04/02/2024
Report Release:
EXODUS OF LGBTIQ REFUGEES FROM KAKUMA TO SUDAN - UNVEILING A TRAIL OF CHALLENGES
INTRODUCTION:
The Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya has witnessed a concerning exodus of the LGBT community, particularly from Uganda, seeking refuge in Sudan. This report aims to explore the intricate reasons behind this migration and the series of challenges faced by the LGBT individuals in Kakuma.
BACKGROUND:
Commencing in 2014, the registration of LGBT individuals in Kakuma and Kenya at large began, initially receiving support. However, the situation took a drastic turn in 2018 when the UNHCR and the government relocated all LGBT community members to Nairobi following a brutal attack by the host community. Despite this, a segment of the LGBT population remained in Kakuma, enduring additional challenges with the arrival of the 2019 regime.
CONFLICTING MESSAGES AND COVERT SUPPORT:
UNHCR publicly announced that they were no longer registering LGBT individuals in Kenya, but privately extended support to them. During the registration process, there was internal discord within UNHCR officials, resulting in the forceful registration of LGBT individuals as other refugees. They were instructed to maintain a low profile, leading to peaceful demonstrations for data transfer and registration for new arrivals, resulting in numerous arrests and brutality.
ESCALATION OF HATE AND DISCRIMINATION:
Since 2019, hate, discrimination, arrests, and attacks escalated from both fellow refugees and the host community, resulting in tragic deaths, including that of an infant named Patricia. Reporting incidents to the police became fraught with danger, as victims were often arrested instead of receiving assistance.
INTERVIEW RESTRICTIONS (RSDs):
Mandates and interviews for LGBT individuals were abruptly halted in 2019, leaving them without official recognition or protection. Despite attempts to communicate with UNHCR, the response was to maintain a low profile, leaving the community vulnerable to further harm.
SUDDEN EXODUS TO SUDAN:
Facing a lack of support and increasing dangers in Kenya, a clandestine group of over 20 LGBT individuals left Kakuma in March 2023 and sought refuge in Sudan. Their mission was driven by desperation, seeking safety in a new environment and luckily they got resettled ins a short period of time in US that has resulted to the increase of LGBT people from kakuma to Sudan because there is where they wish to get support.
CHALLENGES IN KAKUMA AND NAIROBI URBAN COMMUNITIES:
Many LGBT members remain in Kakuma due to financial constraints preventing them from leaving. Al's those in Nairobi, taken there in 2018, find their cases on hold, compelling some to reunite with the Kakuma LGBTIQ community in Sudan.
UNHCR'S CONTRADICTORY REPORTS:
A recent UNHCR KENYA document claims support for the "rainbow family" in Kakuma, stating their number is 800. However, ground observations suggest a contradiction, raising questions about the accuracy of UNHCR reports.
CALL FOR ACTION:
With eyes on both Kakuma and Sudan, it is crucial for UNHCR and relevant governments to ensure the safety of LGBT individuals. Any potential report denying the presence of LGBT members in Kakuma is met with skepticism, as ongoing monitoring indicates otherwise. The plea is clear: provide a durable solution or allow the LGBT community to leave the camp in safety. Collaboration between UNHCR Kenya and Sudan is essential to ensure the well-being and security of the LGBT community until a lasting solution is found.
