In Kenya, increasing numbers of refugees are experiencing severe hunger as US funding cuts have drastically slashed food rations. According to a United Nations representative, the situation has reached alarming levels, particularly at Kakuma camp, which houses around 300,000 individuals who fled conflicts across Africa and the Middle East.
At Amusait Hospital within the camp, emaciated children battle malnutrition, showcasing the dire state of health among the youngest vulnerable residents. One infant, Hellen, displays alarming signs of malnutrition, while another child, James, remains reliant on food provisions from the World Food Programme (WFP), which has been compelled to reduce its rations to only 30% of what is necessary for maintaining health.
This funding reduction stems from sweeping aid cuts announced as part of a broader US foreign aid strategy. Before these cuts, the US contributed approximately 70% of the WFP’s budget in Kenya.
Desperate mothers like Mukuniwa Bililo Mami lament the dramatic change, noting that food rations, which previously supported three meals a day, are now inadequate to last a month. The loss of cash transfers intended for purchasing essential supplies like vegetables further deepens their plight, threatening to collapse local markets dependent on trade among refugees.
The ongoing challenges faced in Kakuma highlight the desperate struggle for food and basic necessities amidst a looming humanitarian crisis.
Source: www.bbc.com
