In Northern Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, at least four individuals suffered gunshot wounds due to clashes between police and protestors. The demonstrators, numbering in the thousands, were campaigning against reductions in food supplies—a decision made as a result of funding challenges. The protestors come from a diverse background of refugees displaced by conflict and environmental crises in South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, and Congo.
The World Food Program (WFP), responsible for distributing food within the camp, had previously stated in December that the camp’s food supplies were reduced to 45 percent of the minimum required due to financial constraints. For years, the WFP has experienced a decline in contributions from governments that it heavily depends on for funding support. In line with these financial difficulties, the organization recently decided to shut down its South Africa office, a move linked to significant cuts in foreign aid by the U.S. administration.
John Garang, a South Sudanese refugee residing in the camp, displayed a four-liter pot and expressed his concern. “This is the container they are now using to measure beans and oil and the other one for rice. And this is equivalent for one month for your food. Assume you don’t have another income, it’s only this. Is this enough for you?” he questioned, highlighting the dire circumstances refugees are facing.
In response to these challenges, Kenya is working on transforming refugee camps into integrated settlements, aiming for a sustainable model that is less reliant on international donors. Consequently, Kakuma and Dadaab have been officially designated as municipalities, signaling this shift in strategy.
