Afghan Refugees in Nairobi Urge Faster Resettlement Process

DID Press: Afghan refugees in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, have called on the United Nations and resettlement countries to process their cases urgently and fairly, amid growing concerns over lengthy delays.

A number of Afghan refugees in Nairobi said prolonged processing of their applications had left them facing uncertainty and difficult living conditions. They urged the UN and countries accepting refugees to accelerate the review and transfer of eligible cases while ensuring fair treatment.

Mohammad Khalid Hajizadeh, an Afghan refugee, said an estimated 500 to 600 Afghan families are currently living in Nairobi. Many, he said, face difficulties obtaining identity documents, accessing basic services and determining their future.

According to Hajizadeh, some refugees are waiting to be transferred to countries in Europe, the United States and Canada, while delays in processing their cases have made their living conditions increasingly difficult.

The refugees called on the relevant authorities to speed up the review of their applications and help resolve their uncertain status.

According to information from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), refugee status determination in Kenya is carried out through the country’s relevant authorities. Cases eligible for resettlement are then referred to resettlement countries after completing the required procedures.

However, the final decision on whether to accept an individual resettlement case rests with the country considering the application.