The East African Community Secretary General Peter Mathuki last Sunday September 19th, 2021 called for a clear plan on equitable distribution of responsibilities in housing refugees in the region.
His comments came during a virtual meeting with Clementine Awu Nkweta Salami the UN High Commissioner for Refugees regional Director for The East and Horn of Africa and the Great lakes region.
“There is need for urgent intervention, coordination and support to ensure that refugees are assisted and accorded decent living in the bloc” said the EAC Secretary General.
Mr. Mathuki noted that there is a need to chart a roadmap on holding decent resettlement of refugees in the Region calling for a clear plan on equitable distribution.
“We need to move beyond advocacy and directly get involved in creating solutions on handling refugees,” he added.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees regional Director for The East and Horn of Africa and the Great lakes region Ms. Clementine Awu Nkweta Salami said that UNHCR is committed to creating durable solutions to refugees’ crisis in the region.
Ms. Nkweta called on closer partnership with the East African Community so as to mobilize support to countries hosting refugees to enhance refugee self-reliance and dignified repatriation of refugees.
With a total refugee population of around 3.25 million, East Africa hosts one of the highest numbers of refugees globally.
Majority of refugees originate from South Sudan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi. Most refugees have been displaced due to a number of primary factors including violent conflict, political instability and natural disasters.