Fred Magumba
Thousands of South Sudanese nationals have fled the country, following the armed conflict that erupted in December. Many are arriving in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, and NRC is providing emergency assistance to the refugees.
The civil unrest that began in South Sudan on 15 December 2013 following a political dispute has escalated into a deadly conflict between government troops and rebel forces, mostly affecting Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile States and the capital Juba. This conflict has resulted in thousands dead and a massive displacement of people. About half a million people are internally displaced with some taking refuge inside United Nations facilities across the affected towns, and thousands are reported to be crossing the borders into the neighbouring countries of Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
More than 10,000 South Sudanese nationals have crossed the border into Kenya and have arrived at Kakuma Refugee Camp. About 500 new refugees reach the camp each day. It is reported that thousands more are on the move destined for Kenya and the figure is expected to reach 25,000 within the coming few days.
NRC is providing emergency water, sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion, firewood and energy saving stoves to new arrivals settling in makeshift transit centres. Construction of latrines and temporary shelters has also started. NRC has established five pit latrines and plans to construct additional sanitation facilities which will help in minimising risks of water borne infections spreading across the refugee camps due to the emergency situation.
Kakuma Refugee Camp is located in Turkana County in the north-western region of Kenya, 125 km from Nadapal Kenya-Sudan border. The camp was established in 1992 to host Sudanese refugees who had fled what is now South Sudan. There are currently more than 130.000 refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp and the number continues to increase.
The refugees fleeing the conflict cross into Kenya at Nadapal point where they are received by Government officials. The refugees are transported on trucks on a daily basis from the boarder point to Kakuma Refugee Camp. At the boarder point there is basically no infrastructure to receive and accommodate such a big number of people effectively and in dignity, while going through the registration process. The only existing infrastructure is the offices for immigration and other basic facilities maintained by the government.