Home > Photo Essays > Photo Essays 2019 > Kakuma Refugee Camp in Northern Kenya
Kakuma Refugee Camp in Northern Kenya
Photographer: Dai Kurokawa
Kakuma Refugee camp in northwestern Kenya’s arid Turkana county was established in 1992 to house the so-called ‘Lost boys of Sudan’, some 20,000 boys who fled the Second Sudanese Civil war that broke out in 1983 and dragged on for almost 22 years. According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, as of June 2019, Kakuma camp and the adjacent Kalobeyei settlement host 190,181 refugees, the majority of whom come from South Sudan and Somalia.
Although the regional government has been working with aid organisations to create a harmonious situation for both refugees and the local ethnic Turkana community, the conflict between the two groups remains a problem. Kenya’s Standard newspaper reported on 11 July 2019 that the two communities clashed at Kakuma camp after a refugee woman was shot by an unknown attacker, bringing local businesses to a standstill. Many refugees in Kakuma hope to one day resettle in a third country, but the process can take years and many are stuck in the camp as they lack the necessary travel documents.
UNHCR says that, since the beginning of 2019, 295 refugees left Kakuma camp for resettlement, mainly to the US, Canada and Australia. Together with the larger Dadaab refugee camp near the border with Somalia, more than 400,000 refugees live in camps in Kenya, while some 75,000 live in urban areas, according to UNHCR.
A view of refugee shacks in Kalobeyei settlement, adjacent to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 26 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A man shows Dalili, a smartphone app developed by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) that enables refugees and locals to find best prices available among participating shops, in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Dalili app is currently available for refugees in Lebanon and Kakuma. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A refugee boy from South Sudan reacts in his shack in Kalobeyei settlement, near Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Comprised of three villages, Kalobeyei settlement was opened in 2016 following influx of South Sudanese refugees that surpassed the capacity of Kakuma Refugee Camp. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Local Turkana women working with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) look on in front of a dam constructed to help refugees and locals in agriculture and livestocks in Kalobeyei, adjacent to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A young refugee girl from Somalia looks on inside a shop in Kalobeyei settlement, near Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Comprised of three villages, Kalobeyei settlement was opened in 2016 following influx of South Sudanese refugees that surpassed the capacity of Kakuma Refugee Camp. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Local Turkana men sit on the street near a shop participating in Dalili, a smartphone app developed by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) that enables refugees and locals to find best prices available among participating shops, in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Dalili app is currently available for refugees in Lebanon and Kakuma. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Local Turkana men carry firewoods on their heads near a shop participating in Dalili, a smartphone app developed by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) that enables refugees and locals to find best prices available among participating shops, in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Dalili app is currently available for refugees in Lebanon and Kakuma. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A South Sudanese refugee boy cries as International Rescue Committee (IRC) workers measure his weight during a health checkup in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Local Turkana men stand next to a dam constructed to help refugees and locals in agriculture and livestocks in Kalobeyei settlement, adjacent to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Pedestrians are reflected in a puddle in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Refugee who fled Somalia sit in their shack built next to their shop participating in 'Bamba Chakula' programme in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Bamba Chakula, or 'get your food' in Swahili slang, is an electronic cash transfer service introduced by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in which selected refugees receive through mobile phones four US dollars per person every month to replace part of the monthly food ration that they receive, enabling them to buy food of their choice at prefered shops. The camp currently hosts some 3,000 businesses and its informal economy is valued at 16.5 million US dollars, according to a 2018 report by the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC). EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A woman of Turkana tribe, who are traditionally nomadic pastoralists, picks cowpea leaves in a farm that harvests water from the dam constructed to help refugees and locals in agriculture and livestocks in Kalobeyei, adjacent to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. The area saw some 100 cases of scurvy in 2017. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Young refugee girls from Somalia walk in front of a shop participating in Dalili, a smartphone app developed by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) that enables refugees and locals to find best prices available among participating shops, in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Dalili app is currently available for refugees in Lebanon and Kakuma. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A herd of camels drinks from a watering point that uses water from the dam constructed to help refugees and locals in agriculture and livestocks in Kalobeyei, adjacent to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A young refugee boy has his height measured by International Rescue Committee (IRC) workers during a health checkup in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A South Sudanese refugee girl looks at her family's small hydroponic farm in an enclosure in Kalobeyei settlement, adjacent to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 26 June 2019. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is piloting hydroponic farming that requires minimal water in Kakuma camp and Kalobeyei settlement to diversify their diet. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Refugee boys from South Sudan work in a flour mill in Kalobeyei settlement, near Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Comprised of three villages, Kalobeyei settlement was opened in 2016 following influx of South Sudanese refugees that surpassed the capacity of Kakuma Refugee Camp. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A young South Sudanese refugee boy cries as he is held by a worker from International Rescue Committee (IRC) during a health checkup in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Cowpeas are growing in a hydroponic farm in South Sudanese refugee family's backyard in Kalobeyei settlement, adjacent to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 26 June 2019. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is piloting hydroponic farming that requires minimal water in Kakuma camp and Kalobeyei settlement to diversify their diet. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A herd of camels drinks from a watering point that uses water from the dam constructed to help refugees and locals in agriculture and livestocks in Kalobeyei, adjacent to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A herd of camels drinks from a watering point that uses water from the dam constructed to help refugees and locals in agriculture and livestocks in Kalobeyei, adjacent to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A young South Sudanese refugee boy reaches over to ask for relief food during a food distribution in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A refugee girl from Somalia buys food at a shop participating in 'Bamba Chakula' programme in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Bamba Chakula, or 'get your food' in Swahili slang, is an electronic cash transfer service introduced by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in which selected refugees receive through mobile phones four US dollars per person every month to replace part of the monthly food ration that they receive, enabling them to buy food of their choice at prefered shops. The camp currently hosts some 3,000 businesses and its informal economy is valued at 16.5 million US dollars, according to a 2018 report by the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC). EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A local Turkana worker carries a bag of rice donated to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) by South Korea at a warehouse in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Local Turkana women buy camel meat at a shop participating in Dalili, a smartphone app developed by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) that enables refugees and locals to find best prices available among participating shops, in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Dalili app is currently available for refugees in Lebanon and Kakuma. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A local Turkana man look on in front of a dam constructed to help refugees and locals in agriculture and livestocks in Kalobeyei, adjacent to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A South Sudanese refugee boy looks on as he awaits his turn during a health checkup in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana county, northern Kenya, 25 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Local Turkana women sell goods on the street in Kalobeyei settlement, adjacent to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 26 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
Local Turkana workers carry bags of rice donated to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) by South Korea at a warehouse in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA
A local Turkana worker stands on top of bags of rice donated to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) by South Korea at a warehouse in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county, northern Kenya, 24 June 2019. Despite an improvement, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in its 2018 report classifies the nutrition situations in Kakuma camp and adjacent Kalobeyei settlement as 'serious' and 'poor' respectively. More than 10 percent of refugees in Kakuma camp suffered from acute malnutrition in 2017. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA