Covid-19 Coverage by the Kakuma News Reflector

By the KANERE Editorial Team

The Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (aka COVID-19) has already impacted many countries around the world, especially in China, Iran, Europe and the United States.

In Africa, at least 52 countries have confirmed cases. Over 13,000 people have tested positive, and more than 700 of them have died. Kenya reported its first case in mid-March, and as the virus continues to spread to new counties, refugees in Kakuma are anxious that the virus will eventually reach the camp.

In the coming weeks, the Kakuma News Reflector will make Covid-19 a special focus. The editorial team is working overtime to report on the responses by humanitarian agencies and the government, as well as the ways that communities are dealing with the threat.

Photo Essay: Two months food assistance distributed in anticipation of potential lockdown

By Baluu Wol Makuach – KANERE Staff Writer April, 2020

On April 2nd, KANERE correspondent Baluu Wol Makuach visited Food Distribution Point 1 to see how the World Food Programme (WFP) was delivering rations under the increased health precautions. To curb the spread of Covid-19 in Kakuma, WFP is distributing a double ration of two months of relief food to beneficiaries.

This is the first story published in KANERE’s Photo Essay series, told through images rather than a conventional written article.

Refugees wait to be screened by KK Security officers in the security queue outside Food Distribution Point 1. UNHCR, along with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), instituted precautionary health measures to be followed by refugees while coming to collect their food. This includes thermal screening, two-meter social distancing, hand-washing, and limiting the number of people present in the collection zone to fewer than ten. But outside, crowding put many people into close proximity to one another.

Covid-19 Myths in Kakuma

By KANERE Staff Writer, April 2020

Covid-19 has not yet reached Kakuma camp, but misinformation is spreading rapidly.

Given the lack of medical infrastructure in Kakuma, it is important that the community does its best to follow public health recommendations that can prevent the spread of the virus. However, misinformation leads people to undertake ineffective strategies, which can be a major waste of energy and resources. Moreover, misinformation may discourage them from following the official guidance of qualified health experts. Worse yet, rumors about how the disease is spread can cause stigmatization and even violence against certain groups.

Myths regarding Covid-19 and awareness intervention from WHO

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION STRATEGIES AFFECT RESIDENTS OF KAKUMA

By Santos Madhieu – KANERE Staff Writer, April 2020

To prevent the spread of Covid-19, the Government of Kenya called for the closure on March 22nd of social venues such as sporting grounds, bars and hotels, with the exception of takeaway (carry-out) services. Movement in and out of the country is restricted, and a curfew from 7 pm to 5 am was put in place on March 25, 2020.

Businesses owned by Kakuma refugee traders are feeling the impact of this polices,and this week, I met Machar MalithGeu, a businessman who owns a video hall in Hongkong market where many youths gather each day to watch movies and games. The video hall is a major source of income for Machar and his family.

INFORMATION DISSEMINATION FROM NGO’s IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 IN KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMP

By Hibo Mohammed – KANERE Staff Writer April, 2020

The residents of Kakuma have been worried about the Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected many countries but has yet to reach the camp. On 13th March 2020, Kenya announced its first case of Corona Virus, and fear rose in the camp when it was reported in The Daily Nation on March 20th that four people had been detained while attempting to enter Kakuma by road. Due to concerns that they might have been infected by coronavirus, they were put into isolation. The three Somali-Americans men were all relatives; the eldest had just returned from the US, and he was accompanied on the road by his son and grandson.

NEXT CIRCLE

By Okelo Sejo – Kakuma Refugee Camp

There is time for more
And time for less
Time for war
And time to seek refuge
Time to collect ration
And time to starve
Problem is there is just no time

To: The Editor of Kakuma News Reflector

I have been a reader of KANERE for a long while. Many refugees like myself feel that KANERE is the only independent media that gives voice to refugees in both the Kakuma camp and the Kalobeyei settlement.

I would like to raise some concerns about the different ways that refugees all over the camp have been suffering, sometimes due to oppressive humanitarian policies. We hope future publications will cover these issues:

The first issue is about the rations on which we survive in Kakuma. You are denied a ration card if you have missed two food distributions. If you miss, your ration card is permanently deactivated and you are told to register anew. Imagine, someone has stayed ten years and then misses just three months, and they are required to start everything as if they are a newcomer.

The ration system becomes a way to police people, as if we are locked up in the camp. I know a family of five who were in Nairobi for medical reasons. When they came back to Kakuma, they discovered that their ration card had been deactivated. After staying months without a ration, the card was finally activated but recognizing only two people in the household. What kind of humanitarian treatment is this? I have attached a photo of a family begging to the agencies to open up their ration card. I hope you will find a space to publish that photo.

The second issue is about mental health. A lot of people who have been suffering due to mental illness, and the numbers of suicides are rising. It is good to create awareness about suicide prevention, but doing this only occasionally cannot help us. Refugees need counseling, and I hope KANERE will raise this issue in future editions to sound the alarm for organizations and donors.

The third issue concerns documentation. The Refugee Affaires Secretariat (RAS) is understaffed. They need to add additional employees and budget so that they can more adequately serve refugees. It takes so long for us to retrieve vital documents and permissions. The latest figures that I have seen show that around 23,000 asylum seekers are waiting for decisions on their status. They lack interpreters, and this is a big challenge especially for those who do not speak Kiswahili.

Finally, the issue of Coronavirus: Refugees both in Kakuma and Kalobeyei are panicking due to news of the pandemic. I do not think the agencies will save us if the virus reaches here. Please let the world know that we have nothing to rely on. May Allah protect all of us.

I hope you will publish the above message.

Yours faithfully
Essa Suliyman – Kakuma Refugee Camp

President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier Visits Kakuma

By Qaabata Boru – KANERE staff writer

On February 26, 2020, German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the Kakuma refugee camp to observe a project sponsored by Germany. As a welcome gift, he received a football from pupils of Al-Nuur Primary School.

7 dead as heavy rain pounds Kakuma Refugee Camp

By KANERE Staff Reporter, November 2019

Seven people died in the Kakuma refugee camp after torrential overnight rains, with some swept away while crossing rivers, a zone leader in Kakuma 1 told KANERE.

Large Fire Transforms Safe Haven into Hell

By KANERE staff writer

A large fire broke out at the Jesuit Refugee Service’s (JRS) safe haven at around 5:30pm in the evening of January 2,2020. The fire caused severe damage to the building, located at Kakuma 1, Zone 1, Block 8.

Five Dead, Many Injured in Communal Violence

By KANERE Staff Writer, Dec 2019

At least five people were killed in an inter-ethnic conflict in Kakuma Refugee camp that spanned at least 3 days. The conflict was sparked on the evening of December 10, 2019 during a football match between the South Sudan and Sudan football teams at Kakuma 3, Zone 2, Block 13. What started as a skirmish on the football pitch escalated as larger revenge attacks were carried out in places of residence. By the next day, much of Kakuma 3 was affected by general insecurity and movement by both foot and vehicle were halted for days, including for NGOs.

Community Radio Established in Kalobeyei Settlement

By KANERE staff writer

REF FM, a new community radio for and by refugees in the Kalobeyei Settlement, is now ready to commence broadcasting for refugees and the host communities.