NAIROBI, 10 April, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, Kenya’s High Court has temporarily has halted a move by the government to close the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps housing nearly 500,000 people.
The court issued a stay order following a petition filed to the high court that challenged a decision by the Interior Ministry calling on the UN refugee agency to formulate a plan to close the camps as soon as possible.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) promptly responded and warned of a catastrophe if refugees are ejected from the Dadaab and Kakuma camps which have a population of 218,873 and 196,666, respectively.
On 24 March, Kenya gave the UN Refugee Agency a 14-day ultimatum to formulate a plan to close the camps, Kenya’s Interior Ministry tweeted saying there is no room for further negotiations.
However, the case will be initially heard on 13 April.