Updates: Emergency Situation in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya

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The humanitarian crisis in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp is worsening rapidly. Refugees—many of whom fled violence in South Sudan—are now facing acute shortages of food, clean water, and cooking fuel due to significant cuts in international aid.

According to MSN News, funding reductions from USAID and other major donors have escalated food insecurity. The World Food Programme now provides only 40% of the minimum food basket, leaving refugees to survive on roughly $6.33 per month per person, plus 3kg of flour—equivalent to a 5-pound bag to last the entire month.

SCI Program and Science Director Alan Bigelow, Ph.D., witnessed the hardships firsthand during a 2019 visit to Kakuma, when he saw a few children digging for water. Today, that number has grown to dozens of children water mining, as families unable to afford water at the taps in Kakuma town are forced to dig in the ground to find it.

Compounding the crisis is the absence of cooking fuel rations. With no food surplus to barter, many women and children are once again being pushed to forage for firewood, a practice fraught with safety and environmental risks.

The impact on mental health has been devastating. Following the May 2024 food ration cuts, suicide rates rose as despair deepened. For most in Kakuma, the goal is no longer to thrive—it is simply to survive.

One small but crucial bright spot: those with access to solar cookers are faring significantly better than those without. Solar cooking reduces the need for cooking fuel and allows families to make the most of what limited food they do receive.

Solar cookers are a life-saver for families in Kakuma. They provide a safe, sustainable way to cook for families heavily reliant on firewood or charcoal.

Learn more about how Solar Cookers International is supporting communities in crisis by clicking here.