Somali refugees return https://www.saafifilms.com/wp-admin/post-new.phpresumes after suspension over COVID-19 outbreak

The first batch of Somali returnees from Dadaab camp in Kenya since the outbreak of COVID-19 arrived in Mogadishu today.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR said Saturday the first group of 42 individuals landed in Mogadishu as part of the voluntary repatriation programme.

‘After months of suspension due to COVID19, the first group of Somali returnees has arrived in Mogadishu today from Kenya through the voluntary repatriation program,” UNHCR said in a tweet.

The UN body also noted they had put in place measures such as COVID testing and isolation before departure in line with health guidelines issued by the WHO and the governments of Kenya and Somalia.

The return is in line with a tripartite agreement by Kenya, Somalia and UNHCR in 2018 which set out a framework for voluntary repatriation of refugees in Kenya back to Somalia. Thousands of refugees have since returned to Somalia.