UK providing further support to Kakuma and Daadab Refugee Camps

LONDON, United-Kingdom, July 7, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The UK has increased its humanitarian support and will be providing Ksh 3 billion (£19m) this year to help deliver basic, life-saving assistance and protection to more than 530,000 refugees, from more than a dozen countries, in Kakuma and Dadaab. The funds will be channelled through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP), and will be used to support critical areas including health, nutrition, water and sanitation, environment, host community support, and food rations.

Following the announcement, the Head of the UK's Department for International Development-Kenya, Ms Lisa Phillips, said:

“The UK is committed to continuing to help Kenya in providing humanitarian assistance and protection for refugees. We also share Kenya's desire for a sustainable solution to the refugee issue, and we welcome and support the Kenyan and Somali Governments and UNHCR in their efforts at implementing the 2013 Tripartite Agreement”.

Ms Phillips also thanked the Government of Kenya for a long history of hosting refugees and providing protection to those fleeing persecution, conflict and other forms of insecurity.

The UK is also working in Somalia to create the conditions for return in Somalia, and in other countries of origin. The UK's programme in Somalia involves the provision of a broad package of assistance from governance, peace-building and stabilization measures through to basic social service delivery and relief and resilience programmes.

Notes to Editors

1. The UK is contributing towards a new programme that will provide a modest, monthly electronic cash transfer to refugees to allow them to purchase some of the foods that they need. The payment will be transferred using MPESA and will help to support the local economy.

2. A Tripartite Agreement was signed on 11 November 2013 between UNHCR and the governments of Somalia and Kenya which establishes a legal framework and other support for Somali refugees in Kenya who wish to return to their homeland when conditions there are conducive for their return. The Agreement can be found at:

http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/5285e0294.pdf