‘Forgotten’ Afghan Refugees Struggle In Remote East African Camp
Afghan refugees living in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in north-western Kenya say their situation is deteriorating and that they feel increasingly forgotten by the international community.
Afghan refugees living in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in north-western Kenya say their situation is deteriorating and that they feel increasingly forgotten by the international community.
Several Afghan families told Afghanistan International that they fled human rights abuses after the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August 2021 but now face harsh conditions in one of the most remote refugee camps in East Africa.
Refugees say access to food, clean drinking water, healthcare and education is limited. Employment opportunities are scarce, and families depend largely on humanitarian assistance that they describe as insufficient. Many children are growing up without consistent schooling, while young people say they see little prospect of a stable future.
One refugee said unidentified groups have assaulted camp residents and stolen mobile phones. A former member of Afghanistan’s security forces, now in Kenya, said criminal gangs sometimes attack tents at night or intercept refugees during the day to steal their belongings. He criticised what he described as inadequate attention by UN agencies to refugees’ security and basic needs.
Refugees also described severe psychological strain. Having escaped violence in Afghanistan, they now face prolonged uncertainty, lengthy resettlement procedures and limited information about their future. Many fear they have been overlooked by the international community.
Kakuma, established in 1992 in Turkana County, is one of Africa’s largest refugee camps. It hosts tens of thousands of refugees from countries including Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Afghanistan who have fled conflict and persecution.
Afghan refugees in the camp are calling on the United Nations, humanitarian organisations and donor countries to urgently review their situation. They are seeking increased humanitarian assistance, faster and fairer resettlement processes, improved access to education and livelihoods, and stronger protection measures.
