UNFPA Humanitarian Response Division Director, Ms. Shoko Arakaki, visited Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobeyei Integrated settlement in Turkana county, where UNFPA is implementing several humanitarian interventions aimed at safeguarding the health and well-being of refugee women, adolescent girls, and young people. The field visit which took place from 9-10 October 2023 was held as part of a mission to assess progress in the implementation of UNFPA’s humanitarian response in Kenya and the horn of Africa Region. Ms. Araki was accompanied by a delegation from UNFPA including UNFPA Representative in Kenya Mr. Anders Thomsen, UNFPA Humanitarian Advisor, East and Southern Africa region, Dr. Michael Ebele.
In Kakuma Refugee Camp, the Humanitarian Division Director attended sports events and community forums held under the Play2Protect initiative, a sports for-protection project that leverages the power of sports to safeguard against gender-based violence. The initiative funded by the Olympic Refuge Foundation reaches adolescents and youth in Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement with information and services that improve their health and well-being while reducing their vulnerability to gender-based violence.
In Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement, Ms. Araki visited the maternity wing at Natukobenyo Health Center which offers maternal health services to expectant refugee mothers. The maternity wing was recently renovated with support from UNFPA and the Government of Japan. Midwives at the hospital have also been trained on the provision of basic emergency obstetric and newborn care, which equips them to deal with common emergencies that occur during pregnancy and delivery.
The UNFPA delegation also visited a gender-based violence recovery center and safe spaces providing support to refugee women and girls, as part of UNFPA’s gender-based violence prevention and response efforts.
As of July 31, 2023, Kenya is home to a total of 636,024 refugees and asylum-seekers. The country has seen a further surge in refugees and asylum seekers, due to recent crises such as drought, flooding, and conflict in neighboring countries. As part of the mission, Ms. Araki and the UNFPA delegation also met with senior officials from the national government as well as the county government of Turkana, UNHCR, development partners, and other stakeholders. Ms. Araki assured partners of UNFPA’s support and commitment to strengthening humanitarian response in Kenya and the region, particularly in safeguarding the sexual and reproductive health and protection needs of women and girls.
