Kenya, drought and civil war have pushed over 55,000 Somalis, mostly women and children, into the neighboring country since September

ROME – The Humanitarian Organization Save The Children – who has worked in the immense camp in Dadaab since 2006, managing child protection and education programs and which this year alone has reached more than 16,000 people, including over 12,000 children – asks the international community and donors to put funds are available for vulnerable families, for assistance to unaccompanied minors, for the creation of child-friendly spaces and for the management of cases within refugee camps and among communities facing severe hunger.

Every day in search of food like stray animals. The devastating drought in Somalia has led to the largest exodus of refugees to Kenya in more than a decade. In fact, over 55,000 Somalis – mostly women and children – have arrived since September this year. He makes it known Save the Children. It is estimated that hundreds of people arrive every day in the three camps of Dadaab, in search of shelter and food (like stray animals) after having to abandon their homes due to the worst drought of the last 40 years and the ongoing conflict. The team coordination of Emergencies of Dadaab (Dadaab Emergency Coordination Task Team) – the third largest refugee camp in the world – said the number of new refugees could increase by another 66,000 by April 2023, as Somalia finds itself on the brink of famine, thus increasing pressure on the already scarce resources available for humanitarian needs.

An increase in refugee pressure. The Dadaab refugee camp was opened in 1991 to shelter asylum seekers fleeing the civil war in Somalia. A second massive influx occurred in 2011 with around 130,000 refugees arriving to escape famine in southern Somalia that killed more than 260,000 people, more than half of whom were children under five. This is the second time that the drought has pushed people fleeing Somalia into the already overcrowded camp, which is home to some 220,000 refugees, more than three times its capacity. According to Save The Children this renewed refugee movement is causing unprecedented pressure on already limited resources. This despite the fact that after a meeting between organizations in mid-October, it was decided to reopen another camp, closed three years ago, to host new asylum seekers.

Horn of Africa: catastrophic food crisis. The Horn of Africa region is experiencing a catastrophic food crisis after four consecutive seasons of missed rain, exacerbated by soaring food and fuel prices on international markets, driven in part by the war in Ukraine. In Kenya, an estimated 4.35 million people – 9% of the population – are facing severe food shortages, while nearly 6.7 million people in Somalia – 41% of the population – are struggling with widespread food shortages. of food, with child malnutrition on the rise and fears of famine. “We are witnessing a devastating food crisis, very similar to that of 2011. The devastating drought in the Horn of Africa and extreme food shortages are driving mothers to take desperate measures, including walking hundreds of kilometers to the complex. of refugees from Dadaab, Kenya, putting the well-being and safety of their children at risk. We fear that the current crisis will reverse the progress made over the years, with the real risk that some families resettled in Somalia may be displaced for the second time, “said Yvonne Arunga, Save the Children Director for Kenya and Madagascar.

Child protection programs. “Massive, sustained and multi-sectoral support is needed in Kenya and Somalia. Time is already up for too many people and we cannot afford to lose more when lives are at stake. We call on the international community and donors to make funds available. for vulnerable families, for alternative assistance to unaccompanied minors, for the creation of child-friendly spaces where the little ones can play and learn, and for case management systems within refugee camps and between communities facing severe hunger, including host communities, ”he added. Save the Children has worked in the Dadaab refugee complex since 2006, managing child protection and education programs, and was instrumental in responding to the 2011 Horn of Africa drought. In 2022, the Organization reached more than 16,000 people, including more than 12,000 children, through cash protection, education and assistance programs.

Reached 514,000 people. Outside the refugee camp, Save the Children is providing life-saving assistance to children and their families in Turkana, Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties through integrated health, nutrition, food safety, child protection and education interventions. This year the teams of Save the Children reached more than 514,000 people through malnutrition screening and treatment, water transport, water point rehabilitation and hygiene promotion.