KANERE - A Refugee Free PressBy Tolossa Asrat – KANERE Staff Writer, February 2021
In December 2020, the Voice of America (VOA) launched new FM stations serving refugees living in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps. The Kakuma office commenced operations on December 18, 2020 during International Migrant Day.
By KANERE staff writer, March 10, 2020
An asylum seeker was found dead at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church compound in Kakuma refugee camp one on Saturday, February 9 2020 in an apparent suicide.
The man was an Ethiopian national in his 40s named Endalkachew Seifu, who had fled his country in the year 2013, as reported by his close friend.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“When they arrived, they were many, they carried big sticks, and they used force. I was bleeding from my head as a result of the beating,”
– Leader of Refugee Flag Kakuma told KANERE in an interview on the scene/”LGBTIQ protest interrupted by violence outside UNHCR sub-office”
“It is just another bureaucracy,” Said Henrik, a community leader who spend more than 25 days waiting to meet the agencies officials to receive his number,”
– Henrik a refugee community leader told KANERE/”Using Tech to Bring Services closer to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the Camp”
“after they killed him, they took his phone and money from his pocket.”
– Close relative to Deng told KANERE/”Violent Robbery Results in Refugee Death”
“I thought my refugee status would be determined within a year after arrival. but this has not been the case at all,” he explained. “I was denied opportunities because my status determination was incomplete, and people I met at UNHCR were not helpful,”
– Tamiru an Ethiopian asylum seeker with her experience of RSD rejection/”Refugees receive RSD letters from RAS”
“The two clans belong to Luo Nuer, and the reason for the fight was recycled from the last year,”
– Explained community security worker Gat Dak in Kakuma 4/”Two killed in communal violence”
“The programme is comfortable and its really helpful”
– Jilo one of the beneficiaries from refugee community/ “SNHU Global Education Movement (GEM) and Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL) Introduce New Programme for Kakuma Residents at Student-Employer Networking Event”
“They told me to call someone with computer skills after finishing the two steps process. It takes more than a week to find help because I do not have the computer skills to schedule my own appointment,”
– Explained an Oromo refugee, who wishes to remain anonymous at the field post Centre two/”Using Tech to Bring Services closer to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the Camp”
“Matom was imprisoned in a murder case, but the person who impregnated his sister has fled from Kakuma. The girl is in UNHCR protection area with her child,”
– John Sudanese youth leader told KANERE/”Two killed in communal violence”
By Qaabata Boru & Tolossa Asrat – KANERE Staff Journalists
Kakuma residents are now able to use their mobile phones to communicate with UNHCR staff and schedule appointments.
By Ahmed & Mohan – KANERE reporters
At least 20 refugees injured as LGBTIQ demo turned violent outside the UNHCR compound in Kakuma.
BY KANERE News Desk – kakuma.news@gmail.com
The Refugee Affairs Secretariat distributes decision letters to anxious refugees in the wake of the Refugee Status Determination transfer process.