Hunger Deepens in Kakuma as Aid Cuts Push Refugees to the Edge
Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya is now ground zero for a deepening humanitarian crisis. Over 300,000 refugees, already on the brink, are being pushed into extreme hunger as food aid dries up.
According to TRT World, the U.S. has slashed its funding to the World Food Programme (WFP), cutting off the main lifeline for refugees. The U.S. previously covered 70% of WFP’s food aid budget in Kenya. As a result, 40% of Kakuma’s population has been left with no food assistance at all. Only small children, pregnant women, and the sick now receive rations. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says it needs $10 million per month to meet basic needs, but the money isn’t coming.
The New Humanitarian reports that before the cuts, aid was already limited at about $17 per person per month, covering only 80% of the minimum nutritional needs. When funding dropped, so did caloric intake, meal frequency, and overall health. Refugees who once lived on just 50 cents a day now get even less or nothing at all. The informal credit system used to buy food collapsed too, leaving families with no safety net.
Furthermore, Al Jazeera confirms WFP’s “differentiated assistance” plan has sparked violent protests, including one that left a refugee dead. Aid is now cut by 60% for even the most vulnerable, and by 80% for those with any form of income. Hunger is widespread, and the Global Acute Malnutrition rate among refugee children and pregnant women is over 13%, a critical emergency. With food stocks dwindling and no new funds secured, WFP says assistance can only last until early 2026.
In this harsh environment, solar cookers have become a lifeline. With chronic fuel shortages and soaring firewood prices, many refugees are forced to cook less or not at all. Solar Cookers International (SCI) helps bridge that gap, providing a safe and sustainable way to prepare food without the need for firewood or charcoal.
At this time, supporting SCI means fewer families going hungry, fewer women risking their safety to gather firewood, and a more dignified way to survive. To everyone who continues to stand with refugees, SCI thanks you. Your commitment brings real hope in a time of growing despair.
Learn more about how Solar Cookers International is supporting communities in crisis by clicking here.
Photo credit: Joseph Loper/TNH