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Latest news from RCK
Protection Monitoring of IDP Camps
The post election violence in Kenya impacted negatively
on both nationals and refugees. The number of internally
displaced persons (IDPs) was estimated at 350,000 scattered
in about 211 IDP camps across the country. There was
secondary displacement of refugees mainly in urban areas.
Some of the refugees were relocated by the government
and UNHCR to the refugee camps. Some continue to live
the temporary IDP camps within urban setups. In many
of the camps, concerns of protection of women and children
and high incidences of gender based violence have been
reported.
Owing to the environmental changes in the country in
January, there was an increased need to focus on immediate
and long-term protection needs of IDPs. RCK, with support
from the Danish Refugee Council opened protection monitoring
and support office at the Kirathimo camps in Limuru
and Molo camp in Rift Valley Province. Some of the protection
risks IDPs and refugee face in the camps includes:
- Exploitation by employers - This is especially
for those that have been taken by families to work
as farm labourers.
- Eviction threats - Some IDPs have chosen
to live in the small centres as they carry out menial
work.
- Rape -The presence of many men and women
in such an environment has encouraged ills such as
rape. The young men indulge in heavy drinking from
the little earnings that they get from menial work.
- General decay of morals - the volunteers
report a high number of condoms every morning. The
crowded living arrangements and idleness has increased
the temptation to engage in heavy drinking, casual
sex amongst other ills.
- Gender Based Violence - Some women and girls
have already reported experiencing abuse and attempted
abuse in the hands of employers. One rape case had
been reported.
- Increased insecurity for refugees who were given
no options but to return to the refugee camps where
some had fled due to insecurity.
RCK has documented concerns of IDPs and refugees and
advocated for individual cases and for refugees that
had concerns about moving to the camps. We feature voices
of Internally Displaced in Kenya in the 14th issue of
Refugee Insights.
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