GRF 2nd One Health Summit 2013: Presentation by Asfaw Kumssa, United Nations Centre for Regional Development

1. Conflict, Migration and Environmental
Degradation in Dadaab Refugee Camp in
Northeastern Kenya
ASFAW KUMSSA
UNCRD AFRICA OFFICE, NAIROBI, KENYA
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2. OUTLINE
 INTRODCUTION TO THE
REFUGEE CAMP & THE REGION
 CAUSES AND IMPACTS OF
ENVIRONMENTAL
DEGRADATION
 SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
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3. Since the collapse of the Somali
State in 1991,Conflict and drought
•
•
•
•
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Have forced many Somalis
to migrate to neighboring
countries, mainly Kenya
Dadaab refugee camp
--about 465,146 –(2012)
This is more than the
capacity of the camp which
is 90,000 people.
Dadaab is the largest
refugee camp in the world.
11/17/13

4. Dadaab Refugee Camp
100 km
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5. The camp covers a total area of
• 50 square km
and consists of
5 camps
(Hagadera,
Dagahaley,IFO,
IFO 2 and
Kambios).
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6. Table 1: REFUGEES IN DADAAB CAMP
CAMP
POPULATION
Registered
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
Unregistered
Somalis
Other
Nationalities
%
11
Hagadera
138,533
805
%
99
Dagahaley
123,530
696
95
52
IFO
117,215
855
91.5
8.53
IFO 2
73,020
775
99.1
0.94
Kambioos
12,848
551
99
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Total
465,146
3,682
Source: UNHCR (2012) Camp Profiles, Nairobi, Kenya: Author.
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Ethiopians; 2 Ethiopians, Eritreans and Sudanese; 3 Ethiopians (7.5%); other nationalities (1% - 12
nationalities in total); 4 Ethiopians; 5 Ethiopians
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7. The major influx of refugees
took place between 2010-2011
• When climate
change induced
drought and
continued conflict
forced a number
of Somali
refugees to cross
border to Kenya
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8. This large human population movement:
•Has adversely affected the carrying capacity of
the host region.
•Increased land degradation.
•Reduced water resources - increased pressure
on available water resources.
•Energy availability – reduced firewood.
•Reduced pasture available for the livestock.
•There is increased loss of biodiversity due to
heightened human activities.
•Wildlife resources are also adversely affected.
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9. Dadaab is located in Garissa County
that is in
• Arid and Semi-
arid region of the
country
• It is one of the
most
marginalized
and poverty
stricken regions
of Kenya
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11/17/13

10. The Region Suffers from:
• high levels of food
insecurity,
environmental
degradation and low
levels of education,
high levels of conflicts
and low levels of
gender development.
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11/17/13

11. The refugees are provided
• With food, shelter
and other
humanitarian
assistance by
international aid
agencies.
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12. It is important to note that
 This humanitarian
and short-term
programme
should be
supplemented
with integrated
development
intervention
policy.
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13. The mass influx of people to the region has
put pressure on the environment
• Both the host
community and
refugees burn
charcoal for local
consumption and
also for export to
Somalia.
• They also cut
trees to use them
for firewood.
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14. The status of the Environment
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15. Both the refugees and the host
community cut trees
• For building
shelter and
fencing their plots.
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16. Charcoal burning and dry land
degradation
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17. Charcoal in Kismayo Port for Export to
Middle East
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18. Consequently, Dadaab area is extremely
degraded and there is little vegetation left
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19. Due to scarcity of firewood,
• Refugee women and
young girls are
forced to travel long
distances in search
of firewood and
therefore are
oftentimes exposed
to GBV such as
rape.
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20. Environmental degradation has also
caused conflict between refugees and the
host community
• As both compete
for scarce natural
resources (e.g.
firewood; water,
etc.)
• The host
community accuse
the refugees of
destroying the
environment.
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11/17/13

21. Therefore Effective Environmental
Management policies should be designed
and Implemented to
• Strengthen the local communities’ and
refugees’ capacity to protect the
environment and vegetation through
training;
• and also provide them with alternative
sources of energy to reduce the
pressure on trees and vegetation in the
area.
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11/17/13

22. UNCRD Training workshops
• On conflict and
environmental
management
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23. We also provide them
• With energy
Saving Stoves
called “Jikos”
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24. Solar Energy, as an alternative source
of energy, should be explored
Simple solar panels are
used for charging mobiles
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25. Provide decent shelter both for the refugees and
the host community to reduce pressure on trees
and other vegetation
T-shelters made of metal sheets
and polythene
Brick houses
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26. UNCRD also collaborated with
UNHCR and provided tents
• For a number of
new arrival
refugees in
Kambios camp
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27. Production of Seedlings
Some rehabilitated area
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28. CONCLUSION: THERE IS NEED FOR
•Promoting sustainable livelihood and conflict
management policies and strategies;
•Afforestation;
•Provision of fuel efficient stoves and alternative
source of energy;
•Provision of decent shelter;
•Environmental education programs/forest
management;
•Provision of firewood through organized system;
•Enforcement of environmental policy and
implementation of environmentally friendly
strategies.
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29. ASANTE SANA!
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