UN humanitarian fund allocates $5 million to help rising number of Somali refugees in Kenya

(New York, 12 January 2009): As part of United Nations efforts to address the growing needs of an increasing number of Somali refugees in Kenya, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated a total of five million dollars to three UN agencies to enable them to continue assisting the refugees.

The effects of drought and worsening insecurity in Somalia have forced a growing number of people to seek refuge in neighbouring Kenya. More than 65,000 new Somali refugees entered Kenya throughout 2008. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an estimated 230,000 Somalis are now sheltered in the three congested camps at Dadaab in Kenya's Northeastern Province. The number of people entering Kenya from Somalia is expected to continue rising because of rapidly worsening security conditions.

The new arrivals have been seeking shelter in the three camps - Dagahaley, Hagadera and Ifo - in Dadaab, which are currently hosting three times the number of people they were initially designed for.

UNHCR requested additional funding in order to respond to various needs including food, transport, logistics, non-food items, water and sanitation, health, education, shelter and protection, among others. The CERF grant will be used to enhance household food security. Some of the funds will also be used to support Sudanese refugees in these same camps in Kenya.

UN World Food Programme (WFP) efforts are focused on ensuring that newly arrived refugees get the minimum nutritional requirements. The agency also aims to meet the special food and nutrition needs of vulnerable groups through the selective feeding programme.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) asked for additional funding to promote access to essential nutritional services.

Last month, the United Nations and its partners launched a major appeal for some US$913 million to help provide humanitarian assistance to an estimated 3.2 million needy people in Somalia in 2009.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1917 892 1679, bunker@un.org; Nicholas Reader +1 212 963 4961, mobile +1 646 752 3117,reader@un.org, John Nyaga, OCHA-NY, + 1 917 367 9262, nyagaj@un.org; Elisabeth Byrs OCHAGeneva,+41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570, byrs@un.org OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int