Displaced Children in Africa. Clotilda Kiriongi, Community Services Manager

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1 Displaced Children in Africa Clotilda Kiriongi, Community Services Manager

2 Overview of Presentation Overview of Mapendo International, based in Boston and Nairobi UAMs in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya UAMs in Nairobi, Kenya

3 Mapendo International Founded in 2005 by Kenyan doctor and American aid official. Offices in Boston and Nairobi. Privately funded. Medical and Community Services: Identify and provide healthcare to the most vulnerable unassisted urban refugees in Nairobi, both inclinic and with home visits. Receive referrals from UNHCR and NGOs in Nairobi, including RCK, HIAS, JRS, and others.

4 Mapendo International Protection Initiative: In cooperation with the U.S. Government and UNHCR, identifies, protects, and refers the most vulnerable and at-risk refugees to be resettled to the U.S. and other countries. Collaborates with local NGOs throughout East and Central Africa to research and identify at-risk and vulnerable populations of refugees.

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6 Urban Refugee Situation Kenya Govt Encampment Policy Refugees who remain in Nairobi receive extremely little assistance. Nairobi s refugees live unseen and forgotten, frequently subjected to the abuse of their most basic rights (Hidden in Plain View, Human Rights Watch) Lack of access to healthcare, high risk of sexual and gender based violence, child abduction, forced marriage, arbitrary arrest and detention

7 What are the risks to UAM refugees? Forced labor (from other refugees and nationals) No education, no guidance in accessing refugee services Physical and sexual abuse Forced marriage Abduction No future

8 UAMs in Kakuma

9 UAMs in Kakuma Systems in place to identify and protect 1) Child Protection unit under Lutheran World Federation handles issues pertaining to UAMs and separated children through: Foster care arrangements for UAMs according to the countries of origin. Supervision & monthly home visits and meetings with the care givers.

10 Cont d Monthly case management meetings where cases of vulnerable UAMs are discussed by Community service staff from all implementing partners 2) Limited accommodation for UAMs in protection cases (Safe Haven run by Jesuit Refugee Services) 3) Legal presentation of the UAMs by the Protection officers

11 UAMs in Kakuma Challenges Systems in place are under capacity and under funded. Even with systems in place, it remains very difficult to identify UAMs Inadequate temporary accommodation for UAMs High staff turn over at the refugee camp leads to inconsistency and delay of cases

12 UAMs in Nairobi

13 UAMs in Nairobi Systems in place to identify and protect Best Interest Determination by the UNHCR and implementing agencies e.g. Mapendo International Limited temporary accommodation centers Request for tracing for the UAMs spearheaded by the ICRC Referral for resettlement consideration to US and other countries

14 UAMs in Nairobi Challenges No proactive systems in place to identify UAMs. Thus there is very little institutional knowledge among agencies, only a handful of people with anecdotal information. There are no estimates to the number of UAMs in Nairobi, where they live, or how they survive. Few temporary accommodation centers in Nairobi

15 Cont d Competition for protection services between the UAMs and other vulnerable groups such as Women At Risk Encampment policy by the Government of Kenya all refugees must live in the designated camps.

16 UAMs in Nairobi *names have been changed Somali Orphaned Girls Zaina* and Rehena* were born in Mogadishu, Somalia. In December 2006, their home was bombed and their parents and 9 siblings were killed in the blast. Zaina was gang-raped during the flight to Kenya Baby Bahati*,the result of the rape, is now 1 year 9 months Civil unrest in Somali has intensified since December 2006 when the minors left home and they can t go home. Zaina and her young daughter need to be protected against discrimination and abuse which many Muslim unwed teenage mothers go through

17 UAMs in Nairobi Sudanese Orphaned Boys Malak* tells their story We left Sudan when our village was attacked and ended up in Kakuma camp. My grandmother took care of us when we were young, in Sudan and in Kakuma. I do not have any memory of our biological parents. Before my grandmother left for the USA to join her son (our maternal uncle Majak*), she made arrangements for a relative to take care of us in Nairobi. My uncle Majak* sends money for our upkeep. *names have been changed

18 Recommendations The creation of more robust and continuous systems with mandates to identify UAMs. Increased UAM research, ideally at the camp and city-specific level Circulate information about which programs assist UAMS to organizations may come into contact with UAMs (including UN Agencies, NGOs, even B.I.D. panels)

19 Thank you.