Refugees Daily - Internal Global Press Review

Nairobi, Sep 30 (EFE).- The United Nations on Friday named its first special envoy for Somali refugees in Kenya.

Mohamed Abdi Affey's new role will entail facing the challenge of the controversial repatriation program that Kenya offers so it can close the Dadaab refugee camp.

"The Special Envoy will first help to maximize efforts to search solutions for Somali refugees and asylum-seekers at the national and regional level," said a statement by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) High Commissioner Filippo Grandi.

He is also tasked with striving "to enhance dialogue between Governments of asylum countries, Somalia and the international community to help maintain asylum for Somali refugees," the statement added.

After Kenya announced it was closing Dadaab, the UNHCR agreed with Kenyan authorities to create a voluntary repatriation program to reduce the number of camp inhabitants by half before the end of the year.

However, Human Rights Watch recently denounced the program, saying it did not meet with international laws for the voluntary return of refugees to Somalia, a country currently embroiled in an internal conflict with militant group al-Shabaab.

Somalian refugees told HRW they were intimidated by Kenyan refugees, were not informed of alternative ways they could remain in the country, were kept in the dark about the situation in Somalia and were told a $450 donation from the UN would be taken away if they did not leave.

Along with dialogue, "the Special Envoy will also provide advice on how best to address protection concerns and identify appropriate solutions," said the statement.

Affey, who previously worked as a Special Envoy in Somalia for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, is to hold the position for six months.

According to UN data, there are currently one million Somali refugees in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Yemen, while another 1.1 million are internally displaced.