The agency is calling upon the government of Kenya to be flexible in terms of a return timeframe in order to meet the different elements of the plan that was devised earlier this year, citing a concern that rigid timeframes would be difficult to meet.

In a press release, the UNHCR praised Kenya’s commitment to “voluntary, human, safe and dignified returns in accordance with international law. The voluntariness of returns is key,” the statement read.

Since 2014, some 35,000 people have received support in their voluntary returns to Somalia.  A survey this summer found that 283,558 refugees were living at Dadaab, 58 000 fewer than in the past.

The UNHCR has supported people’s returns from Dadaab for years and on June 25 it worked with the governments of Kenya and Somalia to invent an action plan to that effect.

 “For solutions to be genuinely voluntary, people must be properly informed and able to make their individual decisions free from pressure and in full awareness of the facts.”

The UNHCR is urging all stakeholders to focus their attention on the implementation of the action plan in all dimensions, not only in Kenya, but throughout the region and inside Somalia as well.

In order to ensure this occurs, it recently appointed Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey as Special Envoy for the Somali refugee situation.

“A crucial element for the success of the action plan is for the international community to make adequate investments in Somalia in support of its progress towards security and stability,” the agency said.

“This must include much stronger assistance for the integration of returnees together with increased efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate internal displacements,” added UNHCR.

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