Problem assessment
The provision of adequate shelter to all people of concern in Kakuma camp is still a major challenge, with only 32 per cent of the population living in adequate shelter. Affected refugees are either provided accommodation by friends and relatives in overcrowded situations or are living in dilapidated shelters. In 2012, some 3,060 shelters were constructed and occupied by more than 12,000 new arrivals against the assessed need of 24,000 people in need of shelter for the year. In the beginning of 2013 the gap for adequate shelters was 8,800 units both for new arrivals who did not benefit in 2012 as well as the established caseload.
The operation has experienced a continued influx since 2009 negatively impacting the provision of long-term shelter. Over the past years, resources made available to respond to shelter needs did not allow the operation to serve all new arrivals let alone those refugees who have been in the camp for a longer period of time and are in need of new shelter. The need for shelter is directly proportional to population growth, and in 2012 the camp population increased significantly by 24,415 people requiring more than 6,000 new durable shelters. This implies that the need for shelter is likely to double in 2014 unless adequate resources are provided to address the situation. Over the years, older shelters have deteriorated with more than 5,000 units in need of repair.
Although the operation has made a positive step towards improving the size of shelters, from 3x4m to 3x6m, the shelters are still inadequate in many ways including lack of privacy. Often family members sleep outside exposing themselves to risks of SGBV, insecurity, harsh weather conditions, and health-related implications such as asthma and pneumonia. This situation mostly affects girls and boys who can no longer share a room with their parents.
Kakuma camp has existed for many years and one of greatest challenges facing the operation is the lack of sufficient land to build new shelters and limited capacity to provide other essential services for the ever increasing population. The camp was originally designed for 90,000 refugees but this capacity has already been surpassed by over 20,000 individuals. The need for the government to provide additional land is crucial, otherwise it will be difficult for the operation to accommodate new asylum-seekers and maintain current levels of assistance in other sectors.
Comprehensive response
In 2012 a limited number of households in Kakuma had adequate shelter and were living in dilapidated and unsafe mud-brick structures. In 2014 UNHCR plans to construct 6,300 shelters for new arrivals and other refugees in need of improved accommodation. Full implementation of this objective will ensure the provision of long-term shelter to 28,560 people of concern and will result in significant achievements as most camp residents will be secure and healthy. Whereas most of the new shelters will be allocated to new arrivals, special attention will be given to people with specific needs such as the elderly, single parents, child-headed households, families taking care of unaccompanied and separated children, survivors of SGBV, the chronically ill, and people living with disabilities. The comprehensive impact of these interventions will increase the percentage of households living in adequate dwellings to 91 per cent and will protect them from insecurity, risk of gender-based violence, and harsh weather conditions.