Assistance to new arrivals at the Kakuma refugee camp
**Reference Number: 21/201388
Geneva, Monday, 17 June 2013
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
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.
2. Why is an ACT response needed?
The reception centre at Kakuma, is run by LWF and urgently needs to be decongested. LWF and UNHCR have negotiated with the department for refugee affairs (Kenyan Government) and they have agreed to allow a piece of land as a transit facility. LWF will create a transit center/facility for those refugees registered by GoK and waiting UNHCR registration. This is to decongest the RC, and in turn, improve sanitation, decongest shelters, reduce the risk of disease outbreaks and improve protection.
3. National and international response
The LWF is partnering with the government of Kenya’s department of refugee affairs and UNHCR on the registration of new arrivals, provision of non-food items and complimentary feeding. The World Food Program will provide food baskets for the new arrivals in the reception centre. IRC will conduct medical screening. JRS will provide counselling services to new arrivals with traumatic experiences. NCCK will provide shelter to those leaving the reception centre and need space for construction of shelter. LWF community services will help in identification of UAMs and placement in foster care families. LWF will also work to identify SGBV survivors.
4. ACT Alliance response
LWF is requesting a rapid response fund (RRF) from the ACT Alliance to urgently decongest the centre and supplement the ongoing programme in Kakuma.
5. Planned activities
Urgently move the 550 registered refugees from the crowded reception area to the approved transit area and provide latrines, water, shelter, child-friendly space and ensure safety and security.
6. Constraints
There are currently no immediate constraints to the planned response.
For more information, please contact Lennart Hernander, the LWF World Service Representative for the Kenya - Djibouti Program at rep.ken@lwfdws.org
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, Director of Finance (jbi@actalliance.org)
For further information please contact:
ACT Senior Programme Officer, Katherine Ireri (phone +41 22 791 6040 or mobile phone +41 79 433 0592)
or
ACT General Secretary, John Nduna (phone +41 22 791 6032 or mobile phone +41 79 203 6055)
ACT Web Site address: http://www.actalliance.org