Relief Group Battles Kakuma Refugee Influx

World Vision, the relief and development organization, is appealing for material assistance amid a surge in the number of refugees  seeking sanctuary in the Kakuma refugee camp.

As fighting in South Sudan continues thousands fleeing the hostilities are finding refuge in the camp located northwest of Kenya.

The Kakuma Refugee Camp is the second largest refugee camp in Kenya after Dadaab, hosting more than 110 000 refugees and a majority from South Sudan.

The population is said to have risen to 128 540 owing to the arrival of new refugees.

Samuel Mwangi, a World Vision Commodity Officer in Kakuma Refugee Camp, said the needs were increasing with the sudden influx of the refugees.

“The response load is becoming heavier, the largest number of the new arrivals are children and therefore we are appealing for additional support to meet their pressing needs,” Samuel Mwangi said.

World Vision is planning to scale up its operations in the refugee camp particularly, providing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and non-food items (NFIs).

The humanitarian agency is planning to provide 1 000 rescue kits consisting of tents, blankets, kitchen utensils, sanitary towels, mosquito nets, children clothes, toilet paper, among other items to benefit 1 000 families.

According to World Vision, this is to supplement the efforts of the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Read More at: http://www.news24.co.ke/National/News/Relief-group-battles-Kakuma-refugee-influx-20140109