Press release from Anywaa Survival Organisation | Empowering indigenous people
It is with grave concern that we address the recent violent attack carried out by South Sudanese Nuer against Ethiopian Anuak refugees that begun on June 20, 2024. This barbaric assault has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with thousands of refugees displaced, injured, their settlements destroyed, and belongings looted. The attack resulted in the tragic deaths of two Anuak refugees and left 14 others wounded, all of whom are currently receiving medical attention in the hospital.
The immediate aftermath of this violence saw terrified and traumatized women and children traveling hundreds of kilometres from Kakuma camp to Ruiru, Kiambu, in a desperate search for safety and security. The lack of protection and basic needs has left these vulnerable individuals in a dire state. Despite initial positive discussions to provide alternative settlement sites, the situation escalated negatively when the Kakuma camp coordinator enforced a decision to return these refugees to a precarious location marked by insecurity, humanitarian challenges, and uncertainties.
The situation further deteriorated on Sunday, 7 July 2024 when the community was informed of the decision to return them to the Kakuma refugee camp. As night fell, an estimated 300 uniformed security personnel arrived at a church compound, their temporary accommodation. This unfurling scene of panic and fear among the exhausted and suffering refugees—who were already grappling with food shortages and exposure to the cold, rainy season weather— was unsettling. Reports surfaced of threats and physical abuse by the police, including instances of refugees being beaten in front of infants, women screaming in terror before their children, and forced separation of mothers from their children, compelling them to board buses bound for Kakuma.
Such inhumane actions represent a blatant disregard for the international legal obligations, both of the Government of Kenya and the UN agencies mandated with refugee protection. These obligations are enshrined in several international conventions, including the UN Convention on Refugees and its optional protocol of 1967, requiring that refugees must not be returned to places where they face threats to their life or freedom. In particular, the 2 Kenyan authorities must align with regional and international standards to provide protection and uphold the dignity and rights of refugees under their care.
The involuntary return of Anuak refugees to a location devoid of shelter, food, and other essential items gravely risks the health and safety of these individuals, especially children who are now vulnerable to malnutrition and other severe health issues. The Anuak people, having survived the Ethiopian genocide in 2003 where they were targeted in their traditional homeland of Gambela by military in uniform, are now facing yet another episode of persecution and neglect.
Compounding their ordeal, recent reports indicate that the displaced refugees are being denied adequate food and essential water supplies since being forcefully boarded onto the buses. Last night, insufficient food provisions were made, further exacerbating their already critical situation.
We urgently call upon the Kenyan government to immediately halt the forced return of these refugees and to re-evaluate their current approach in accordance with their international legal obligations. The protection of these refugees must be prioritized, ensuring their safety, dignity, and basic human rights. This includes providing necessary humanitarian aid such as shelter, food, medical care, and psychological support to address their immediate and longterm needs.
Additionally, we implore international organizations, particularly the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and other humanitarian NGOs to take swift and substantial action to alleviate the suffering of these displaced refugees. The international community must respond promptly to this humanitarian crisis to safeguard the fundamental human rights of the Anuak people.
The severity of this crisis cannot be ignored. We call for a concerted effort to provide adequate protection and support to ensure that these refugees are not subjected to further harm and that their rights and dignities are preserved as per international humanitarian principles and legal standards.
For further information or inquiries, please contact: Nyikaw Ochalla, Director of Anywaa Survival Organisation ASO – ochalla@hotmail.com or +44(0)7405681820.