Details of Response
Emergency: Assistance to new arrivals at the Kakuma refugee camp.
Date of Emergency: June 2013
ACT Requesting Member: The Lutheran World Federation, Kenya
I. NARRATIVE SUMMARY
DETAILS OF THE EMERGENCY
During 2013 the number of new refugees arriving from South Sudan at Kakuma refugee Camp in Kenya has increased. The camp capacity is 100,000 persons but now holds 118,000 refugees. On the 10th of June 2013 the reception centre had 1,379 staying, while the holding capacity of the centre is 700. By the 12th of June the population at the centre had increased to 1,600.
Out of the 1,600 persons at the reception centre, 550 had already registered but could not leave the reception centre due to lack of space and shelters in the camp. Another 500 have been registered by the Kenyan government but are waiting for registration by the UNHCR. 108 are unaccompanied minors (UAMs), some of who, have been registered and granted refugee status, but do not have foster families to take care of them.
As the influx of the new refugees continues, there is extreme pressure on the sanitation facilities and shelters available at the reception centre and the situation is expected to worsen. There are not enough latrines, bathrooms, and shelters. There is no space to dig new latrines or construct new shelters within the reception centre.
The refugee centre is also crowded and there is no space in the refugee camp forcing the refugees to remain at the reception centre after registration.
There is a severe risk of disease outbreak, which could have very serious consequences due to the dense population. The overcrowded space is also a protection concern, there is no room for children to play, and the wet feeding/cooking facilities are inadequate.
At least 550 people, who have been registered by the Kenyan government awaiting UNHCR registration, could be moved from the reception centre to a transit facility. 80 UAMs could also move out as soon as they have foster families.
80% of the refugees arriving at the RC are from South Sudan and 22% are children (352 children).