Introduction
Its two months now since a sporadic gunfire and skirmishes broke out in the capital city of Juba on December 14th 2013. Subsequently the country was destabilized due to the escalating violence between the government forces and the armed groups. This led to the displacement of tens of thousands of the country residents who were forced to abandon their homes and sort refuge at the UN bases throughout the country. Due to this international crisis many of the civilians were forced to flee their country and sort refuge in the neighbouring countries.
The Kenya government through the Department of Refugee Affairs (DRA) at Nadapal Kenya-South Sudan Boarder a high number of asylum seekers have been reported streaming into Kakuma Refugee Camp on a daily basis. Upon arrival at the border, they were to undergo a screening process to determine if they have yellow fever, measles, malnutrition, polio, guinea worm and meningitis. This is done by Medicines San frontiers; the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is in charge of clinical care and ambulance services.
The department of Refugees affairs (DRA) registers all the asylum seekers and thereafter, they are transported by the UNHCR Lorries and a bus to the Reception Centre in Kakuma Refugee camp.
Situation Progress
Currently the rate at which refugees new arrivals are entering Kenya is low as compared for the last one month incoming asylum. By 11th February 2014, 16,462 asylum seekers have been sheltered in Kakuma refugee camp awaiting registration for their manifest documentation. Reports from UNHCR in South Sudan claim that there are over 700,000 IDPs different places in South. While the other neighbouring countries such as Uganda have 65,500 and Ethiopia 28,400 number of refugees from Southern Sudan. The asylum seekers started coming in Kenya as from 26th December 2013. Approximately 250 refugees are received daily at Kakuma Camp currently.
A coordination meeting was held on Wednesday 12th Feb 2014 with all the agencies working in Kakuma, and noted that the local community is still on a disagreement to give out land for camp extension, there is a lot of resistance but UNHCR and DRA are still engaging them in discussions. Boarder activities are still continuing though there is a fluctuation of the number of the new arrivals received at the boarder daily, No clear explanation has been given so far.
The measles campaign kicked off on 12th February 2014 led by the IRC, with all the 110 cases that had initially tested positive have been treated and discharged no new cases reported as per February 11th 2014.