Sunday, December 17, 2017

Somali Refugees: Have Debt Will Travel

The Washington Post published on 15 December 2017 an article titled "'What Other Choice Do I Have?' How Debt-ridden Refugees Are Being Forced To Return To a War Zone" by Kevin Sieff.

The article describes the dilemma faced by Somali refugees at the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya who are in debt to local shopkeepers. UNHCR is offering a stipend to encourage refugees to return to Somalia. Many of those taking advantage of the stipend are doing so to pay off their debts even when it means returning to a conflict zone.