Dadaab: For over 30 years, refugees in different camps in the country have enjoyed steady support in terms of humanitarian necessities such as food, healthcare, and shelter, as well as access to education. The refugees also receive monthly cash transfers and access to legal assistance and protection services. In fact, years ago, some Kenyans in the northeastern region willingly registered in the refugee database so that they could access these services that the refugees enjoyed then. However, since the new US administration assumed office, things have turned different for them. Ordinarily, Dadaab town in Garissa County has always been busy and full of activities, with red number-plated land cruisers strolling in and out of the town, some being escorted by the Special Operation Group police unit. Things are different this morning as we drive through the town to the Ifo 2 refugee camp, which is roughly 15 kilometres away. Looking outside the vehicle, business activities seem to have taken a dip since the last t ime we were here last year. There are few activities and few people on the streets.
According to Kenya News Agency, about 20 minutes later, through the dusty road terrains of the northeastern, we arrive at the Ifo 2 refugee camp and are welcomed by a group of refugees holding placards, demanding for the international humanitarian organizations to consider supporting them. The refugees receive food rations through the World Food Programme (WFP), which relies heavily on international donor contributions, but the WFP recently announced that it could only cater for 40 percent of previously supplied basic minimum food rations. Most organizations, including the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and WFP, depended on USAID, whose annual budget was close to $43 billion, more than 40 percent of the world's humanitarian aid.
Mohamed Abdille, a refugee at the Ifo 2 camp, narrates that since the budget cuts started taking effect early this year, their lives have changed for the worse. "I have been a refugee for 33 years now. This is the only place I call home because I came here while still very young. The recent developments have left my fellow refugees and I stressed because our future looks very bleak," he said. "Initially, despite the challenges we used to face, life was bearable. However, the last few months have seen things change for the worse. Accessing basic things like food, water, and healthcare has become a mirage. We are forced to do reduced food rations. Many refugees are suffering for lack of proper medical care because the hospitals lack drugs," he added.
Abdille said the situation has led to disease outbreaks and malnutrition cases, noting that if something is not done urgently, then the situation is likely to worsen. Siyad Tawane, another refugee at the same camp, regretted that several health facilities are on the verge of closure as a result of the USAID funding freeze. "As we speak, all the humanitarian services are down. They are paralyzed. Our children are not going to school because the quality of education has been compromised due to a lack of teachers. The health centres are now on the verge of closure, so in short, our lives have been turned upside down," Tawane said. "We are sending a passionate appeal to the international community that has always stood with us for the last 30 years. We plead for more donors or, hopefully, the restoration of the USAID because we still need water, food, and healthcare, which are basic human necessities," he added.
Leylah Abdirahman, the chairlady of Ifo 2 and a mother of 8 who has been in the Ifo camp, said that healthcare and food are the most affected areas, calling for the government of Kenya and the international community to urgently intervene in their situation. Earlier last month, a 28-year-old woman died in a stampede at the Ifo 2 refugee camp as refugees scrambled for the available food. In Turkana County, the severe shortages of basic commodities have led to protests and social unrest in Kakuma camp, where several refugees were injured. According to data from UNHCR, currently the Dadaab refugee complex hosts 500,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers across the four camps, namely Dagahaley, Hagadera, Ifo, and Ifo 2. This makes Dadaab one of the largest refugee settlements globally.