DP Ruto told Kenyan journalists in an interview at the close of the meeting that there are currently 60 million people on the move in the world/FILE
NEW YORK, US, Sep 26 – The adoption of the New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants at the just concluded UN General Assembly is a significant milestone, Deputy President William Ruto has said.
DP Ruto told Kenyan journalists in an interview at the close of the meeting that there are currently 60 million people on the move in the world.
“We have a serious refugee situation in Kenya. Kenya is among the 19 countries that are home to the largest communities of refugees in the world. Dadaab refugee complex is the single largest refugee community in the world. The UN Declaration therefore has a huge significance to what is happening in Kenya,” he said.
The summit came up with a blueprint for a better international response and creating a more responsible, predictable system for responding to large movements of refugees and migrants.
“The refugee problem must be a shared responsibility. Not just for the countries, which are home to refugees, but to every country. We have all agreed that no one should be left behind. That has given impetus to availability of resources,” DP Ruto said.
He pointed out that Kenya as a country had committed enormous manpower to manage the refugee situation. “We have committed resources in implementing the tripartite agreement between UNHCR, the Government of Somalia and the Government of Kenya so that we can have safe, orderly and voluntary return of our brothers and sisters back home to Somalia.”
DP Ruto said the summit gave opportunity for Kenya to put the facts straight to the international community on the refugee crisis.
“We have made it known that Kenya has made its fair share of contribution and everybody else should make theirs. It should not be community side,” the DP said.
He said the United States had committed resources to help countries like Kenya manage the refugee problem.
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