Categories
Quotes of the Month

Quotes of The Month: May-June 2009

“Human ‘warehousing’ not only violates the rights of refugees, it also impinges on the national sovereignty of hosts and often threatens peace and security between hosts and source nations and their neighbors. Warehousing generally involves allocating vast chunks of territory to foreign administration, not only in the distribution of rations but in exercising several key aspects of sovereignty such as refugee status determinations and even basic law enforcement.”

Merrill Smith of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, speaking on International Politics and Humanitarian Action

“Some refugees are not allowed to travel since they don’t have ration cards or their ration cards got de-activated by the UNHCR after rejections on the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures in Kakuma and hence left unrecognized, so none of the NGOs in camp can offer them any assistance that are required by the refugees or asylum seekers while many of them have been living in the camp.”

-KANERE journalist speaking on the right to movement and lack of protection after living in Kakuma Camp for six years facing RSD rejection

“I always wish to visit my people in Tanzania, but I heard the Kenyan laws do not allow and I wish to know what does the Kenyan law say about going abroad? I have ten years now staying in Kakuma Refugee Camp missing all my family and relatives.”

-Simon commenting on the right to movement outside Kakuma Camp without a UNHCR-issued permit

“Refugees want words to be replaced by actions when they speak about refugees as real people with real needs. Much emphasis is placed on the actual refugee situation as opposed to refugees’ real sufferings. However, the [humanitarian] agency staffs who speak on their behalf do not feel it exactly.”

-A refugee community leader, commenting on the World Refugee Day celebration at Napata Grounds in Kakuma Camp

“But it’s not always accessible. Sometimes we have electric power shortage and the cyber cafe itself is not enough. I felt dark for the period of no network service and alternatively, the only help is if NGOs could establish other network services in the camp.”

-Tamrat, a young Ethiopian man, commenting on the impact of not having reliable internet services in the camp

“They should at least give the youth simple jobs such as cleaning or any job that does not require much skills. Why should they recruit people from as far away as 500km they can get them here?”

-Eyinei Samuel, a Kenyan Kakuma resident and youth leader, commenting on local Turkana public demonstrations on what they termed as lack of rights

Categories
Letter from the Editor

Letter From the Editor May-June 2009

To all KANERE readers here and abroad:

Hello! We apologize that our May-June issue was not published in time due to a lack of the internet service and funds to run the operations as scheduled.

As a new incoming chief editor, Qaabata Boru, I recognize and thank our former editor, bethany ojalehto, for all her efforts. Her great inspirations and dedications have brought considerable changes in the Kakuma Refugee Camp.

Throughout May and June Kakuma was dusty from the wind that blows frequently for almost the whole month. Temperatures were very high. World Refugee Day on June 20th was also celebrated by all the NGO staff and refugees, and a bloody murder occurred among other events.

We are strengthening our commitment to a free press despite the challenges and limitations to carrying out operations.

KANERE appeals to any interested donor to fund the project.

I welcome all comments and contributions from all our readers on the planet.

Please address all correspondence to kakuma.news@gmail.com.

Many thanks,

the KANERE Editor,

Signed.

Categories
Contributors

International Politics and Humanitarian Action

By Merrill Smith

To what extent do international politics impact UNHCR’s humanitarian action? Merrill Smith comments on the political interests that shape international refugee protection, from warehousing to “voluntary repatriation” to resettlement, and advocates a balancing of political and humanitarian concerns through integrative protection approaches.

Merrill Smith is the Director of Government Relations and International Advocacy for the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and the Editor of the World Refugee Survey.

Categories
Humanitarian Services

Sudanese Anxious on Their Repatriation

Volume 1, Issue 5-6 / May-June 2009

Some of the Sudanese refugees in kakuma refugee camp claim that they are not ready for repatriation.

Categories
Education

World Universities Service of Canada Empowers Kakuma Refugees

Volume 1, Issue 5-6 / May-June 2009

25 refugees students who completed their secondary school education embrace unusual opportunity of joining Canada university each year.

Categories
Health

Health of Young Children in Kakuma Camp

Volume 1, Issue 5-6 / May-June 2009

Under Five Years Children Life in Kakuma Refugee Camp

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Human Rights

Hindrance on the Traveling Documents and Right to Movement

Volume 1, Issue 5-6 / May-June 2009

Hinderance on the Traveling Documents and Right to Movement.

Categories
News Updates

Local Turkanas Demonstrate

Volume 1, Issue 5-6 / May-June 2009

Local Turkanas Demonstrate.

Categories
News Updates

The Bloody Murder

Volume 1, Issue 5-6 / May-June 2009

A man murdered at the break of the dawn in kakuma two phase II of kakuma refugee camp, Kenya.

Categories
News Updates

World Refugee Day June 2009

Volume 1, Issue 5-6 / May-June 2009

Kanere Welcomes 2009 World Refugee Day Theme: Real People Real Need