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Kenya: Repatriation threat to Somali refugees

Kenya’s deputy president has threatened to return hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees in the wake of the recent shootings at Garissa University.

William Ruto declared in a televised speech: “We have asked the UNHCR [the UN Refugee Agency] to relocate the refugees in three months, failure to which we shall relocate them ourselves.”

At least 147 people were murdered in the attack. The insurgent group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility.

It is unclear whether Mr. Ruto’s speech is backed by any definite plans. Both UNHCR and Somali authorities say they have had no formal communication from the Kenyan government about a large-scale repatriation.

To read the full article, go to: http://www.irinnews.org/report/101354/repatriation-threat-alarms-somali-refugees-in-kenya [1]

Photo: New tents at the Ifo 3 camp, Dadaab, eastern Kenya.  Credit:  John Ndiku/OCHA