In Search of Protection and Livelihoods: Socio-economic and Environmental Impacts of Dadaab Refugee Camps on Host Communities
Publisher: Government of Kenya, Government of Denmark, Government of Norway
Date: 2010
Topics: Humanitarian Assistance, Land, Livelihoods, Monitoring and Evaluation, Renewable Resources
Countries: Kenya, Somalia
The Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya’s North Eastern Province comprises the three camps of Dagahaley, Hagadera and Ifo, which officially accommodate around 270.000 predominantly Somali refugees. In spite of extensive investments in sustaining the camps over the last 18 years, knowledge of their social, economic and environmental impacts on the surrounding areas remains scanty, and largely anecdotal. As the impacts have become more apparent, there has been increased attention from donors, UN agencies, NGOs and the Government of Kenya (GoK) on the provision of services in the districts around Dadaab. There is scope for developing a joint (GoK, humanitarian and development agency) approach to host community issues, but this requires a well informed decision-making process. A study of the impacts of the camps on the host community was therefore commissioned by Department of Refugee Affairs and the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Nairobi, to provide the information necessary to guide such a process.