NAIROBI, Kenya Sept 23 – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking USD 40.4 million in order to avert food crisis in Kenyan refugee camps after it was forced to cut down food rations of 440,000 refugees.
WFP Kenya Country Director Lauren Landis said the agency was forced to slash food supply for refugees in Dadaab, Kakuma, and Kalobeyei camps due to severe funding shortfalls.
“Low funding levels have left WFP no choice – this is the absolute last resort,” she said noting that food rations were reduced to 52 percent, as opposed to the minimum daily 100 percent required for a person.
Out of the additional funding sought, USD 23.9 million will be distributed to refugees in the form of cash transfers while another USD 14.3 million would be spent on food predominantly purchased in Kenya.
“USD 1.2 million would provide children under 5 and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers with specialized foods for the treatment and prevention of malnutrition, and USD 1million would feed school children across the camps,” the agency noted
WFP further warned that if no further financial aid is brought forth by the end of the year, it will be forced to stop offering any food assistance.
“This reduction will only enable WFP to stretch the remaining food and cash until December 2021, after which food assistance to all refugees will stop completely if further funds are not received,” Landis added
