban aid in areas under its control. The situation is unclear, even if UNICEF did manage to provide aid in one operation recently.
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