In Kakuma refugee camp, the sun beats down on the dusty ground as security officers manage long lines of refugees waiting for food. Each day, these individuals go through a verification process where aid workers check their identity cards and take their fingerprints. After this, they collect their rations, but for many, like Mukuniwa Bililo Mami, the food provided is far from sufficient.
Mami, a 51-year-old mother of two from South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been living in the camp for 13 years. She carries a jerrycan for cooking oil and sacks for lentils and rice, but she expresses her gratitude with a heavy heart. "I am grateful to receive this little food, but it is not enough," she says. Rations have been cut to just 30% of what they used to be, leaving her with barely enough food to last a month.
The situation has worsened with the discontinuation of cash transfers that used to help refugees buy essential items. Until recently, the UN provided around $4 million each month in cash to those in Kenya’s camps. Mami, who is diabetic, relied on this money to buy vegetables that suited her dietary needs. Now, she struggles to find food that is appropriate for her health.
The cuts to cash assistance have also affected local markets. Traders like Badaba Ibrahim, a shop owner from Sudan, report that many customers can no longer afford to buy food. He sees desperate families waiting outside his shop, sometimes all day, asking for help. "They tell you, ‘My children have not eaten for a full day,’" he shares.
In another part of the camp, Agnes Livio, a 28-year-old mother of five, prepares food for her family in their small, cramped living space. Their home, made from corrugated iron sheets, is just 2 meters by 2 meters. Livio serves food on a single plate, and often, this is their first meal of the day, served around 2 PM.
The situation in Kakuma is dire. Refugees are facing increasing challenges as food rations dwindle and cash support disappears. Many families are left struggling to meet their basic needs, highlighting the urgent need for assistance in this overcrowded camp.