Nairobi: On his inaugural visit as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih urged the international community to bolster support for developing solutions that enable refugees to rebuild their lives. During his visit to Kakuma in northern Kenya, Salih acknowledged the country's long-standing role in hosting refugees and its innovative policies that grant access to work, healthcare, education, and financial services.
According to African Press Organization, Salih emphasized Kenya's remarkable solidarity despite limited resources, highlighting its smart policies that promote self-reliance and economic growth among refugees. He described Kakuma as a beacon of transformation and innovation, stressing the need to prioritize solutions that allow refugees to live with dignity and contribute to society rather than remaining dependent on aid.
The Shirika Plan, spearheaded by the Kenyan government, aims to shift from humanitarian assistance to fostering refugee self-reliance and peaceful co-existence with host communities. This framework enables refugees to obtain legal identity papers, work permits, and access to mobile money, banking services, public education, and universal healthcare.
Kenya is home to over 800,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, with approximately 300,000 residing in Kakuma, primarily from South Sudan, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, a significant funding shortfall last year resulted in only a quarter of UNHCR's needs-based budget for Kenya being met. Consequently, refugees and host communities are experiencing cuts in healthcare, water, and education services, with protection services severely impacted.
Salih warned that the funding crisis threatens to reverse progress and endanger lives. He called on development actors, international financial institutions, donors, and the private sector to enhance their support for the Shirika Plan, which holds promise for transforming the futures of refugees and host communities.
In Nairobi, Salih met with President William Ruto and senior government officials, commending Kenya's historic role in welcoming refugees and expressing gratitude for the government's commitment to progressive refugee policies.