ACT Appeal: Emergency Preparedness to receive Somali refugee

Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Appeal Target: US$ 645,135

Geneva (ACT) -

Civil wars and instability in Somalia since the fall of former president Siad Barre has forced many people to seek asylum in Kenya as refugees since 1991. Refugee camps were established in 1991 and in 1992 close to Dadaab in the Garissa District of the North Eastern Province of Kenya, some 80 km from the border with Somalia. The refugee population has gradually increased over the years to about 173,409 at the end of June 2007.

Following the recent increased fighting and instability in Somalia during the last half of 2006, more than 10,000 Somali people fled to the Kenya/Somalia border, attempting to seek asylum in Kenya. However, the Kenyan government closed the border due to security concerns, forcing the asylum seekers back to Somalia, with some settling in camps along the Kenya/Somalia border.

Since the closure of the border, the emergency response priority for UNHCR in the Dadaab camps changed from opening a new camp to strengthening current camp-level preparedness and capacity. This priority shift also involved attending to long-standing assistance and protection gaps and weaknesses in the camps.

UNHCR decided to address these concerns by engaging a focal implementing partner for camp management. The partner would enhance preparedness and capacity to receive an influx of refugees by managing the reception and transit centres and by providing asylum seekers with basic needs such as food, shelter, water and sanitation immediately upon arrival. The partner would also improve the system of refugee self-management and promote compliance with camp layout and site plan regulations. UNHCR has invited ACT member the Lutheran World Federation LWF to meet this need based on its proven experience in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya and other work in Tanzania.

This appeal is designed to enable LWF to establish an operational presence in Dadaab, improve community-based camp management and respond to the emergency needs of new arrivals, which UNHCR estimates could be close to 10,000 people.

Source: Action by Churches Together (ACT) - Switzerland, Aug 24, 2007