Many refugees face serious threats to their personal security. At the same time, decreasing funds and growing protection needs have made it increasingly difficult for non-government organizations (NGOs) assisting refugees in Kenya to find them safe havens. The mission of the HIAS Refugee Trust is to take on particularly desperate refugee cases referred by NGOs, and advocate for their protection and passage to safety, through resettlement or other solutions. In addition, the office provides counseling assistance and support to those referred through its Psychosocial Project.

Our Nairobi office was established via a generous grant from an anonymous donor who wished to help African refugees through a Jewish organization. With this work, HIAS hopes to bring the values of our Jewish tradition, with its commitment to human rights and social justice, to the refugee assistance community in East Africa.

Background: Danger for Refugees

The most stable country in the region, Kenya has for decades taken in refugees – now numbering nearly 250,000 – escaping conflicts in surrounding nations such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Refugees in Kenya are required to live in the Kakuma and Dadaab camps, located in the most remote and inhospitable parts of the country. Particularly for the most vulnerable refugees, these camps do not always provide security. Thousands therefore are forced to seek shelter in Nairobi, risking arrest and harassment.

Services
The HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya liaises with partner NGOs and other international organizations in the following:

• Analyzing and assessing eligible cases in need of a durable solution
• Organizing training workshops to build the capacity of NGOs in identifying and advocating for refugees in need of protection
• Promoting greater openness and responsiveness of international resettlement efforts in the region through liaising with local, national, regional and international NGOs advocating on behalf of refugees