S. Sudanese refugees in Kenya receive identification cards

August 25, 2016 (NAIROBI) – South Sudanese displaced by the country’s months of violent conflict have started receiving refugee identification cards in neighboring Kenya.

One of the refugees, only identified as Nyanluak, expressed delight after receiving her identification card, which is being issued by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).

UNHCR officials, however, said that they were still receiving a lot of refugees from south Sudan in the aftermath of the 8 July clashes in the capital, Juba and that most of those fleeing into Kenya were children, women and elderly people.

As such almost all refugees currently occupying Nakuru, Kisumu, Mombasa and Eldoret have already been issued with identification cards, an official told Sudan Tribune.

The exercise was last year initiated by the Kenyan department for refugees affairs. Kenya has a refugee department that handles problems facing refugees in urban centers.

(ST)