Twenty Years of Experience in a Refugee Camp

My Name is Dahir, a Somali refugee who came from Dadaab, the largest refugee camp in the world, located in Kenya near the Somali border. I have spent nearly two decades in a refugee camp.Working with UNHCR for six years in an over-populated refugee camp in the middle of the desert with limited resources was not an easy job, however changing the lives of refugees was my biggest task that I always wanted to achieve.We registered more than 1,500 spontaneous arrivals from Somalia every day and 500 newborn babies. We worked to process cases to reunify families and vulnerable cases, needing the attention of protection and community service officers. We also did field work, including monitoring basic services like food distribution, working in the health centers, housing, water, and sanitation.  There was never a day in the office where we weren’t busy.When refugees are being processed for resettlement they have to go through two interviews.  My role was to interpret for these interviews accurately.  When the interviews are completed the resettlement unit submits the files of those families who are approved to countries such as Australia, Canada, some countries in the European Union, and the United States.After UNHCR has submitted these files to the U.S. government there are more interviews, and then the background and security check.  If candidates pass their security check they are then eligible for resettlement in the U.S.  If their case is accepted for resettlement they attend cultural orientation classes in preparation for their arrival in the United States.  Often they have high expectations for what life in America will be like, so during cultural orientation trainers do their best to help the know what to expect.Community Refugee and Immigration Services’ Refugee Resettlement program focuses on the reception and placement of refugees in Central Ohio. Resettlement caseworkers welcome families from the airport. We understand that they are tired when they arrive, so we introduce ourselves as their caseworkers, take them to their apartments, and provide them with a hot meal. After this we do another cultural orientation and a health and safety orientation.  Caseworkers spend most of their day with clients in driving them to Social Security office, their medical screenings, and other appointments. I like working with CRIS because its all about dealing with the basic needs of a newly arriving refugees and improving the lives of families.Dahir is from Somalia and has been working with CRIS for a few months now.  He spent almost two decades in Dadaab refugee camp, and while there worked for UNHCR.  His passion is to work with newly arriving refugee families and welcome them to the United States, working hard to assist them in learning about their new homes.