CONFIDENTIAL
€570.
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UNHCR IN KENYA
1.
GENERAL
As at 30 June 1986 there were 8,420 refugees in Kenya recognised by UNHCR. Though the figure is small in comparison with Kenya's neighbours, Uganda, Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia, it does contain a very high proportion, over 95%, of urban refugees who require considerably more effort expended on them than their rural counterparts in administration, education and welfare. The current figure of 8,
8,420 compares with 8,754 in December 1985, 8,049 in December 1984 and 6,800 in December 1983. The drop in number between December 1985 and the present is due to a significant number of returnees to Uganda.
2.
NATURE OF REFUGEES
A copy of the UNHCR latest statistical summary is attached, showing a breakdown by country. All less some 300 odd, mostly Ugandan, have full refugee status, recognised in other words both by the Kenya Government and UNHCR. The 300 odd who do not have refugee status are not recognised by the Kenyan Government, mostly on security grounds, and have Mandate status. UNHCR tell us that there are no economic refugees which is anyway not a category they recognise.
3.
NEEDS OF REFUGEES
The needs of refugees are assessed by the implementing partners of UNHCR, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and Kenya Catholic Service (KCS). KCS and NCCK run the refugee implementation programme, in accordance with agreements with UNHCR. Liaison between the Kenya Government and UNHCR is good, the two organisations collaborating from the initial reception of a refugee to establish his entitlement to refugee status. The two key departments of the Kenyan Government are Immigration and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
4.
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES
UNHCR are satisfied with their assistance programmes which focus upon education and welfare. A recent innovation has been a loan scheme whereby refugees are given soft finance to establish themselves in small businesses. The scheme is still in its infancy. All the programmes are run by the implementing partners, NCCK and KCS. There is no Kenya governmental input.
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