Thousands of refugees in all the five refugee
camps of the Dadaab complex (Dagahaley, Ifo, Ifo2, Hagadera & Kambioos)
commemorated this year’s Word Refugee Day with pomp, colour and excitement. The
event which is held every year on 20th June was attended by
refugees, humanitarian workers as well as government officials. The theme for
this year’s celebrations was ‘one family torn apart by war is too many.’
Dadaab which now hosts close to a half a
million refugees and more than a hundred thousand families has hosted refugees
mainly from Somalia for more than twenty years. Just
like previous years, Dadaab refugees commemorated the day with new hopes and
expectations. In Kambioos and Hagadera camps, refugees expressed optimism that UNHCR
will find permanent solutions for all refugees as it has always done.
Some refugee leaders who spoke at the events
urged communities to maintain peace and sustain the calm coexistence even with
the host community. In past months, Dadaab camps and their environs have been characterised
by random attacks by gangs mainly targeting the police as well as members of
the community.
The UNHCR head of operations in Dadaab Ahmed
Warsame as well as other heads of humanitarian agencies in Dadaab who were in attendance
urged refugees to remain patient as permanent solutions are sought for them. Warsame
is himself from Somalia and his message of hope inspired a
lot of hope in many refugees who appeared excited.
There has been a campaign against polio and
polio vaccination going on in Dadaab in the month of June targeting refugees,
humanitarian workers and the host community. The event therefore provided a great
opportunity for the campaign where heads of agencies present were vaccinated
and as a result inspired thousands of refugees to be vaccinated as well.
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