MOGADISHU, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) announced Friday the appointment of Kenyan Mohamed Abdi Affey as its special envoy on the Somali refugee situation for an initial duration of six months.
UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi Grandi said in a statement that the special envoy will help search solutions for Somali refugees and asylum seekers at national and regional level, and enhance dialogue between governments of asylum countries, Somalia and the international community to help maintain asylum for Somali refugees.
"The special envoy will also provide advice on how best to address protection concerns and identify appropriate solutions," the statement said.
"The special envoy will provide specific support to efforts to provide humanitarian and development resources for the reintegration of Somali returnees," it added.
The UNHCR and Kenya are repatriating Somali refugees living in Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp in northern Kenya.
Affey was the east African bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)'s special envoy to Somalia. He will be based in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and report to the UNHCR chief directly.
The Somali refugee situation has been going on for over two decades, affecting generations of Somalis.
There are currently one million Somali refugees living in exile in the regional countries including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Yemen, while some 1.1 million people remain displaced within Somalia.
"Given the recent security and political gains in parts of Somalia, along with growing pressures on host countries and related asylum fatigue, it is opportune to renew efforts to find durable solutions for Somali refugees while also advocating for the preservation of asylum for those in continued need of international protection," said the statement.
