in WFP Factsheet Overview Kakuma Kakuma camps are situated Kenya is home to over half a million ref- fiting both refugees and the surrounding in Turkana County. Kakuma is 150 km ugees, the majority fleeing conflict in communities. south of the South border and Somalia and . This is the In addition to the general food ration, about 850 km northwest of Nairobi. The second largest refugee population in Af- WFP gives specialized fortified foods first camp was established in 1992 after rica after Ethiopia. In Kenya, refugees to young children, as well as pregnant the arrival of a group of 12,000 children, live in enclosed camps with restricted women and nursing mothers, to stave off the so called “lost boys/girls” of Sudan movement and are not allowed to work malnutrition. Moderately malnourished and their caretakers after fleeing the civil for pay outside the camps. and children under 5 receive a ready to eat war. In subsequent years, the camp pop- Kakuma refugee camps are located in paste to treat the condition. ulation increased and more nationalities the remote and food insecure regions of Since 2013, WFP checks the identities from neighbouring countries also sought northern Kenya. of each refugee against the fingerprint refuge there. Almost all refugees rely solely on WFP’s records held by UNHCR. This biometric After two decades of war in Sudan, a food for survival. WFP has provided system ensures that only eligible refu- comprehensive peace agreement was food assistance to the refugees living gees—registered with UNHCR and the signed in 2005. In the following years, in the Kenyan camps since 1991, mostly government, and living in the camps— a UNHCR voluntary repatriation pro- giving in-kind food commodities. receive food and the cash transfers. gramme and spontaneous returnees Every month, refugees collect a general significantly reduced the population in food ration from WFP, which consists of Kakuma. Many more returned after the cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, salt, and a independence referendum in January nutrient-enriched flour made from soya 2011 in which South Sudanese voted and maize. Close to 600,000 refugees live in overwhelmingly to break away from their In 2015, WFP introduced cash transfers Kenya; northern neighbours, Sudan. to replace a portion of the in-kind food. WFP has been providing food to However, on 15 December 2013, fight- refugees in camps since 1991; The cash, sent through mobile phones, ing between government and opposition it costs WFP about US$ 9 million allows refugees to choose from a wider to give each one of them a full forces erupted in Juba. This has led to a variety of food available in the markets ration of food every month; civil war that has devastated the world’s inside the camps. Refugees can buy a 2015, WFP introduced cash trans- youngest country. Since the start of the more diverse range of foods and have fers to refugees; conflict, the number of new South Suda- WFP is transferring over US$1 more control over their diets. Families nese registered in Kakuma is 49,000. million to Kakuma and Dadaab can use the money to buy meat, milk, every month (Feb, 16); The host community is primarily Turka- fruits and vegetables – foods that are Kenyan law does not allow ref- na ethnic group, a nomadic pastoral com- not given at the food distribution centre. ugees to work or run a business munity. Many live in general deprivation outside the camps; The transfers, dubbed bamba chakula Refugees’ movements inside the of social services and economic opportu- (Swahili-based slang for ‘get your food’), country are restricted nities. Poverty, chronic food insecurity are increasing business opportunities and under-nutrition are therefore very and boosting the local economies, bene- prevalent. Dadaab Our Programmes © Dadaab refugee complex is located General Distributions need for firewood collection, particu- larly in unsafe areas inside and outside in Garissa County, 470 km east of This meets minimum food consumption and nutritional requirements of all ref- of the camps, through the provision of Nairobi and 80 km from the Ken- ugees. The food basket consists of cere- alternative source of cooking fuel. WFP ya/Somalia border. It is made up of als, pulses, vegetable oil, SuperCereal is focusing on reducing exposure to gen- five camps: Dagahaley, Ifo and Ifo 2 and iodised salt. Refugees also receive der-based violence, and to mitigate the (Dadaab sub-county) and Hagadera a monthly cash transfer sent through effects of firewood requirements on al- ready fragile environments. The SAFE and Kambioos (Fafi sub-county). mobile phones. The biometrics finger project is distributing fuel-efficient The camps cover an area of 50 sq print verification system introduced by WFP and UNHCR in Kenya in October stoves to refugees and host community km within an 18 km radius of Dada- 2013 ensures that only eligible refugees in Kakuma and is also