South Korea donates food worth Sh1.2 billion to refugees in Kenya

SADIK HASSAN AND JOAN KINUTHIA-KNA

More than 500,000 refugees living in Kenya’s Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps have received a major boost after the Republic of Korea donated 10,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to the World Food Programme (WFP), easing fears of worsening hunger caused by deep funding cuts and shrinking food rations.

The humanitarian donation, valued at approximately Sh1.2 billion, is expected to cushion vulnerable refugees, mainly from Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who have been severely affected by reductions in international humanitarian assistance.

The Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Dr Belio Kipsang, officiated the handover ceremony of the rice consignment from the Republic of Korea to the WFP in Mombasa.

He described the donation as a demonstration of international solidarity and shared responsibility toward some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.

“This contribution will help sustain nearly half a million refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma during a period of immense humanitarian need,” said Dr Kipsang, while commending the Republic of Korea for its continued support at a time when humanitarian resources are increasingly constrained.

The PS noted that since 2018, Korea has contributed more than 132,000 metric tonnes of rice to refugees in Kenya through the WFP, underscoring the country’s consistent commitment to humanitarian values, global responsibility and the protection of vulnerable communities.

Dr Kipsang reaffirmed that Kenya has, for decades, remained a haven for people fleeing conflict, persecution and instability across the region.

He said the country continues to uphold its international and regional obligations under refugee protection and human rights frameworks, guided by its longstanding tradition of hospitality, humanity and solidarity.

He observed that humanitarian needs have reached unprecedented levels due to funding constraints, forcing humanitarian agencies to slash food rations and leaving many refugee households to make impossible choices simply to survive. 

“Behind every statistic are families whose resilience is being tested each day: mothers foregoing meals so that their children can eat, vulnerable people skipping meals, and young people facing uncertain futures.

These are not abstract figures. They represent real people whose dignity, health and prospects depend on the choices that we make together,” he said.

The PS warned that without sustained support from partners such as the Republic of Korea and other donors, humanitarian agencies would be forced to make even tougher decisions, including further reducing already inadequate food rations or excluding some of the most vulnerable refugees from life-saving assistance.

He further highlighted the Government’s implementation of the Shirika Plan, a bold national framework aimed at transforming refugee management from longterm humanitarian dependency into sustainable socio-economic inclusion, self-reliance and shared development for both refugees and host communities.

According to Dr Kipsang, the Shirika Plan seeks to ensure that refugees not only survive but also gain opportunities to become productive members of society through access to education, livelihoods, financial inclusion, infrastructure and public services, while simultaneously improving opportunities for host communities.

“The transition from humanitarian assistance to self-reliance is a process, not an event. It requires stability, dignity and the assurance that basic human needs are met. Adequate and predictable food assistance, therefore, remains the indispensable bridge between emergency response and durable solutions,” he said.

The Republic of Korea officially handed over the 10,000 metric tonnes of rice to the WFP during a ceremony held at the agency’s offices near the Port of Mombasa, in what officials described as a timely intervention to strengthen food assistance for refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma.

WFP Kenya Country Director, Ms Betty Ka, said the consignment would sustain nearly half a million refugees in the coming months, as humanitarian needs continue to rise amid persistent funding challenges.