At least four people sustained gunshot wounds as police clashed with protesters at Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, where thousands of refugees demonstrated against food rationing on Monday.
The camp, located in the north of the country, hosts people fleeing conflict and drought from neighboring South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Protesters expressed frustration over dwindling food supplies caused by funding constraints.
The World Food Program (WFP), responsible for food distribution at the camp, had previously announced in December that rations had been reduced to just 45% of the minimum food basket due to financial shortfalls. The agency has warned for years about declining contributions from donor governments, which have affected its ability to sustain aid programs.
On Monday, WFP also announced the closure of its office in South Africa, citing funding cuts from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
A refugee from South Sudan, John Garang, displayed a four-liter (one-gallon) pot, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
“This is the container they are now using to measure beans and oil, and the other one for rice. This is supposed to last for a month. Assume you have no other income—can this be enough for you?” he asked.
Kenya is currently transitioning from traditional refugee camps to integrated settlements aimed at reducing donor dependence. As part of this shift, Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps have been officially designated as municipalities.
