China donates $5 million in support of refugees

Refugees leave the Camp's food distribution point after getting their food ration on June 7, 2017. [Photo by Edith Mutethya/China Daily]

In 2015, WFP introduced cash transfers to replace a portion of the in-kind food. The cash is sent through mobile phones and is equivalent to one third of the minimum food requirement. This has enabled refugees to choose from a wider variety of food available at the market inside the camps, which are not provided in the general food ration.

The transfers, called bamba chakula, a Swahili-based slang for "get your food", have continued to increase business opportunities, while also boosting local economies, and benefitting both refugees and the surrounding communities.

"The cash transfers are giving refugees a chance to diversify their diets, while also increasing livelihood opportunities for both refugees and the surrounding communities," Conte said.

The Kakuma Refugee Camp is located 150 km south of the South Sudan border, and 850 km northwest of Nairobi, in Turkana County.

The Dadaab refugee complex, on the other hand, stands 470 km east of Nairobi, and 80 km from Kenya and Somalia border, in Garissa County.

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency in fighting hunger worldwide, as well as delivering food assistance in emergencies, and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year WFP assists up to 80 million people in about 80 countries.