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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: KENYA SOMALIA RETURNING REFUGEES (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Repatriated Somali Refugees Return to Kenya's Camps as Ravaging Drought Continues
TEASER: Returning refugees are locked out of aid programs after Kenya banned registration of new refugees
PUBLISHED: 01/23/2023 at
BYLINE: Juma Majanga
DATELINE: Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya
VIDEOGRAPHER: Juma Majanga
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, Sharon Shahid
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
[[((INTRO)) Since Kenya began its voluntary refugee repatriation program in 2017, more than 85,000 Somali refugees have resettled back home. But due to record drought in the Horn of Africa, thousands of them have returned to Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp to seek relief. As Juma Majanga reports from Dadaab, those who have returned are finding themselves locked out of aid programs because Kenya has banned registration of new refugees.
((NARRATOR))
Halima Omar is making her way to the World Food Program aid distribution center in the Dadaab refugee camp.
As other refugees key in information to get monthly food donations, Halima, like many unregistered returning refugees, has been locked out of aid programs.
((Radio track: John Mwangi, humanitarian and refugee program manager at CARE International in Dadaab explains.))
((John Mwangi, CARE International in Dadaab (English, 9 secs))
“They are not recognized by the government. They are not entitled to, for example, to be issued with plots or even other basic services.”
((NARRATOR))
According to humanitarian agencies, returning refugees has been a cyclical issue.
However, this time they cannot register again as refugees because Kenya has banned the registration of new refugees in Dadaab camp for security reasons.
((Radio track: Guy Avognon is the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Dadaab.))
((Guy Avognon, Head of UNHCR in Dadaab (English, 25 secs))
“Those who repatriated around 2017 mostly came around 2012 during the big drought of about 10 years ago. So, that means there are all those cycles of drought, they are recurring. They happen every nine to 10 years. Usually, they come and stay for a period of three, four years until they’re able to go back when the situation gets better.”
((NARRATOR))
Halima, a 47-year-old widow and mother of seven, says she returned to Somalia six years ago and has come back to the refugee camp to get escape drought and hunger back home.
Despite the government’s policy change on refugees, aid agencies have helped unregistered refugees like Halima get food aid. They are issued tokens that they cash-in for food.
((Radio track: Halima Omar is a returnee Somali refugee. She says the truth is, life has been hard in the makeshift camp. She has to do manual work in the camp, like washing clothes for people to be able to fend for her children. Today, Halima is relieved after getting food aid.))
((Halima Omar, Returnee Somali Refugee (Somali, 20 secs))
“Truth is, life has been hard here. I have to do manual work in the camp, like washing clothes for people to be able to fend for my children. Today, I’m so happy the food I have collected is going to help in a big way.”
((NARRATOR))
Officials in Kenya say many of the nearly 100,000 Somali refugees fleeing drought and returning here are refugees who repatriated earlier.
And as the numbers keep rising, aid groups say their services could be stretched further.
((Radio track: Here again is Guy Avognon.))
((Guy Avognon, Head of UNHCR in Dadaab (English, 23 secs))
“Let’s hope that the hardships that are leading to all these population movements reduce. And let’s hope that this year, the rains are going to be better. Let’s hope that this year, people are not going to be crossing the border because of conflict on the other side, so that we can focus and provide support to those who are already here in better conditions until they are able to go back to their countries.”
((NARRATOR))
Kenya’s voluntary refugee repatriation program was meant to provide a durable solution to the refugee situation and help ease congestion in the camps. But with the high rate of returning repatriates, experts say players in the sector will have to rethink the strategy.
Juma Majanga, for VOA News, Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 24, 2023 10:34 EST
BylineJuma Majanga
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
