Kakuma Refugee Camp

KAKUMA – More than 420,000 refugees in Kenya need more food assistance after the World Food Programme announced ration cuts at the beginning of October.

World Vision, who distributes food among more than 80,000 refugees in Kakuma refugee camp in partnership with the World Food Programme, is concerned about the thousands of children affected by 50 per cent ration cut.

“To cope, refugee families will eat less or even skip meals. For children, this will mean they are not getting the necessary vitamins or minerals to grow healthily, which could result in a rise in child malnutrition,” said Victor Mwanyalo, a World Vision Food Assistance Project Manager based in Kakuma.

According to a press release from the World Food Programme, US $28.5 million is required to adequately cover the food assistance needs for the refugees for the next six months.

Each month, World Vision distributes a food basket that includes cereals, pulses/grain legumes, vegetable oil and nutrient-enriched flour to over 80,000 refugees in Kakuma, thanks to its partnership with the World Food Programme.

“The global responsibility to refugees and children’s health is long lasting,” said Francois Batalingaya, World Vision Kenya’s National Director. “We need to ensure that every child gets the support they need to reach their full potential. It is imperative for the international community to urgently protect children, by addressing this shortfall experienced by the WFP.”