UNHCR donates vehicles to help refugees returning to Somali

DADAAB:KENYA: UNHCR has  donated two new project vehicles to Mandera County government.  The donation which also included sleeping mats and blankets took place at Mandera County offices on Monday where the County Governor, Ali Roba received them.

Among leaders also present were Mandera County Commissioner, Ole Nkoyo Alex and UNHCR Head of Operations in Dadaab, Ahmed Warsame.

This was an extension of UNHCR’s support to communities living around Dadaab refugee camps. The two land cruiser vehicles will support health and environment projects in Mandera County. UNHCR has for many years sustained its support to refugee host communities mainly in Garissa and Wajir Counties within which the five Dadaab camps lie.
Dadaab has close to 340,000 Somali refugees, some of whom have lived in the camps for almost 24 years now. In the recently signed Tripartite Agreement between UNHCR and the governments of Kenya and Somalia, Somali refugees wishing to voluntarily return home shall be supported by the three parties.
Mandera County which is over 700km from Dadaab is not part of the refugee host communities but is expected to provide an exit route for voluntary return of Somali refugees through Bula-hawa at the Kenya Somali boarder.
Speaking during the handover event, UNHCR Head of Operations in Dadaab, Ahmed Warsame sought to establish a sustainable partnership with Mandera County government.
The County Governor, on his part was happy that UNHCR was the first non-governmental entity to support them. He offered to work closely with the County Commissioner to provide security to refugees who shall be exiting to Somalia through the county. “We are ready to provide transit to returning refugees,” he said.
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Present were Mandera County Commissioner, Ole Nkoyo Alex and UNHCR Head of Operations in Dadaab, Ahmed Warsame.

This was an extension of UNHCR’s support to communities living around Dadaab refugee camps. The two land cruiser vehicles will support health and environment projects in Mandera County. UNHCR has for many years sustained its support to refugee host communities mainly in Garissa and Wajir Counties within which the five Dadaab camps lie.

Dadaab has close to 340,000 Somali refugees, some of whom have lived in the camps for almost 24 years now. In the recently signed Tripartite Agreement between UNHCR and the governments of Kenya and Somalia, Somali refugees wishing to voluntarily return home shall be supported by the three parties.

Mandera County which is over 700km from Dadaab is not part of the refugee host communities but is expected to provide an exit route for voluntary return of Somali refugees through Bula-hawa at the Kenya Somali boarder.

Speaking during the handover event, UNHCR Head of Operations in Dadaab, Ahmed Warsame sought to establish a sustainable partnership with Mandera County government.

The County Governor, on his part was happy that UNHCR was the first non-governmental entity to support them. He offered to work closely with the County Commissioner to provide security to refugees who shall be exiting to Somalia through the county. “We are ready to provide transit to returning refugees,” he said.

UNCR Press