Aid Cuts Deepen Hunger ‍Crisis for Kakuma Refugees

⁢ ⁢ Updated June 21, 2025

Kakuma, Kenya-Reduced funding for the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) is exacerbating hunger among 300,000 refugees at the Kakuma camp. ⁤The cuts, ‍partly stemming from earlier pauses in U.S. foreign aid, have left many, like Ugandan⁢ widower Martin Komol, struggling to survive.

Komol, a father⁣ of⁣ five, said he relies on neighbors for food after his rations ⁢were slashed. He now eats only once every one or two days. “When we can’t find anyone to help us, we become sick,” ⁢Komol said, adding that local hospitals⁣ often attribute their ailments to hunger.

Rations have been halved, and monthly cash transfers used to supplement diets with protein and vegetables have ceased.⁢ Refugees now receive only 6 pounds of rice monthly, far short of the U.N.’s recommended 20 pounds for adequate nutrition. The ⁢WFP anticipates the ⁢next rice donation in August.

Colin Buleti, ⁣WFP’s head in Kakuma, warned of a dire situation ⁢if funding doesn’t materialize.”Come August, ⁣we are likely to see a more tough scenario,” Buleti said.⁣ “If WFP doesn’t ⁤receive any funding‍ between now and then, it means only a fraction of the ⁣refugees will be able to get assistance. It means only ⁢the most extremely vulnerable will be targeted.”

The shrinking food supply⁤ is contributing to increased ‍malnutrition among young children,pregnant women,and breastfeeding mothers. Sammy Nyang’a, a nutrition officer at Kakuma’s largest hospital, run ⁣by the International Rescue Committee, reported a surge⁣ in admissions to the stabilization ward: 58 children in March, 146 in April, and 106 in May. April saw 15 deaths, tripling the‍ monthly average.

“Now with the cash transfers gone,we expect more women⁤ and children to be unable to afford a balanced diet,” Nyang’a said. The hospital’s supplies ⁢of⁤ nutrient-dense porridge and fortified peanut paste are dwindling, with current stocks expected‍ to last only until august. The role of aid organizations is crucial in⁤ this crisis, as they try to‍ mitigate the impact of reduced funding and ensure⁤ the survival of⁣ vulnerable populations. The impact of these cuts is felt most⁤ acutely ⁤by those who⁣ depend on aid for their basic⁤ needs, highlighting the importance of international support and the responsibility of donor nations.

Susan Martine,a mother of three from South Sudan,cares for her malnourished 2-year-old daughter. She⁢ said her family often ‍goes hungry, though her older children benefit from a WFP⁢ school feeding program, sometimes their only meal. “I ⁢don’t know ⁢how we will survive with the little food ⁢we have received this month,” Martine ⁣said.

The funding cuts also affect local businesses. Chol Jook,a businessman,reported monthly losses after the WFP cash transfer program,wich generated about $5,400⁤ in sales,ended. He fears increased debt ‍among those buying on⁢ credit to feed their families.

What’s next

The WFP is actively seeking additional‍ donors to bridge the funding gap and prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Kakuma. The coming months‍ are critical for securing resources and averting a widespread catastrophe.