Aid in Action

Dire Situation in Dadaab Refugee Camp

 | Wednesday, July 15, 2009

With the crisis in Somalia an average of 150-200 refugees are fleeing to Dadaab Refugee Camp per day despite the closed border between Kenya and Somalia.  Refugees flow in to Dadaab through porous border points and  illegal routes.  They pay middle men who charge exorbitant fees to ferry them across the border, meaning only those with money can cross the border.

As of mid-June the total registered population was 281,372 with the expectation that number would rise to more than 300,000 refugees by year’s end. The refugee camp was established in 1991 and was meant to hold a mere 90,000 refugees: it is currently holding more than three times its  capacity.  This has strained camp resources almost to breaking point. 

Malnutrition rates seem to be going up given the number of admissions into the nutrition feeding centers.  A nutrition survey is planned for July/August which will determine the nutritional status. 

Thanks to U.S. Government contributions there have been no major pipeline breaks in the food basket.  The United States Government has contributed $50 million in food aid through the Office of Food for Peace to the refugee program in Fiscal Year 2009.  This has helped to stave off what could have been a massive humanitarian catastrophe.