China extends monetary assistance to feed refugees

The number of people running away from war has doubled in the last month, and authorities are worried the rising numbers of refugees are unsustainable.

In May and early June, Kakuma camp received 2,500 new refugees, most of them under 18 years old, mostly from South Sudan.

Others came from Burundi and DR Congo. On average 1,200 people seeking shelter arrived in Kenya between January and April.

LAND ISSUE
Kakuma camp hosts over 172,000 refugees, and the new arrivals are being transported to Kalobeyei camp 20 kilometers away.

Kalobeyei was established in July last year to ease pressure on Kakuma.

Turkana West Sub County deputy commissioner Mohamed Hafi said: “The biggest challenge is land. In Kalobeyei, the refugees are not restricted in the camp but we integrate them with the local community.”

The World Food Programme distributes food and small cash handouts to refugees.

RELIEF FOOD

WFP estimates that the food in its reserves can last until September, but there will be no cash left at the end of June.

But there is a reprieve after Chinese ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa pledged support after visiting the camp on Wednesday last week.

“As a government we shall support these people. My government is doing everything possible,” he also said.

On May 16, WFP got $5 million (Sh500 million) from Chinese Government.

The donation allowed WFP to resume full food rations to refugees that had been halved in Kakuma and Daadab camps.