Kenya closing camps with hundreds of thousands of refugees

NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan government says it will close two refugee camps, including one of the world's biggest, due to a lack of security and economic challenges.

Karanja Kibicho, permanent secretary at the Interior Ministry, said Friday the closure of the camps will have adverse effects and called on the international community to collectively take responsibility for the humanitarian needs that arise.

Kibicho says the government has disbanded the Department of Refugee Affairs, which works with humanitarian organizations looking after the welfare of refugees.

It's not the first time Kenya has threatened to send home the more than 550,000 refugees. International rights group Amnesty International has condemned the move saying it's reckless and could lead to the involuntary return of refugees to countries where their lives could still be in danger.