In the vast, wind-swept plains of northwestern Kenya, the Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobeyei settlement stretch across the dry Turkana landscape. This temporary home has grown into a vibrant community of almost 310,000 people who have fled conflict, hunger, and uncertainty across the region.
However, life in Kakuma has become even more challenging in recent months. Cuts in humanitarian funding have reduced food rations, leading to growing food insecurity, heightened community tensions and increased protection risks. Many families now rely on small gardens, community support, and limited assistance to survive.
Amid these challenges, daily life continues with remarkable determination.
Markets buzz with trade, classrooms buzz with children’s voices and local radio stations broadcast messages of unity and hope.
Supported by a host of EU-funded humanitarian aid organisations, residents are finding ways to rebuild and adapt, creating a sense of belonging and resilience in one of the world’s toughest environments.
Daily life in refugee camps
Traders, tuk-tuks, and schoolchildren move through the heart of the camp. Kakuma’s streets have become lifelines of activity and connection for refugees from across East Africa.
At one of the camp’s reception centres, new arrivals are registered, given food and medical checks, among other forms of assistance. Fleeing conflict and hardship in South Sudan, DRC, and beyond, for many, this is their first moment of rest after weeks on the move.
Overcrowding and resource constraints strain Kakuma’s health facilities. EU-supported aid agencies continue to work to meet urgent medical needs amid growing demand. Maternal and child health services are vital, helping to reduce risks during pregnancy and childbirth.
Child malnutrition remains one of the most serious challenges faced by families in Kakuma. In an EU-supported feeding centre run by the International Rescue Committee, malnourished children receive vital care.
Ongoing food shortages, poor diets and illnesses like diarrhoea and malaria place an even greater strain on children’s growth and immune systems.
At Kakuma’s busy markets, refugees purchase maize, beans, and vegetables using electronic vouchers provided by the World Food Programme through an EU-supported programme. The system gives families the freedom to choose their food while boosting income for local traders.
Margaret Aparo from South Sudan tends rows of green vegetables in an EU-supported farming project. The gardens turn dry land into a source of sustenance and pride.
Finding ways to rebuild and adapt
A girl attends EU-supported classes in a camp school. For children born in exile, schooling offers the promise of stability and the possibility of a future beyond the camp.
Inside a modest studio supported by the EU partner Film Aid Kenya, presenters broadcast from a refugee-run radio station. Their programmes share news, music, and messages of unity across the camp — proof that even in displacement, communities find their voice.
In the arid Turkana region, water is precious and often scarce.
The EU supports projects that help provide, safe drinking water for refugees and host communities alike.