giving tree seed- ab town. UNHCR, which manages residing in the camps collect food. This lings for replanting in and around the the complex, set up the first camp enhances accountability. camps. (Ifo) in 1991 after civil war that Nutrition Support (prevention of Briquette Production in Dadaab broke out in Somalia. Hagadera and acute malnutrition) WFP is setting up production units to Dagahaley camps then followed in WFP targets pregnant and breastfeed- test briquettes from the invasive ‘pro- 1992 as more refugees crossed the ing mothers and children aged 6–23 sopis’ as an alternative source of cook- ing fuel - firewood is the dominant fuel border into Kenya. The rest were es- months. This prevents under-nutrition during the “first 1,000 days”, between source. This will also provide a liveli- tablished after the refugee influx in conception and a child’s second birth- hood option and reduce possible vio- 2011. Somalis make up 97 percent day. The women receive Super Cereal lence towards women and children who of the refugee population there. and vegetable oil through the health collect firewood in the bushes. The 2011 drought crisis in the Horn clinics to meet their increased nutrition- Integrated School Health and Nu- al requirements. The children receive trition in Kakuma of Africa caused an unprecedent- SuperCereal plus, a highly nutritious ed humanitarian crisis. There was WFP is testing how flour from sorghum fortified food that prevents acute mal- that is locally-grown and processed can a dramatic surge in the camps’ nutrition, supports linear growth and support the school meals in the camps population, with more than 1,000 improves access to micronutrients. to stimulate farming and local economic people arriving per day. The num- Nutrition Support (treatment of growth. This includes building the ca- ber of registered refugees reached acute malnutrition) pacity of farmer organizations to sell to 467,000. This figure has since re- The activity targets pregnant and local structured markets, and equipping and training local groups to mill and duced to 348,000 (January 2016), breastfeeding mothers and children fortify the flour, and to supply the local indicating that a significant number aged 6-59 months identified with mod- erate acute malnutrition. The women schools. of Somali refugees may have re- receive SuperCereal and vegetable oil Using the locally-milled flour, WFP turned spontaneously. while the children get ready-to-use sup- has trained groups to bake bread rolls In November 2013, UNHCR and the plementary foods. as a mid-morning snack on a test ba- Governments of Kenya and Soma- Food for Training (FFT) sis. Currently, children are served with porridge. The school meals are intended lia signed a tripartite agreement to FFT supports learning among disen- to maintain enrolment and attendance franchised young people in vocation- help Somalis in Kenya return back rates among children in primary schools al training centres in the camps. The home. The returning refugees re- in the camp. youth come from both the host and ref- ceive a standardized financial and ugee communities. They are trained and Our Partners in-kind assistance package to en- electrical and mechanical engineering, WFP works with the following part- sure safe and dignified return, as carpentry, vehicle mechanics, cookery, ners in Kakuma and Dadaab: well as longer-term support to help computer lessons, tailoring and dress returnees reintegrate in the areas making. • CARE International Asset Creation • Don Bosco they once fled from. • International Rescue Committee Asset Creation alleviates short-term WFP in Kenya provides high-ener- • Imperial College of Science, hunger and improves food security for Technology and Medicine gy biscuits to those returning. the host community by creating pro- • Islamic Relief Worldwide • Kenya Red Cross Society In Dadaab, the host community is ductive assets. It also reduces tension • Lutheran World Federation primarily of Somali ethnic groups. between refugees and host communi- • Médecins Sans Frontières - Swit- zerland They are nomadic pastoral com- ties. Projects include water ponds, tree planting as well as trapezoidal bunds • Norwegian Refugee Council munities, but also engage in other • St. Claire’s of Asisi (water harvesting structures) and water livelihood activities, notably small- • World Vision International diversion ditches for crop farming. • Relief, Reconstruction and devel- scale trading and farming. Chronic Safe Access to Firewood and alter- opment Organization food insecurity and under-nutrition native Energy (SAFE) • Lotus Kenya Action For Develop- ment Organization are prevalent. WFP implements activities to keep • Food For the Hungry - Kenya women and girls safer by reducing their • Women’s Refugee Commission • Film Aid International

Contact: [email protected], Head of Refugees Operation [email protected], Government and Donor Relations Officer