Severe food rationing hits refugee camps in Kenya after aid cuts
The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced significant cuts in food rations for refugees in Kenya, following major reductions in international funding, particularly from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as reported by Al Jazeera on August 11th.
The funding shortfall stems from policy changes linked to US President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, which earlier this year placed most USAID staff on leave. The US had previously provided around 70 percent of WFP’s operational funding in Kenya, leaving a significant gap in resources.
Refugees in the Kakuma and Dadaab camps have already begun feeling the impact as WFP rolls out a new distribution system that prioritises certain groups over others. Under the plan, the most vulnerable—such as pregnant women and people with disabilities—will see their rations reduced by 60 percent, while refugees with some form of income will face an 80 percent cut.
Together, these camps host nearly 800,000 people fleeing drought and conflict in Somalia and South Sudan.
Baimankay Sankoh, WFP’s deputy country director in Kenya, said operations are already under “immense strain,” adding, “With resources stretched to their limits, we have had to make the difficult decision to again reduce food assistance.”
Tensions have been mounting in recent weeks. A journalist reporting from Kakuma noted anger over the changes, which have led to protests resulting in one death and several injuries.
WFP officials explained that cuts from donors like USAID have forced them to make “very difficult decisions about who gets to eat and who doesn’t.”
Refugees are now evaluated individually to determine the most effective way to allocate limited resources. However, food shortages are worsening. The Global Acute Malnutrition rate among refugee children and pregnant or breastfeeding women stands at over 13%—well above the 10% emergency threshold.
Even before the cuts, rations stood at just 40% of the recommended daily 2,100 kcal. With more people now sharing limited supplies, stocks will be depleted sooner. WFP expects aid can only be sustained until December or January. In May, the agency said it needed $44 million to restore full rations and cash assistance through August.
In a report published by The Lancet, Trump’s funding cuts to US foreign aid could result in over 14 million avoidable deaths by 2030.
Al Jazeera, Maghrebi.org
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