The Journey of Somali Refugees with Disabilities in Kenya

The conditions in which refugees live in many parts
of the world is of concern to the international
community. In the Dadaab Camps in Kenya live hundreds
of thousands of refugees whose lives have been
shattered by unrest and violence, particularly in
neighbouring Somalia. Amongst these refugees are many
people with disabilities, often caused and/or
exacerbated by violence, malnutrition, and
discrimination. Refugees with disabilities are
largely invisible to the international community
because this group s needs are overshadowed by the
deplorable conditions which most people who live in
these camps experience. This work attempts to make
refugees with disability visible and give them a
voice. In a series of interviews, focus group
discussions, and case studies, their challenges,
experiences, and aspirations are explored. The first
author, himself an Ethnic Somali and vision impaired
since birth, brings a unique perspective to the lived
experience of those with a range of disabilities in
the Dadaab Camps. This book clearly identifies many
of these experiences and provides an important
roadmap for change for those in the Camps and the
international community.

Autorentext

Siyat Hillow Abdi is from Kenya. He is a teacher and advocate forrefugees and people with disabilities, and has completed a PhD inDisability Studies at Flinders University. Brian Matthews is aSenior Lecturer in the Department of Disability Studies atFlinders University in Adelaide, Australia.

Klappentext

The conditions in which refugees live in many partsof the world is of concern to the internationalcommunity. In the Dadaab Camps in Kenya live hundredsof thousands of refugees whose lives have beenshattered by unrest and violence, particularly inneighbouring Somalia. Amongst these refugees are manypeople with disabilities, often caused and/orexacerbated by violence, malnutrition, anddiscrimination. Refugees with disabilities arelargely invisible to the international communitybecause this group's needs are overshadowed by thedeplorable conditions which most people who live inthese camps experience. This work attempts to makerefugees with disability visible and give them avoice. In a series of interviews, focus groupdiscussions, and case studies, their challenges,experiences, and aspirations are explored. The firstauthor, himself an Ethnic Somali and vision impairedsince birth, brings a unique perspective to the livedexperience of those with a range of disabilities inthe Dadaab Camps. This book clearly identifies manyof these experiences and provides an importantroadmap for change for those in the Camps and theinternational community.