Visiting the refugee camps of Dadaab

The last time I visited the Dadaab refugee camps was back in 1993 when CARE was establishing them. These were the early days of the Somalia crisis. The camps at the time were thought of as temporary structures. Part of that temporary mentality was truly visible. The message was that people would not stay there very long. The official line was that but Somali refugees knew their situation was going to last a long time. I have come back fifteen years later to find the same people in the camps.

Kadija is one of the women I met today. She is part of our plastic recycling project. She arrived in the camps in 1993, the same year I last visited. I was able to leave the camps because I was a visitor but Kadija is still there. It makes me realize how fortunate I have been in my life. I have been able to do so much over the past fifteen years while Kadija has been in the same camps. She is sorting plastic for 115 KSH per day (less than US$ 2). I want to make her life better. But what is indeed remarkable about her is that she is not giving up. She has responsibilities and continues to aspire for a better life. You have to admire that spirit.

Another thing that struck me today is the great partnership that the CARE staff on the ground has with the residents of the camps. I was impressed with the communication between our staff and the refugees. In a lot of refugee camps around the world this is not the case. Refugees get frustrated and communication can break down but here in Dadaab we have exceptional staff that understand the context and continue to do their job with commitment and patience. Take the issue of female circumcision for instance. One of the reasons why we have succeeded in reducing the incidence of circumcision of girls in the camps is because we have a relationship based on trust with the residents. You cannot achieve that kind of social change quickly and CARE staff has really made important strides. The women I spoke to today told me that progress on this topic remains fragile, that female circumcision has not been entirely eliminated and that there is still a way to go. I was nevertheless impressed by the women’s commitment and the frank discussions around this very issue. We have to give credit to CARE staff on the ground that has managed to nurture trust and keep a strong relationship with the refugees over the years.