105 refugees from Daadab camp voluntarily return to Soamlia

Kenya: 105 refugees in Daadab camp in Kenya on Tuesday returned voluntarily to their home country in Somalia.

The refugees who left Tuesday afternoon were escorted by the camp officials to their country following a pact between Kenya and Somalia signed last year.

The agreement was signed on the 10th of November 2013 between the ministry of Kenya Foreign affairs, Prime Minister and minister for foreign affairs for the Somalia government and UNHCR.

Kenya has a responsibility of exempting all goods of the returnees, personal effects and livestock from customs and duties which may apply.

In the pact, the government of Somalia shall put in place administrative, judicial and security measures to ensure safe return and integration of refugees.

Commissioner for the Department of Refugees Affairs Harun Komen said the families voluntarily accepted to go back to Somalia to develop their country.

He said they each received 100 USD from the Kenyan government upon commencement of their journey and another 100 USD on arrival to Somalia.

"The returnees were presented with food and non-items that help them last for more than three months and will be expected to blend in their new home as well as champion for peace," he asserted.

According to the pact, the government of Somalia is expected to take necessary measures to settle the returnees in areas of origin or parts of the country of their choice.

"Somali government will be mandated with ensuring there is freedom of movement of returnees as provided in the country's national legislation as well as with international human rights standards," said Komen.

He lauded the step and noted that another convoy of returnees will take place next Monday at the Kenyan camps.

Komen stated that the repatriation program will assist in the de-congestion of all Immigrant camps situated in Kenya.

"We anticipate that by next year, the population will have dropped by half due to the continued bilateral ties with the Somali government," he added.

He noted that a number of refugees have benefited from vocational training and support from aid agencies in various ventures such as carpentry, soap making among others which will aid them in improving their lives.

Daabab camp currently hosts 350,000 refugees drawn from various countries which at one time was faced with ethnic conflicts.