Impact of climate refugees on the humanitarian situation a case study of Dadaab refugee camp

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study sought to investigate the impact of climate refugees on the humanitarian situation with focus to Dadaab refugee camp. Harsh climate condition is one of the factors that lead to human migration. When the migrations take place across international borders because of climate related issues such as droughts, desertification, sea level rise, and disruption of seasonal weather patterns such as monsoons those people are termed as climate refugees. However, there is yet to be a universally accepted definition of "climate refugee" under existing international law. There are no frameworks, no conventions, no protocols and no specific guidelines that can provide protection and assistance for people crossing international borders because of climate change. The main objective of the study was to gather information that enhances understanding of the humanitarian impacts of climate refugees' phenomena. The study was guided by the following research objectives, that is, to determine driving force of Somali refugee's influx into Dadaab other than conflict, to establish impacts of climate refugees on the humanitarian situation in Dadaab refugee camp and to examine strategies applied by the government and humanitarian agencies to deal with the climate refugees challenge The target population of this study was the refugees in Dabaab who were forced to migrate from Somalia due to harsh climate conditions. The study relied on primary data where questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect primary data. The study employed random sampling technique in coming up with a sample size of 120 respondents. The study generated both qualitative and quantitative data where quantitative data was coded and entered into Statistical Packages for Social Scientists and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Frequency table and figures were used for presentation and qualitative analysis done in prose. Based on information collected and analyzed, the study found that drought and famine, flooding, environmental degradation, spread of infectious diseases and hostile communities were the main causes of refugees' migration. The study established that the main constraint for the UNHCR Refugee Agency affiliate is to handle the uncertainty of the situation in the home countries of the refugees and also the size of the recent Somali refugee inflow. Likewise, the study concluded that UNHCR's has adopted strategies that focus on humanitarian assistance. The study recommended that due to the resultant complexities generated by the insecurity in the region, it seem very difficult to maintain Dadaab refugee camp in the near future especially with the increased climate refugee'S phenomena. Therefore there is need for research on the possibility of an IDP's containment policy within Somali through establishment ofUNHCR camps providing the necessary humanitarian aid.