Jubbaland authorities and UN agree to form joint committee on Dadaab camp returnees

The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Somalia, Peter de Clercq (left), hands over keys for donated vehicles to the Jubbaland Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, Adan Ibrahim Awhersi on 19 September2016. The DSRSG was in Kismayo to discuss with the Jubbaland leadership the plight of returnee Somali refugees from Dadaab. UN Photo

19 Sep 2016

Jubbaland authorities and UN agree to form joint committee on Dadaab camp returnees

Jubbaland authorities, the United Nations and other key international partners have agreed to form a joint committee to address the humanitarian needs of returnees from the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya.

The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia Peter de Clercq led a delegation consisting of representatives of UN agencies, the World Bank and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation  who met today with Jubbaland’s second deputy President Abdulkadir Haji Mohamud-Luga Dhere to discuss the reintegration of returnees.  The meeting also addressed durable solutions for internally displaced persons living in Kismaayo town.

“We just spent a very important mission here, to discuss with the Jubbaland authorities the return and reintegration of refugees from Dadaab, but at the same time, also durable solutions that include the internally displaced persons, as well as the host communities that have to bear the burden of these big challenges that are coming at them. We have had very good discussions, we will have continued co-operation.We will have a coordination committee that will be based here in Kismaayo, where we will discuss concrete programmes that we will go to the donors with,  to increase our co-operation with Jubbaland authorities, to increase activities around the reintegration of displaced persons and of refugees,” said Mr. de Clercq.

The Jubbaland second deputy President expressed satisfaction with the talks, which he said also discussed the initiation of development projects in Jubbaland.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of our discussions. I thank the United Nations for their assistance to the people of Jubbaland. I welcome any other organizations working on humanitarian aid in Jubbaland region to work with us. Jubbaland is ready to develop its people and to improve on the security situation, develop policies that impact positively on our people,” Mr.  Dhere stated.

Earlier, Mr. de Clercq handed over two vehicles to the Jubbaland Minister of Justice, Constitution and Religious Affairs, Mr. Adan Ibrahim Aw-Hersi, that were donated by the United Nations Development Programme.