HIGHLIGHTS
As at 31 March 2016, Kakuma had received 52,865 refugees from South Sudan. This brings the total registered camp population to 188,823.
Premier Skills, a joint football program by the English Premier League and the British Council was in the camp from 21 to 23 March. The mission led by the Director of the British Council Kenya office met sports coaches from refugee and host community and conducted training sessions with them. They also distributed kits and discussed with UNHCR and partners ways of supporting sports. The program uses football to address social issues in communities and empower youth in the process.
Australia for UNHCR, a key UNHCR fundraising partner was in Kakuma from 21 to 23 March. The organisation supports the Kakuma operation in WASH and is currently fundraising for WASH in education, child protection and maternal and child health. The director of the organization and her team met with women, students and hospital staff and saw some of the challenges in these sectors.
The team is working on a global campaign titled “I Will” that focuses on fundraising for refugee women and girls in the region.Livelihoods Week exhibition was held in Kakuma from 21 to 24 March. UNHCR and livelihoods partner Action Africa Help international (AAHI) led other agencies, refugees and host community members to showcase various livelihoods initiatives in the camp.
22 March was World Water Day – the day was marked by a procession in the camp by refugees, UNHCR, NRC (WASH partner) and other partners. The theme was “Water and Jobs” and issues concerning water and strides made in the sector were highlighted.
UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS
Operational Context
UNHCR conducts border monitoring visits to Nadapal twice a week to ensure that asylum seekers have unhindered access to asylum and are treated humanely. The border monitoring unit includes staff from UNHCR’s Protection & Field Units, LWF and IRC. Any emergency cases are transferred to African Inland Church (AIC) Mission or Lopiding Hospital in Lokichoggio or to Kakuma at the main hospital.
With the increased trend of new arrivalsfrom South Sudan, the number of pick-up trips to the border were increased from once to thrice a week during the reporting period. A total of 1,448 new arrivals were transported from Nadapal to Kakuma camp during the period. Majority of new arrivals received are children below 18 years and are accompanied by their legal guardians. Most come from Eastern Equatoria and Jonglei States and cite insecurity, intense famine and high cost of living as reasons for leaving South Sudan.
The operation is considering identifying a section in Kalobeyei for settling new arrivals in light of the increased numbers and with the remaining empty spaces quickly filling up.