A group of LGBTIQ refugees who fled homophobic persecution to the notorious Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya have been viciously attacked, allegedly by the police.
According to reports from the victims, they were assaulted after holding a peaceful march against the ongoing homophobic violence and appalling living conditions they face in the camp.
The around 30 individuals attempted to hand over a petition to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, which runs the facility, about their grievances. They claim that UNHCR officials called the police, who then allegedly beat the LGBTIQ refugees in the UNHCR compound.
According to Melanie Nathan, executive director of the African Human Rights Coalition (African HRC), there have been six separate attacks on the LGBTIQ refugees in the camp in the past few weeks; the most recent the night before the peaceful demonstration. Read more via Mamba
UN claims it was not behind violence against LGBTIQ refugees
As they prepare to be relocated, the LGBTIQ refugees brutally beaten in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp have dismissed denials by the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, that it was not involved.
The refugees claim they were attacked by the police when they attempted to hold a peaceful demonstration against the ongoing homophobic violence and appalling living conditions they face in the camp.
The refugees, many of whom have fled from Uganda, further claim that the police’s actions on Tuesday were on the orders of the UNHCR, which runs the massive facility.
The organisation has now issued a statement addressing the claims. It said that the during the 11 December demonstration by around 22 LGBTIQ refugees and asylum-seekers, “some violence ensued” and “the Kenyan Police stationed inside the UNHCR compound intervened.”
It’s not clear how the violence started but UNHCR claims that after the police dispersed the crowd, “LGBTI refugees were allowed into the UNHCR compound for their safety and the Kenyan Police called for reinforcement that arrived later to facilitate the transportation of those injured to the medical facilities.” While it condemned the violence it also welcomed “the efforts of the Kenyan Police Force in quelling the disturbance.” Read more via Mamba