Reporting From The Field: Dadaab Refugee Camps

For the past 2 months I have been working at the UNHCR compound in Dadaab town to do resettlement processing for refugees from Hagadera, Dagahaley, and Ifo Refugee Camps.  There have been a mixture of uplifting and heartbreaking experiences.  Here are a few...

Malnutrition

Every now and then I get a reminder of how difficult life can be in the refugee camps.  Having worked in the field for 2 years now, I tend to become cynical about the reality of refugee life.  It amazes people when I explain that there are very "wealthy" refugees living in the camps: refugees who have remittances from abroad, who own real estate businesses, who employ people from the local communities for domestic housework...but their are also those who are vulnerable, and yesterday I got a reminder:  I father came into my office in the late-afternoon complaining that his baby was sick.  It had been a hot day and the refugees wait for their interviews outside, so I suspected dehydration.  I took the father and the baby to see an IOM nurse working on a medical mission at the work site.  The nurse said that the baby was dehydrated and needed to be breastfed.  After speaking with the mother, the father returned and said "I need permission to leave the compound: My wife has not had enough to eat today and cannot breastfeed.  I need to go outside to buy her tea".  I was so stunned I simply shook my head to say yes....

According to the World Food Program, last year there was a 22% malnutrition rate among refugees in the 3 camps comprising Dadaab: Hagadera, Dagahaley, and Ifo Refugee Camps.  Since the beginning of 2010, the malnutrition rate in Dadaab has dropped to 13%, just below the "critical danger" level of 15% (http://www.wfp.org/node/265) 

Despair & Violence

There was a murder yesterday in Hagadera Refugee Camp: the body of a Somali youth was found mutilated and dumped in front of the Sudanese community accomodations block.  When the body was discovered, a mass of 1,500-2,000 Somalis gathered and began attacking the Sudanese community.  Over the course of a few hours, over 500 homes were burned down and over 50 people injured.  UNHCR eventually brought in trucks to restore calm and order.  The murdered youth is believed to be a a recent arrival to the camp: a 17 year old Somali boy who was not registered with UNHCR.

Reasons behind the murder are unknown.  However, officials speculate that the body was dumped in front of the Sudanese community to stir unrest and create violence between the Sudanese and Somali communities living in Hagadera Refugee Camp.  Officials believe that this was done in an attempt by community members to "create space" for Somali refugees living in the overcrowded camp....
(http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89830)