Aid in Action
Refugees Start to Return to Sudan
Malnutrition Rates Drop as Camp Conditions Improve
Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya
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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Photo: Anita Oberai
Food aid is distributed in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Since the beginning of the year, more Sudanese refugees have been able to return to their home country.
Since the end of October 2007, the number of refugees living at Kakuma Camp has decreased to about 60,000, down from 96,000 at the beginning of year. Of these, 90% are Sudanese. With the relative peace in Sudan, there have been many assisted and spontaneous returns. According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) more than 25,000 refugees have spontaneously returned to Sudan and 8,000 more have registered to go back before the end of the year. Signs of the reduced numbers are clearly visible, with shelters lying empty and fewer people around the camp. According to the latest nutrition survey carried out in September, malnutrition rates have dropped from 15% to 9%. The reduction is attributable to a number of factors, such as the healthy food aid pipeline, provision of complementary foods, better infant feeding practices, provision of adequate water, and fewer diarrheal diseases.