As US funding slashes food aid for refugees in Kenya, thousands face severe malnutrition, with desperate conditions reported in the Kakuma camp.
Starvation Crisis Looms as US Aid Cuts Hit Kenyan Refugees
Starvation Crisis Looms as US Aid Cuts Hit Kenyan Refugees
Severe malnutrition skyrockets in Kakuma camp as food rations fall drastically.
The sprawling Kakuma refugee camp in north-western Kenya, home to around 300,000 displaced individuals fleeing unrest from various African and Middle Eastern countries, is gripped by a severe hunger crisis following significant cuts in US aid. A United Nations official has described the dire situation where essential food rations have been diminished to unprecedented levels, forcing many families to face starvation. Children suffering from severe acute malnutrition fill the wards of Amusait Hospital, showing signs of emaciation and neglect.
One mother, Agnes Awila, speaks about her children’s struggles: "The food is not enough; they only eat once a day," she laments, reflecting the reality experienced by many in the camp. US foreign aid, which previously accounted for approximately 70% of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) budget in Kenya, took a critical hit due to the Trump administration's recent aid reductions. The ramifications are stark, with the WFP revealing that they've had to cut rations to just 30% of the minimum nutritional needs.
Located at the camp's food distribution center, refugees wait in the sun for their supplies, now less sufficient than in the past. Mukuniwa Bililo Mami, a 51-year-old refugee, describes the struggle how the current rations cannot last past a few weeks. The withdrawal of cash transfer assistance for basic needs, such as medical supplies and food, has left families like hers in a vulnerable position, limiting their ability to diversify their diets.
Other community members, including shopkeepers, are also feeling the strain as their clientele can't afford even basic commodities. With the stoppage of cash aid, local markets are collapsing, and the ripple effects are felt deeply across the camp. Agnes Livio, a single mother residing in cramped conditions, serves her children food later in the day, due to a lack of resources and rising poverty.
While healthcare workers can provide some emergency support, the outlook remains grim. Many malnutrition patients are discharged to a community with scarce food resources. Felix Okech of the WFP warns of impending starvation if interventions aren't restored soon, highlighting the urgent need for funding. Despite some small signs of support from alternate donors, the gap left by the US remains significant, and the situation appears increasingly dire as the months progress.
The future for the refugees looks bleak, and without renewed backing, the international community must address the humanitarian crisis that is mounting in the Kenyan refugee camps.
One mother, Agnes Awila, speaks about her children’s struggles: "The food is not enough; they only eat once a day," she laments, reflecting the reality experienced by many in the camp. US foreign aid, which previously accounted for approximately 70% of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) budget in Kenya, took a critical hit due to the Trump administration's recent aid reductions. The ramifications are stark, with the WFP revealing that they've had to cut rations to just 30% of the minimum nutritional needs.
Located at the camp's food distribution center, refugees wait in the sun for their supplies, now less sufficient than in the past. Mukuniwa Bililo Mami, a 51-year-old refugee, describes the struggle how the current rations cannot last past a few weeks. The withdrawal of cash transfer assistance for basic needs, such as medical supplies and food, has left families like hers in a vulnerable position, limiting their ability to diversify their diets.
Other community members, including shopkeepers, are also feeling the strain as their clientele can't afford even basic commodities. With the stoppage of cash aid, local markets are collapsing, and the ripple effects are felt deeply across the camp. Agnes Livio, a single mother residing in cramped conditions, serves her children food later in the day, due to a lack of resources and rising poverty.
While healthcare workers can provide some emergency support, the outlook remains grim. Many malnutrition patients are discharged to a community with scarce food resources. Felix Okech of the WFP warns of impending starvation if interventions aren't restored soon, highlighting the urgent need for funding. Despite some small signs of support from alternate donors, the gap left by the US remains significant, and the situation appears increasingly dire as the months progress.
The future for the refugees looks bleak, and without renewed backing, the international community must address the humanitarian crisis that is mounting in the Kenyan refugee camps.
