Geneva, 22 February 2012
Brief description of the emergency
During the latter part of 2011, increased fighting was reported along the southern border area of North Sudan, affecting villages in South Kordofan and Nuba mountains. This led to the displacement of North Sudanese, who have started arriving in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. In addition, recent ethnic fighting in Jongelei state in the Republic of South Sudan, between the Nuer and the Murle, has also led to displacement and increased arrivals in Kakuma refugee camp. In the past month, there has been an increase in the number of both southern and northern Sudanese arriving in the Kakuma camp. The numbers are expected to increase with the ongoing fighting in the areas mentioned above, and based on reports that Sudanese people have been seen walking towards the Kenyan border. The UNHCR team visited the camp recently and held interviews with the newly arrived refugees for confirmation. Before arriving at the camp the refugees walk for 2 – 8 weeks.
Impact
The reception centre at Kakuma, which is run by LWF, has received 2,433 new arrivals in 2012. The total number includes 1,130 Southern Sudanese and 700 Northern Sudanese (75.2%) while 275 are unaccompanied minors (UAMs). A majority of the new arrivals are children and youth between the ages of 6-25 years. The refugees need urgent support in: safety and security, shelter, hygiene, water and psycho-social Support:
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The current number of persons staying at the reception centre is now more than 1,600 in a centre designed to hold 700 people. This is more than twice its holding capacity, and the situation is expected to worsen. Refugees are sleeping on the ground in the open and are exposed to mosquitoes, harsh weather, wild animals and with no privacy. Meals are servedin a two phased feeding program because there is not enough capacity to feed all the residents at the same time.
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The reception centre is now facing an emergency situation which cannot be addressed with the current facilities that are in place. Although the basic services of food and water are provided at the centre, to respond adequately to the high numbers arriving, the reception centre needs to be repaired urgently. Two of the shelters where the new arrivals sleep are condemned as a result of cracks on walls and on the floor.
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Additional shelter is also needed to accommodate new arrivals including a kitchen, cooking stoves, emergency materials and cooks. The play equipment for children is inadequate and there is a need for child friendly space and with play materials.
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Extra security guards and a fence are needed at night to protect the new arrivals at the centre.
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Extra child protection social workers are needed to handle the high numbers of children who are arriving as unaccompanied minors.
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More piping and water tanks are needed to store adequate water for the high numbers. The current facilities were designed to cater for a third of the current number of people.
National and international response
Agencies present in Kakuma are trying to respond in their different areas of expertise and experience.
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The LWF is partnering with the Government of Kenya’s Department of Refugee Affairs on the registration of new arrivals and with UNHCR on registration, provision of Non Food Items and complimentary feeding.
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The World Food Program will provide food baskets for wet feeding for the new arrivals in the reception center.
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IRC will conduct medical screening.
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JRS will provide counselling services.
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NCCK provide will provide shelter once the new arrivals leave the reception centre.
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LWF’s community services will support in the identification of UAMs and place them in foster care families.
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LWF will also work to identify and refer SGBV survivors.
ACT Alliance response
The Lutheran World Federation is preparing a rapid response fund (RRF) request to the ACT Alliance to meet the urgent needs of the increased number of refugees at the reception centre.
Planned activities
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Increase capacity of reception centre kitchen
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Procure and install children’s play equipment for new arrivals
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Enhance security and cooking items at the reception centre
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Provide hygienic materials for new arrivals
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Procure urgently needed office supplies to facilitate the reception centre
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Urgent repair and maintenance of shelters
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Provide water facilities
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Procure and distribute mosquito nets to new arrivals
Assistance to Sudanese Refugees arriving in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya 3 ACT Alert Reference Nr. : 08/2012 Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, ACT Chief Finance Officer (jbi@actalliance.org) For further information please contact: ACT Regional Programme Officer, Katherine Ireri (phone +41 22 791 6040 or mobile phone +41 79 433 0592) or ACT Deputy General Secretary, Rebecca Larson (phone +41 22 791 6069 or mobile phone +41 79 376 1711)