KANERE talks to camp residents on the latest hot topic: What do you think about the World Refugee Day? Their perspective constitutes diverse for public opinion.
World Refugee Day should not be celebrated because it encourages others to become refugees. Exile life is dangerous, you don’t have any rights, protection, justice or future. We are treated as object for other people’s business.
– Mutichaw Mote an Ethiopia
Refugee Day should be commemorated in a special way by giving refugees special gifts or special food ration during the distribution cycle rather than inviting them to dance, I hate that practice.
– Ingabine Rose a Congolese
My perception is sadistic on this day. We are disadvantaged or suffering people. It helps to create awareness on refugees and the role UNHCR are playing on them in relation to camp existence.
– Daniel Yol South Sudanese.
I believe Refugee Day is not for celebration but for mourning for being a refugee. It’s worst being outside one’s country.
– Ayan S. Peace facilitator with LWF
To me exile life is better than refugee life when you have external support. As I have experience, man, it’s hell in the camp, like in a prison. I don’t have rights like other Kenyans.
– Bishar H. a Burundian
UNHCR has been doing little to educate refugees on cohesive living like peaceful coexistence. I would request for more peace initiative campaigns to reduce stereotypes among communities.
– Jimmy a Sudanese – Dinka primary school teacher
Being a refugee is bad. You are deprived of most of your rights and freedom. I don’t see the purpose of music and dances to make UNHCR and NGOs pleased yet there’s no recognition in it.
– Rukunda Jean a Rwandan
This day will only cause a heartburn as I kept on bathing in salty swamp of Kakuma. When the sun goes down the camp becomes dark. I feel like I am alive in the daylight and then dead at night.
– Shamso an Ethiopian KANERE reader
I see no meaning of this day. I have lived here for 6 years with no recognition from both UNHCR and Kenya government. My desire is to go back home when peace prevail in my homeland.
– Wechtour Ethiopian Nuer leader
This day makes me feel very sad; I am a voluntary prisoner in Kakuma. I can’t move freely. I don’t see any reason for cheering the day. We should rather preach peace to prevail in the world. Everything is corrupted here, let the UNHCR think right and give us quicker durable solution.
– Elros an Ethiopian
The day reminds me of the entire bad thing I went through in Kenya. I think we are only refugees physically but not in mind and heart. Refugee process is not fair because resettlement is corrupt. Many refugees have stayed for 20 years still with no hope of being resettled.
– Lallo Osman Sudanese – Nubian
The first thing that comes in my mind is my branded name ‘refugee’. It reflects on death, injuries. Living life full of humiliation and rejections, you have no consideration despite the lies going around claims of human rights, their rights.
– Abdullahi Ahmed a Somali
I am bored of this day. I am tired of being a refugee. Lack of freedom made us to flee home. Living away from family is worst. I still hope for life though. It’s terrible life of restriction by fellow men of the world.
– Adan an Ethiopian Ogaden leader Kakuma 2
This is not a good moment in refugee life. It reminds me of bombings, killings and escape. It’s the worst thing especially when all your rights are denied while we live in Kakuma. Life is doomed.
– Fardosa Ali Kakuma 3
I arrived in Kakuma on 3rd July 1992. I feel like I have lived for 100 years in the camp. In such life, one cannot view life in other end except UNHCR. A life where one depend worse of all.
– Lueth Michael a primary school teacher in Kakuma