US Mission Geneva

The U.N. Refugee Agency reported August 5 that the number of Somali refugees arriving at three camps located at Dadaab, Kenya, has increased to almost 1,500 a day in the first four days of August. That’s an increase from an average of 1,300 a day in July.

Fact Sheet: More than 11.5 million people—primarily in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia—are in need of emergency assistance in the Horn of Africa

The United States, along with so many of our international partners, remains committed to supporting the Palestinian people, including Palestinian women, in practical and effective ways.

The United States is moving aggressively, working with our partners, to provide humanitarian assistance wherever we can, based on the indication two weeks ago from Al-Shabaab for humanitarian workers to come back in.

The need is only expected to increase and more must be done by the United States and the international community. That is why today the United States government is providing an additional $28 million in aid for people in Somalia and for Somali refugees in Kenya.

The situation is grave, over 11 million lives at risk, and in need of assistance. This is indeed a crisis situation, and one that has been exacerbated quite directly by the refusal of al-Shabaab to allow critically needed humanitarian assistance to reach over 60 percent of the people who need it most, over the course of the last year.

The United States is also committed to preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse of beneficiary populations –particularly displaced children who are at increased risk of victimization – and will continue in our programming to highlight education for refugee and other displaced children and adolescents, as a way to minimize the long-term impact of displacement and build productive members of society.

For decades the United States has led the world in overseas support for humanitarian protection and assistance, and we have provided asylum and refugee resettlement for millions, showcasing our dedication to basic human decency, to our responsibilities under international law, and to ensuring refuge when innocent lives hang in the balance. On this World Refugee Day, the United States and the Obama Administration reaffirms these core values as we work to provide a safe haven to the world’s most vulnerable citizens – refugees.

This $51.5 million contribution will support the voluntary return and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons within Iraq through activities such as home rehabilitation, repair of water and sanitation systems, employment services and Protection Assistance Centers, in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration.